Gunners see off sub-Standard opposition

ARSENE WENGER will never desist from his pursuit of perfection but, occasionally at least, even the Arsenal manager will acknowledge that there is pleasure to be found in a simple job well done.

Wenger will need his bright young things to perform with more polish than this if they are to hoist a first Champions League trophy in Madrid in May, but at least they will have the chance to make that progress. This ultimately comfortable victory, secured by first-half goals from the lively Samir Nasri and Denilson, rubber-stamped their place in the last 16 for the seventh consecutive season.

There was a pointed caveat, with Kieran Gibbs suffering a fractured metatarsal in his left foot after being felled by a poor tackle from Eliaquim Mangala. Gibbs, who was taken to hospital after the game, will have an operation this morning and is likely to be ruled out for a minimum of two months. With Chelsea the next side to visit the Emirates on Sunday, a game Arsenal realistically cannot afford to lose if they wish to prolong their interest in the title race, and Gael Clichy already ruled out with a back problem, that represents a grievous blow.