Fab Cesc eager to make Euro amends
Tomas Rosicky, Fabregas and Eduardo Da Silva all scored in a 3-0 second-leg victory at the Emirates Stadium.
And the midfielder, who played against former club Barcelona when they were defeated 2-1 in the 2006 final in Paris, said the Gunners wanted to win the tournament now they had qualified.
“We want to go to the end – the same as we did two years ago but winning it this time,” he said.
“The Champions League is one of the best competitions for a player, together with the championship and these would be our top targets.”
With the first leg finishing 2-0 to the Gunners Fabregas admitted Arsenal’s opening goal last night gave them the confidence to play knowing they were safe. “I think it was really important to score the first goal early and take the pressure out and it is good to see a player from midfield again like Tomas scoring,”
With a 2-0 lead in the bank from the first leg, Arsenal’s passage into the group stages for a 10th successive year never looked in doubt but their lacklustre display was frustrating to watch at times.
Just six minutes were on the clock when Sparta were picked apart, Theo Walcott collecting Justin Hoyte’s pass and escaping Michal Kadlec before squaring to the centre of the penalty area.
The speed of the move wrong-footed the Sparta defence and Rosicky was able to race onto the ball unopposed and slip his shot past goalkeeper Tomas Postulka.
Arsenal continued the assault moments later when Eduardo delivered a hanging cross to the far post but Robin van Persie just failed to connect.
But the Gunners were not having it all their own way as Marek Kulic was left unmarked only for Hoyte to deflect his shot to safety in the nick of time.
The noisy travelling Sparta fans were brought to their feet when Martin Abraham sent Jan Rezek charging into space and the attacking midfielder easily out-paced Gael Clichy into the box.
Senderos was nowhere to be seen but luckily for Arsenal Rezek fired his shot wide with only keeper Almunia to beat.
Rosicky unsuccessfully tried his luck from long range and at the other end a tame effort from Rezek was easily saved by Almunia.
But the urgency that had marked Arsenal’s play earlier in the half had been replaced by apathy with the Gunners seemingly in no hurry to add to extend their three-goal cushion.
Wenger’s side were equally lethargic as they emerged for the second half and would have leaked the equaliser had Almunia not shown blistering reactions as Van Persie’s corner clearance headed for the net.
Pavel Horvath leapt into the air following an innocuous challenge from Hoyte but Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere was not deceived and waved play on.
Sparta defended two Arsenal corners robustly and Wenger made two substitutions with just over 20 minutes remaining, replacing Van Persie and Diaby with Emmanuel Adebayor and Fabregas.
Denilson came on for Rosicky as Wenger attempted to put life into the game but the next chance fell at Arsenal’s end with Zdenek Pospech blazing over the bar when he should have done better.
Eduardo created space down the left in the 87th minute and Fabregas pounced on the final pass, guiding his shot into the left corner.
Not to be outdone, Eduardo then got on the scoresheet himself, completing the rout with a well-taken 90th-minute goal.
Almunia, Justin Hoyte, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Walcott, Diaby (Fabregas 68), Silva, Rosicky (Denilson 73), Eduardo, Van Persie (Adebayor 68).
Postulka, Repka, Kladrubsky (Limbersky 76) , Kadlec, Abraham, Rezek, Horvath, Pospech, Husek, Kulic, Dosek.
Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)
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