Arsenal 3(5) – 0(0) Sparta Prague – 29/08/07 – (Champions League Qualifier) 30 August, 2007

It was a pretty easy tie at the Grove and we eased through three-nil winners, and won the tie five-nil on aggregate. We played Sparta all over the park; we were just way to good for them even though some players were not at their best.

Hoyte did get that first start of the season and played a decent 90 minutes. Diaby started with Gilberto in the middle and I think had a great first game too. He looked very much like Vieira and was very cool and composed on the ball. Walcott started out on the right wing but didn’t look great there to be honest. He was making great runs and his pace was too much for Sparta but his final ball was sometimes poor; I think he had quite an inconsistent game to be honest.

Toward the end Denilson took over at right wing and Theo was pushed up front. He did look threatening again but he still wasn’t anything special. I’d just say we have to give him time. Da Silva started up front with Van Persie and the no.9 was getting his home debut. He looked quite anonymous at times in the game but I think that might be expected playing with Van Persie. When Walcott moved to striker partnering Adebayor (who came on for RVP), Da Silva moved to left wing where he looked impressive. That position and the tiring Sparta players allowed Eduardo the time he needed and from that position he set up one and scored one.

The first goal came in the 7th minute from Sparta old boy Rosicky. Walcott picked up the ball just right of the box and played a pall along the ground through the box and Thomas was running in to side-foot the ball in with power. I really simple yet effective goal at that really put us through to the Champions League group stages. Sparta needed to score three now and even though only 7 minutes had gone you could tell they weren’t strong enough to do it.

The rest of the first half went on as it started, Sparta never really got a chance with the ball and I think Almunia touched the ball about three times. We came close a few times; Van Persie nearly diverted the ball in the net when it came to him at the far post but the ball was hard to reach. Anyway at half time it was one-nil and very comfortable.

In the second half we seemed to lay off a little, I’m not sure whether Arsene told the boys to calm down now as the job was pretty much done but it did seem like it.

The second goal took until late in the game to come. The stadium was starting to empty at this stage so many sneaking off to beat the traffic missed Eduardo’s skill and Fabregas’ cool finish. Da Silva was fed the ball out of the left wing; he cut inside using his pace and rounded the defender by putting the ball one way and running round him the other. He then played a nice ball to Fabregas who was just on the edge of the box; he took a touch and shot. 2-0 Arsenal.

The game was finished of nicely 7 minutes later with Eduardo’s late home debut goal. Adebayor started the move off on the halfway line who passed to Cesc and continued his run. The ball went out wide to Denilson and then back to Ade who was now in the box, he played a one-two with Denilson who crossed in to Eduardo who was 5 yards from goal. I don’t know whether Da Silva doesn’t like to head to ball or not but he stretched out with his left foot and diverted the ball into the far corner. A difficult finish but credit should go to him for actually pulling it off.

So it was an easy win in the end and we’re through to the group stages. The draw for that is this evening. That should be interesting and I’ll have a word on that shortly. Until then.