Ozil off the mark as Arsenal crush Italian league leaders

ARSENAL 2 NAPOLI 0

By Ricky Butler at Emirates Stadium

ARSENAL conducted their Champions League business early last night as goals in the opening quarter of an hour from Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud made the ‘Group of Death’ look that little bit easier.

This victory over the previously-unbeaten Italian leaders, which make no mistake about it could have been by a much greater margin, made it two out of two in Group F and should not be under-estimated. Arsene Wenger’s side showed a quality and maturity which suggests they can become real contenders this season.

And in Ozil they have a very special talent. The first goal since his record-breaking transfer from Real Madrid last month was a thing of beauty. Giroud and man-of-the-moment Aaron Ramsey combined elegantly down the right after just six minutes but the Welshman’s cross still needed some finishing, and finish it Ozil did – first time, left-footed from 20 yards – giving Pepe Reina no chance.

Not content with that, the little German then created the second for Giroud, eight minutes later. Ozil headed straight for the right by-line and the French striker, who had started the move, burst into the six-yard box to fire into the roof of Reina’s net.

At this stage Arsenal looked as good as anyone in Europe. Napoli, in a strange camouflage kit, was shell-shocked as Wenger’s side showed all their new-found confidence. There cannot be many better players anywhere in the world at the moment than Ramsey and Ozil, and they were at the heart of everything. Meanwhile, in Giroud, the Gunners have a real outlet.

In fact it was the Frenchman who was the star of this particular show. It seems hard to believe now just how much he struggled at times last season as these days he looks the perfect centre forward. Running the channels and holding the ball up, Giroud even took on the role of Ozil early in the second period with a powerful run down the right. It would have been the assist of the season too had the returning Tomas Rosicky managed to apply the finishing touch.

But it mattered little in the end. With the job done, Arsenal eased off after the break but was still able to keep the Italians at arms length with relative ease. They could even have added a third in the closing stages when Reina somehow kept a close range effort from Laurnet Koscielny.

It is Koscielny's central defensive partnership with Per Metesacker that has slowly developed into one of the best in Europe, while in front of them, Mathieu Flamini is providing the extra security which has seen the club concede just six goals in their 10-match winning run since the opening day defeat by Aston Villa.

It is not often that so many players all reach their peak at the same time. The last time it happened at Arsenal was in the Invinsible’s season 10 years ago, but this group are showing they could be worthy successors.

The balance is right throughout the side and when you take into account the quality of the players currently out injured – Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – thoughts that the squad is not strong enough are soon dismissed.

Concerns remain over what would happen should Giroud pick up an injury, but a revitalised Nicklas Bendtner could do a job, while Podolski is another option when he returns in the next few weeks.

Wenger even had the luxury of resting Jack Wilshere last night as Rosicky was back from a hamstring injury, picked up on international duty. The 32-year old Czech has struggled with injury over the years but is still an important player when fit. He adds a new dimension to their attacking play with his electric change of pace and dribbling ability.

So while Ramsey and Ozil are rightly picking up all the plaudits, the glass is most certainly overflowing for Wenger at the moment. So much so in fact that the ‘Group of Death’ might just become a walk in the park. The forthcoming head-to-head with last year’s finalists Borussia Dortmund may well tell us more.

"This group still looks very tight," said Wenger at the whistle. "The key game will be us against Dortmund here in the next game. But winning is a nice habit to have.

"I am delighted, of course. It was a very enjoyable game with a fantastic first half, played with a great pace and belief. The second half was a bit more cautious and we played not to make a mistake."

On Ozil, the Arsenal boss said: "We are lucky to have got him. He just enjoys to play football and you can see that on the pitch. He has integrated quickly. He came in at a time where we are doing well and that has made it easier.

Asked if Flamini could be as influential a signing as Ozil, Wenger said: "He gives a balance to team and qualities that are needed for sure.

"Look, we are here to win trophies but there is along way to go. We have a good basis, we have good potential but lets just focus on the next game."

Arsenal; a force to be reckoned with both domestically and in Europe. Who’d have thought it.