Arsenal takes down Braga
Arsenal turned in a stunning home performance to defeat Portuguese team Braga 6–0 on Wednesday evening.
Carlos Vela and Cesc Fabregas each scored two goals for Arsene Wenger's team, with Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh claiming one each.
Arsenal threatened early on as new signing Chamakh burst into the box, knocking the ball past Braga keeper Luis Felipe Ventura Dos Santos and stumbling easily to win a penalty for his team. Cesc Fabregas stepped up and sent the spot kick into the corner
of Felipe's net, with the keeper unable to reach his well-placed effort.
The Londoners enjoyed long spells of possession before scoring again in the 30th minute. Skipper Fabregas threaded a perfectly timed ball for Andrei Arshavin, and the Russian made no mistake, taking one touch before toe-punting the ball into the near corner.
Chamakh pleases Wenger
Four minutes later, Chamakh proved that he is settling in well at his new club by scoring Arsenal's fourth. The Moroccan received a neat flick from Jack Wilshere inside the Braga box, and his quick turn allowed him just enough space to place the ball low
in Felipe's left corner to the delight of Wenger.
Fabregas got his second goal of the match on 53 minutes as Arshavin turned provider for the team's fourth. The Russian collected the ball in plenty of space on the left of the penalty box and chipped a cross towards the Spaniard, who, unchallenged, made
no mistake heading home from six yards out.
For the second consecutive game, substitute Vela slipped in behind the opposition's defence to score, as he hit a subtle chip over Felipe in the 69th minute.
The Mexican continued to make his case for a regular team place in the 83rd minute, when Fabregas laid the ball off for the striker to force Felipe the wrong way and score his second of the game. Vela has now scored three goals this season.
Tougher tests await resolute Arsenal team
As per usual, Wenger's side dominated possession, but they were also lethally clinical in attack, claiming six goals from only nine attempts on target. While Braga is far from having the strongest defensive line in the competition, Arsenal sent a strong
message to their opponents on Wednesday.
While difficult trips to Shakhtar Donetsk and FK Partizan await, progression from the group stage would appear a certainty for the London club.
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