Arsenal's excellent start to the season continued with a valuable and ultimately comprehensive victory to open their Champions League campaign. A deflected first-half shot from Cesc Fabregas, a close-range tap-in by Robin van Persie from a Fabregas free-kick and a late third by substitute Eduardo that crowned another slick passing move saw Sevilla comprehensively beaten.
The Spanish side looked a little wanting at this level, at least against a side who,, for all their youth, have considerable Champions League experience.
The games against Sevilla were always going to be the toughest for Arsenal in Group H, and their confidence will be boosted by this result, and performance.
It was a thoroughly professional display by Arsene Wenger's team, and while the three goals were extremely welcome, the manager will also be delighted with a clean sheet.
Kolo Toure was alert and industrious at centre-back, whil the two full-backs, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy were outstanding, with Sagna's bursts of space down the right often electrifying. Fabregas was again authoritative in midfield while Emmanuel Adebayor got through a prodigious amount of work leading the line.
There was also a competritive edge to Arsenal's game that underlined their development since last season.
Sevilla, on their Champions debut, were a little disappointing on a what proved to be a difficult night for them. But they started confidently, and the lively Navas rifled in an early shot that Manuel Almunia was happy to see narrowly clear the bar.Fredi Kanoute also went close for the visitors.
But Arsenalwere dangerous on the attack themselves - though there was a slice of luck about their opening goal. A long-range shot from Fabregas deflected in off Julien Escude to wrong-foot Palop and put Arsenal ahead at the break.
Robin van Persie made it 2-0, tapping in alertly when Sagna cleverly headed on a Fabregas free-kick.
From that point Sevilla never threatened a come-back, and the Gunners capped things off in stoppage time when Eduardo applied a cool finish to a sweet passing move that featured Alexander Hleb and Fabregas.
Adebayor deserved a goal and nearly got one when he produced a diving header from Sagna's curling cross that shaved the outside of the post.
When Daniel Alves managde to whip in a cross from the right, Sagna was first to the ball and cleared the danger.
Then Eduardo added the icing on Arsenal's cake.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Rosicky, Adebayor, Van Persie. Subs: Fabianski, Diarra, Diaby, Denilson, Silva, Eduardo, Walcott.
Sevilla: Palop, Daniel, Fazio, Escude, Dragutinovic, Jesus Navas, Poulsen, Marti, Diego Capel, Luis Fabiano, Kanoute. Subs: De Sanctis, Duda, Kerzhakov, Renato, Keita, Boulahrouz, Maresca.
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