A fourteen pass move starting with Cesc chesting a pass down to Vermaelen deep into his half ended with Cesc floating a long pass to Eduardo who was hugging the left touchline

Arsenal 4 Portsmouth 1 – Premier League

Ten goals in two league games is a pretty impressive statistic regardless of the quality of the opposition. Whilst Arsenal dug in and fought away at Everton and Celtic the Gunners cruised along in second gear to dismantle a struggling Pompey at the Emirates.

As I expected Alex Song was rested to the bench with Abou Diaby coming in to add guile and attacking threat to the midfield. Cesc Fabregas continued in the engine room with Denilson replacing Song as primary defensive protector.

Diaby was certainly not the only change made to the team that came away from Scotland with victory. Kieran Gibbs replaced Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue replaced Bacary Sagna and Eduardo Da Silva returned to replace the hard working Nicklas Bendtner in attack.

It was suggested that we would revert back to 4-4-2 but it was clear that the 4-3-3 took shape from the first whistle. Eduardo pulled to the left of the front three with Arshavin switching flanks to the right. Van Persie continued his lone strike role.

Whilst the lazy journo’s continue to repeat themselves about our supposed lack of squad depth, that to go alongside the ‘we can’t win on a cold night up north’ rubbish. I looked a little closer at the players who didn’t start the game at 3pm yesterday and I was amazed with the sheer quality we have throughout the squad.

I doubt many supporters would gamble on which team would do better over the course of a season such is the quality of player we have at our disposal or will have when they return from injury.

The bench is full of wonderful young talent that are nearing completion but I digress. I suppose my point was that both of those elevens would have been expected to beat Portsmouth and perhaps the squad is not as wafer thin as some would like you to believe.

I was certainly interested to see how Diaby would fit in, playing in a formation that allows him to get forward from a central position and he looked very promising. I wrote an article about Diaby in this role and judging by the comments, many people disagree with what he has to offer but as Wenger said yesterday, this could well be his season. I have no doubt that if he avoids injury and has a regular starting spot then we will see major things from him. He was the first to stride into the box from a Cesc Fabregas pass early in the game but he was snuffed out before he could get a shot away.

The first Arsenal goal was a thing of beauty, a fourteen pass move starting with Cesc chesting a pass down to Vermaelen deep into his half ended with Cesc floating a long pass to Eduardo who was hugging the left touchline. Eduardo bringing back the memories of playground football with a poke around the opposition and run around the other side squared the ball back to the free licensed Diaby to place the ball beyond the diving David James.

The move involved Cesc, Vermaelen, Denilson, Eboue, Gibbs, Diaby and Eduardo. That means only three outfield players (Gallas, Arshavin and Van Persie) didn’t get involved in the build up. It is something we come to expect from Arsene’s Arsenal.

Diaby started and finished Arsenal’s second goal. Portsmouth took an in swinging free kick which Diaby headed out. 8 seconds later the ball was rolling around the back of James’ net. Cesc floated a pass to the sprinting Eboue who put it on a plate to Diaby. The Frenchman gave James the eyes and rolled the ball to the keepers right. 2-0 and two Diaby goals in two minutes.

Diaby went for the hat trick moments later after another following move, the ball eventually breaking to Diaby who sidestepped one, dragged past another but his finish lacked the power to beat James in goal.

Eboue had impressed at right back both offensively and defensively. I thought he did very well on a couple of occasions when he tracked the player inside the penalty area and made important blocks. A few seasons ago he would have been ball watching instead of following his man.

Robin Van Persie knocked on the door a few times with a snap shot on the turn and a direct free kick which was well saved.

It is hard to imagine that we have scored 10 league goals and our central striker hasn’t found his name on the team sheet. It all bodes well as Robin is a player who will score goals so it is a matter of time before he clicks into goal scoring gear.

Against the run of play, Pompey found themselves back into the game when the Arsenal defence presented the boys from the coast with an early Christmas present. Algerian Belhadj, sent in a curling cross that Almunia couldn’t claim and Tottenham old boy Younes Kaboul rose highest to head past Almunia.

Manuel should have come with a bit more purpose and determination and his indecision was punished.

Almunia cannot be the only player associated with any blame as Kaboul and Piquionne jumped unmarked inside our six yard box. Gallas, Diaby and Gibbs left ball watching.

Van Persie’s right foot was denied by the long legs of James.

At half time Cesc was replaced by Aaron Ramsey after the Spaniard suffered a tweak of the hamstring, hopefully it was out of precaution as apposed to anything else.

Almost immediately after half time the Utaka was racing through on goal with Gallas chasing back, the Portsmouth forward fell to the ground but to be honest, I did not see a foul by Gallas. It looked like both players were battling for advantage to win the ball when Utaka fell to ground.

Moments later Gibbs was undone by a ball over the top which he didn’t deal with and Piquionne placed wide of the near post. It was a terrible finish, the near post was never on.

The game was wrapped up minutes later when fox in the box William Gallas bundled the ball over the line. Arshavin played in the free kick which skimmed off Van Persie’s head, Vermaelen slid it back into the danger area for Gallas to knock in from close range off his foot, chest and eventually his forehead.

Gallas has scored three goals in three games and he didn’t know about either goal. The number 10 is now the top scorer which isn’t that strange at most clubs.

The fourth goal was like a roll back of the clock. Robin Van Persie picking the ball up just beyond the center circle slipped a marvelous through pass which cut through Portsmouth and Ramsey who made the run finished very neatly beyond James. It was the Welshman’s first Premier League goal, you would imagine it is first of many for the 18 year old.

The goals margin allowed Arsene to make some changes which included Merida coming on for Andrey Arshavin. Eduardo also made way for Nicklas Bendtner.

I have been waiting to watch Eduardo and Arshavin play together but they were being played too far apart to demonstrate any real combinations. I am sure we will see those two link up in the future.

Arsenal won the game with gears to spare, we certainly did not press Portsmouth the way we pressed Everton and Celtic but I suppose you cannot play that game for every match in every competition. Especially for a squad that is already susceptible to injuries.

All in all it was a good days work for the squad, Wenger managed to rest players, gain fitness with others and still come away with a handsome victory. Now it is time for this ‘weak’ squad to qualify for the Champions League in midweek.