Published: 27 August 2013

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIER: ARSENAL 2 FENERBACHE 0

(Arsenal win 5-0 on aggregate and progress to group stages)

By RICHARD OSLEY at THE EMIRATES STADIUM

ARSENAL booked another season in the group stages of the Champions League with an easy win over an underwhelming Fenerbache. Two goals from the blossoming Aaron Ramsey, once the subject of fan frustration, added to the three scored last week in Turkey onfirmed an emphatic two-legged win. The only wonder was why Arsene Wenger kept his big stars, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla, on the pitch for so long when the north London derby is just days away.

And that's where the problem lies. Arsenal's depleted squad is simply lacking the numbers. The first eleven are a classy unit but beyond that there is not much to bring in when the main engines need a rest. At 5-0 up, the Gunners should have been kicking it around with squad players and youngsters. Instead, Wilshere, brilliant again tonight, found his ankles kicked at in the final ten minutes by the frustrated Fenerbache chasers.

The loss of Lukasz Podolski, bright and bubbly and looking a long way from a move away from the Emirates, with a hamstring injury early in the second half emphasised the point.

As usual, and it's gettting a tad boring for everyone, Wenger and the press played the game of asking about late transfer window signings. Nothing much knew was gleaned and the Arsenal manager could not explain why Chelsea's Juan Mata's father was in the crowd.

Arsenal looked like they need up to five new faces if they are to have the depth to take forward their fantastic raw materials, slick passing and bubbly forward play. Ramsey burst ahead of the game at every opportunity, scoring with confidence with a goal in each half. The first was created by Podolski's bulldoing insistence to get the ball forward and Walcott's pace. The second was a strike a centre forward would be proud of, a one touch goal from Kieron Gibbs' centre. There should have been goals for others: Wilshere, Giroud, Jenkinson and sub Sanogo all mised when well placed. Cazorla's energy also deserved a place on the scoresheet.

But still. That's eight goals since the Aston Villa debacle on the opening day of the season and three fine performances. You stll get the impression that the Arsenal fans will still be irritated and frustrated should the club not bring in a recognised goalscorer into the ranks by the end of the rapidly decresing transfer window. The next few days could be crucial in making the most of a good bounce back from the Villa defeat.