Cesc Fabregas was restored back to the line up and his passion along with his creative flair has been missed so far this season

Before the kick off, this was certainly a match which could have gone one of two ways, which sounds like a stupidly obvious statement but there is plenty of truth in it.

Arsenal could have continued the complacent approach that they took along with them to Craven cottage and could have probably still won the game but would have shown a massive mental weakness or they could have fought tooth and nail to apologise to the Gunners faithful.

On a personal level, this is a strange match report for me to do this time around as I am writing this from a rather cloudy Dorset, in a caravan. I have been without the Internet since Saturday and missed the Fulham match due to road closure on our way here. I have felt strangely out of touch from Arsenal. Not reading players interviews, the managers thoughts. Supporters negative and positive views on what has been going on.

Cesc Fabregas was restored back to the line up and his passion along with his creative flair has been missed so far this season. Arsene rang the changes after the dismal showing on the weekend. Djourou replaced Toure which should have been the case in the first place. Kolo Toure quite clearly isn’t up to speed at the moment as hasn’t been since he left England to play in the ACN. Emmanuel Adebayor was reminded that he is a long way away from earning Thierry Henry bracket wages by taking his place on the bench. Bendtner replaced him and joined Van Persie upfront. It would have been interesting to see what would had happened had Gallas not been the captain, but he kept his place in the side.

Arsenal started the game quickly and sharply, moving the ball around with purpose. I was interested to see what kind of on field relationship Cesc and Nasri would have and for a first game together they did not disappoint. Nasri looks very bright and direct, and caused problems for Steve McClaren’s Dutch side. I thought it may take Fabregas a few games to find his feet but he surprised me with a match fit performance.

Sami Nasri opened the scoring following good work from Theo Walcott who burst past his man played a trademark low cross across the penalty area which was just behind Van Persie. The Dutchman stuck out a leg which poked the ball to Nasri who looked like he was lining up a right foot shot the Frenchman pretended to shoot and turned away from the defender who was jumping to block what he thought was a shot, Nasri pulled it onto his left and hit a defected left foot shot off a defender and past the wrong footed goalkeeper.

3-0 on aggregate, the game was pretty much wrapped up.

Sami Nasri was replaced at half time for Emmanuel Eboue which was disappointing as he was our best player on display during the first half but you can only assume that he was carrying an injury or knock before the game. Hopefully it is nothing serious and he will be back in the starting line up against Newcastle.

Theo Walcott replaced Nasri on the left with Eboue replacing Theo on the right.

On 53 minutes Gallas tapped in after Bendtner’s shot was parried by keeper Nickolay Mihaylov. Home and Away goals for Captain currently not so fantastic but what he does provide is a goal threat.

Theo Walcott showed Adebayor the proper way of tucking the ball away from the inside left position. He raced clear following a fortuitous touch from Bendtner. The young Englishman showed great composure and rolled the ball into the far corner. Very Henry-eque.

Bendtner added a fourth following work from Adebayor, a wonderful backheal from Denilson and a finish from the Dane.

The positives from the match had to be the instant form from Fabregas, he adds so much class and openings to this Arsenal team. If Samir Nasri can keep improving then we will have one major player on our hands. Theo Walcott needed a good performance and he got one here. Maybe we can see form last the end of last season.

Now the goals have come, lets hope they can continue to flow.