I remember first paying attention to Alex Song’s delivery when he chipped over a pass to Eduardo to score that back healed volley but it has become a little more than a holding player contributing a few assists for his team. It is almost becoming the strongest part of his game and I wonder if that side of his game should be utilised more than it already is. Currently the midfield rotates and they all take turns in supporting the attacking trio but given how we press further forward I wonder how Alex would fair spending more time in what is

Remember the days when we could cruise in the sunshine at home and take apart a side like Aston Villa without breaking much of a sweat? Those were the days, well it was certainly one of those days at the Emirates yesterday.

An Arsenal side high on belief having strung together six wins on the spin faced a Villa side missing some of their better players and we utterly dominated the game.

Gervinho’s inclusion over Oxlade-Chamberlain was interesting, perhaps the Ivorian is starting to show on the training pitch that his best form is not far away. Laurent Koscielny was set to start the game but had felt pain in his knee so that meant that Johan Djourou had an opportunity to start the game.

When the rest of the squad is so strong and in such good form it is much easier for the squad players to come in and play well rather than having to come in with many players low on confidence and also playing out of position.

The team started with a spring in their step, our passing was crisp, we combined well and the whole team closed the ball down just as they have been doing in recent weeks. This meant that Villa were simply not able to keep the ball for any sustained periods.

I really liked Kieran Gibbs’ goal because we were patient yet still quick in our passing, moving the ball all around our front line before Gervinho sliced a lovely pass into the feet of Gibbs who struck at the near post but the often pined for Shay Given should have kept it out but failed to do so.

A first Premier League goal for Kieran Gibbs and his form in the last five or so games has deserved that. I rate Santos very highly and still see him as our first choice left back when all things equal but in this form, there is no way Gibbs should be dropped from our starting 11.

I was very impressed with Gervinho, not for his work on the ball, even though he had a decent game, you could see that there is more to come from him but his work off the ball was fantastic. Sprinting back from his wide forward position to track Aston Villa’s counter attacks and often winning the ball back.

That consistent work is the difference between those who make it at Arsenal and those who fall away.

I am absolutely enjoying Theo Walcott’s game right now. He has had somewhat of an inconsistent season until recent months, even though his number of assists has been impressive all season. His game looks nice and tidy now. His touch and his passing looks clean now and when you think of the first half against Tottenham you can see that there is a huge difference in his game. One can only assume that it is linked to confidence.

I also like how Walcott is varying his game now. You would always expect him one on one to shift the ball out to his right side when trying to beat his opponent, now he is cutting inside as well as outside.

His goal was a beauty. Everything about it was top quality. It started from yet another sprint back from Gervinho to stop a counter attack then a few seconds later Alex Song produced one of his best passes of the season. A curving, dipping, spinning pass into the feet of Walcott who pulled the ball down on his instep and his  side footed finish was inch perfect and clinical.

I remember first paying attention to Alex Song’s delivery when he chipped over a pass to Eduardo to score that back healed volley but it has become a little more than a holding player contributing a few assists for his team. It is almost becoming the strongest part of his game and I wonder if that side of his game should be utilised more than it already is. Currently the midfield rotates and they all take turns in supporting the attacking trio but given how we press further forward I wonder how Alex would fair spending more time in what is currently Rosicky’s position.

There are certainly arguments against that thought but an argument worth debating I would say.

We eased off the gas in the second half somewhat but we had still controlled the game very well, hopefully it was more energy conserving rather than complacency, I think the work off the ball from the side almost rules out the second suggestion.

Oxlade-Chamberlain had some fantastic driving runs in the second half reminding the boss of his supreme talents and Andre Santos played his first minutes since his long term injury. A mistake apart, he looked sharp and as creative as he has always been.

The best was left till last. I don’t think we have seen a better free kick in all of Arsene Wenger’s reign at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta could not have hit his 30 yard screamer any cleaner and it arrowed into the corner of Given’s net.

3-0 without clicking into third gear but the fixtures will start getting difficult while our rivals may have games like these to look forward to so the hard work is yet to come. But at least we look in good shape.

Man of the match: Alex Song