Free for all. With all due respect, I don’t think anyone expected a tough time against Slavia Prague, but I was thinking more along the lines of 3-0, not 7-0. An absolutely drubbing at the Emirates. Theo Walcott was the star of the show as he opened his Arsenal account with a brace. His first (41′) was a fine example of being able to keep his head and take advantage. When the Prague keeper, Liam Neeson, mishandled… Theo pounced, skipped past, and slotted home between defenders. His second (54′) was just gorgeous football. After yet another perfectly placed feeder up from Hleb on the left, Theo expertly threw off the defenders and threaded one through the press to clang off the right post and bounce in. From that point on, it seemed like pretty much everyone on the team was trying to feed Theo and get him a hat trick. He came close a few times, but it wasn’t to be.

Alexandre Hleb also had himself a terrific night. His first (25′) went in the books as an Own Goal on Hubacek, but I think it was heading for net whether anyone got in the way or not, so he put in a brace in my book. His second (50′) was brilliant, taking a perfect feed over from Cesc, throwing off defenders and then slotting perfectly into the left side. And when he’s not scoring goals, he’s creating them. Alex really has a knack for dropping a ball right where it needs to be.

Cesc Fabregas played like, well… Cesc Fabregas. If anyone was beginning to wonder if his scoring streak was cooling down, they’re not wondering anymore. He put in for a brace as well. After Hleb out-footed two Prague defenders in the corner, he passed back out to Cesc (5′), who delivered a stinger from just inside the left corner of the 18 yard box to the top right. His second (58′) came after a nice charge up the left by Hleb, who knocked it over to Ade, who let it dribble by to throw off a defender, then he went right to Walcott, who set it up perfectly for Cesc to put straight in from 10 yards out. And like Hleb and the rest of the Arsenal midfield, if he’s not scoring, he’s creating… all match long.

Tomas Rosicky nearly put our 7th in when he clanged off the top right corner. But Nicklas Bendtner saw to it (88′) by basically walking it in… and mowing over two defenders at the same time. I’m not sure just how big Nick is, but he looks like Ivan Drago when standing next to Walcott.

Overall, the Gunners basically put on a clinic. Slavia Prague is a good side, but their particular brand of football just wasn’t well suited to fend off the Arsenal this time around. So now we sit comfortably atop Group H. Next stop… Anfield. Can’t wait.