Wenger's men still lacking the spark of recent outings...

By Tim Collings

Never mind the quality, read the result.

It was one of those nights for Arsene Wenger and his men as their fluency, in their best spells, was not rewarded and they failed to touch the heights they reached only a few weeks ago.

Most importantly Arsenal secured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League with this victory, but there was no command performance from Carlos Vela as the latest man to audition for Robin van Persie's role as centre-forward.

Nor did anyone other than, predictably, Cesc Fabregas truly impress for Arsenal as they seemed to lose their way after a high-tempo opening spell and two splendidly-taken and struck goals by Samir Nasri and Denilson, both with venom and accuracy.

Liege did not lie down and dream of their Christmas shopping, as some visitors to the Emirates Stadium have done in the past, but instead raised the spirits - and Arsenal's alarm at times - with their willingness to counter-attack. They twice hit the woodwork and on another night might have stolen a result.

But their survival was a tribute above all to the excellence of their goalkeeper Sinan Bolat who at times produced almost miraculous heroics to keep Arsenal out. His string of first half saves was enough for some keepers in a month's work. In the end, he was beaten by a goal that followed a defensive error when Landry Mulemo slipped to gift Nasri an opening and then a spectacular 25-metre 'whirler' from Denilson that swept in under the bar.

To Standard's credit, they were not undone in open play and stood their ground even if they could not produce football to compare with Arsenal's best. Denilson's goal was the highlight and his performance was the bonus for Wenger in a week when he needs to see his team regain their spark ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea.

The Brazilian slotted back into midfield alongside Song, the pair providing a shield behind the roving Fabregas, and looked as if he had never been away. His composure, reading of the game and calm, simple passing helped the team tick over in midfield where Standard did their best to break up the fluency that characterises Arsenal at their best.

Oddly, they played their best football in the opening 20 minutes without reward and then produced their most dangerous moments from set pieces - very non-Arsenal. But, as all Gunners fans would say, it was the result that counted on a night when William Gallas and Andrey Arshavin spilt blood - each others of course, in their enthusiasm to head a goal - and Kieran Gibbs finished the evening limping off after taking another kick on his right foot.

The real contest, after all, was not this one but the upcoming clash with Chelsea on Sunday.