LONDON - Arsenal recovered the swagger that has characterised their best performances this season as they eased into the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Standard Liege.
First-half goals from Samir Nasri and Denilson ensured the Gunners progressed to the knockout stages for a tenth consecutive season, as winners of group H with a game to spare.
"It's really good for the team because we still have a game to go and we can relax a little and give some rest to some players, and make sure that some of the players who don't play too much can get a game," said the Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas.
Standard coach Laszlo Boloni, whose side can still reach the last 16 if they beat AZ Alkmaar at home in their final match and Olympiakos lose to Arsenal, was irritated by the errors that contributed to both goals.
"We had injuries to contend with and a high quality opponent so, with that in mind, we could not gift away goals and that is what we did. That was very frustrating.
"If Arsenal had played great one-touch football to score, fair enough; but the way they scored the two goals was not normal. The players are responsible for that and they can do a lot better."
The Belgian champions were unfortunate to see a Diedonne Mbokani shot strike the woodwork when the match was still goalless as well as being denied what appeared to be a clear penalty shortly after Nasri had given Arsenal the lead.
In truth, though, Arsenal could have won by a larger margin and manager Arsene Wenger will have been delighted with a performance that, in the opening 45 minutes, could scarcely have been further removed from the lacklustre display that resulted in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland at the weekend.
That performance had provoked Wenger into a rare public display of frustration with his own players, and it was quickly apparent here that the manager's point had been absorbed.
With Andrey Arshavin and Nasri supporting Carlos Vela in attack, Arsenal looked significantly sharper from the outset and the Belgian champions' goal lived a charmed life early on.
A Cesc Fabregas corner after quarter of an hour generated a string of chances with Sinan Bolat saving Arshavin's header before Vela hit the rebound against the post.
Bolat then denied William Gallas twice in quick succession before a goal-bound shot from Thomas Vermaelen bounced to safety off the head of the unwitting Arshavin.
Standard were living dangerously yet they went close to taking the lead when Mbokani unleashed a shot from the edge of the area that struck the angle of post and bar.
A clash of heads between Gallas and Arshavin as they both went for a Fabregas cross left the Frenchman nursing a sore head that was to result in him making way for Mikael Silvestre at the break, by which time Arsenal were deservedly two goals in front.
Arshavin was still receiving treatment for his wounded head when Vermaelen launched a long diagonal ball for Nasri to chase through the inside right channel.
Landry Mulemo should have intercepted but his slip allowed Nasri to get clear and the midfielder finished with a controlled half-volley past Bolat's right hand.
Reginal Goreux had a good penalty shout turned down after being bundled over by Gallas but Arsenal were undeniably good value for the two-goal lead they established thanks to Denilson's long-range effort in first-half stoppage time.
Picking the ball up 30 yards out, the Brazilian beat Bolat with a a shot that swerved significantly but was directed at the centre of the goal.
With Chelsea due at the Emirates on Sunday, it was perhaps inevitable that Arsenal's tempo dropped off after the interval and, after Axel Witsel fluffed a close-range chance, Standard offered little threat.
Standard finished the evening with ten men after Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez received a straight red card after an attempted head-butt on Fabregas with four minutes left.
