Arsene Wenger could barely contain his delight, after Arsenal’s flawless first-half sent Napoli- and their big reputation- packing back to Naples with their tails between their legs.
Inspired by German international, Mesut Ozil, the Gunners were a picture of dynamic intent in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and blew their visitors away in an opening salvo of near perfect attacking football.
Arsenal seem to be going from strength to strength as the season continues, and having swatted the sceptics aside, Wenger can now luxuriate in an “amazing” display, which he says was the club’s best in ages.
"The first half was absolutely amazing, fantastic," Wenger said.
"It had everything; the collective, individual skill and finishing. It was everything that you dream to see when you sit in the stands watching football. We played the first half at a great pace with belief, authority, great finishing and movement. Overall, that's the game we want to see.”
"I don't know when we last played this well,” he added.
“Certainly at home, it's one of the best halves we have played for a long time.”
Special praise was reserved for Ozil, who capped a platinum display with sumptuously classy finish, running onto an Aaron Ramsey cut-back to first-time the ball home from outside the box, with a perfectly cultivated away-swinger into the corner.
It was Ozil’s first Champions League goal for Arsenal, and spoke volumes about his effortless quality.
"Ozil was like the team – he had an outstanding first half, where you had everything that you want to see from a great player," Wenger said.
"Individual skill, team play, finishing, final ball. Just sit there and enjoy it. We are just lucky to have got him. He enjoys to play football with his partners and he has integrated very quickly with the team mentality.”
Napoli boss Rafa Benitez meanwhile, could only doff his hat at Arsenal’s swashbuckling display.
Ironically, he had been denied the services before the game due to injury of star striker Gonzalo Higuain, who Arsenal had tried to sign.
But he admits that even the former Real Madrid man would have been powerless to deal with the Gunners’ red hot ammunition on the night.
"A player like Higuain, we would miss a lot but when you play against a team that does everything perfectly, you can miss one player or two players but it doesn't do a lot," Benitez said.
Read: Wenger Covets Rafa’s UCL Glory
Read: Gunners Ease Past Napoli
