The Game

Theo Walcott, Nicklas Bendtner, Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky are all out injured for the Gunners who will be looking for their third consecutive Champions League win tonight.

Onto the line-ups with Gael Clichy returning as left back and Emmanuel Eboue moving forward as right midfielder as compared to Saturday’s game as Bacary Sagna is back in the starting line-up.

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The Line-Ups

AZ Alkmaar

Romero, Moisander, Jaliens, Moreno, Poulsen, Holman, Mendes Da Silva, Schaars, Martens, El Hamdaoui, Dembele.

Subs: Didulica, Lens, Klavan, Wernbloom, Van der Velden, Swerts, Pelle.

Arsenal

Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song Billong, Eboue, Fabregas, Diaby, Arshavin, van Persie.

Subs: Almunia, Vela, Ramsey, Silvestre, Wilshere, Gibbs, Merida.

Half-Time Thoughts and Analysis

A below-par Arsenal go at half time leading AZ by one goal to nil in a quiet game which saw its deadlock broken after the Gunners took full advantage of a defensive mistake by the home side.

With Vito Mannone keeping his place in goal and Gael Clichy making his way back in the starting line-up, the lads starting slowly with Andrey Arshavin looking tired, Cesc Fabregas misplacing three passes in a row and the only van Persie enjoying a bright start to the game.

But as the game progressed, Arsene Wenger’s side started to slowly find their rhythm, and in the 35th minute took the lead. Niklas Moisander gave the ball away in a dangerous position, and he was punished, with Arshavin finding van Persie on the left with the Dutchman unselfishly passing it to Cesc Fabregas who made it 0-1.

Again, the first 45 minutes were not the brightest but it’s nice to see us take the lead when not playing well and at half time, it’s AZ nil, Arsenal one.