The one thing that struck me about the game against Partisan Belgrade was how much space there seemed to be to play in, for both sides. There were so many good chances created it is astonishing that only four goals were scored. Even before the home side were reduced to ten men, they allowed Arsenal a lot of room to play their football. Facing lesser European sides often flatters Arsenal, and invariably means they make the knockout stages of the Champions League. With Partisan and Braga on zero points, it is difficult to imagine the Gunners will not be involved in the first knockout round this season.

There were a number of changes from Saturday. Whether Almunia and Diaby were injured or dropped we can never be sure, but the switches meant Jack Wilshere was pushed forward into the Fabregas role, one he may be playing in permanently after next summer. The opening of the game was fairly chaotic, as the Arsenal defence struggled to contain Partisan, but the well-crafted goal turned the tide, and after that it became a game Arsenal generally looked like winning.

Although it was a good away win at a hostile venue (and fair play to the home fans for their incredible support for their team), there were many times Arsenal were incredibly sloppy, and the scoreline should not disguise this. It was a game where two sides were a little too generous with each other, and if I were a neutral I would not think either of them had what it took to come near to winning this competition.

Lukasz Fabianski will go down as the match winner for saving a penalty and a shot in the closing stages. Although he can be pleased with his night’s work, one swallow does not make a summer. You know it’s only a matter of time until the next howler, so let’s hope Arsene Wenger resists the opportunity to overdo the praise for the keeper. It will be interesting to see if Almunia ever returns after his shocker last Saturday. Assuming Wenger now gives Fabianski a run in the team, you can only imagine that when he is dropped after his next high profile howler, Wojciech Szczesny will finally get his chance.

The win will hopefully benefit the team’s confidence going into the visit to Stamford Bridge at the weekend, in spite of its nature. The dropping of Koscielny indicates that when everyone is fit it will be Squillaci that partners Thomas Vermaelen, but on Sunday, Wenger has a decision to make over whether to continue with Johan Djourou or recall Koscielny. As fans, we can only hope to be pleasantly surprised, but in spite of their defeat to Manchester City, I get the feeling that the title race this year might turn into a bit of a procession, with Chelsea at its head. But Wenger’s teams have achieved results against the odds before, so let’s see if they can keep things interesting after the weekend. One thing’s for sure, they will have to be a damned sight tighter at the back than in Belgrade.

Before I finish, a quick mention for a blog by Nadim, a regular contributor to the print version of The Gooner, which is well worth a read. Plug over!