By Boris Mellor
September 29 2010

In the end Arsenal achieved a comfortable win against FK Partizan, the only complaint is it could have been by a far greater margin, with a missed penalty and numerous chances. Partizan would probably have failed to score if Deckchair Denilson hadn’t hailed a cab in the penalty area and stopped the ball instead. What goes go on in his and Diaby’s heads?

FK Partizan had a cunning plan, they dressed just like West Brom, and I must say it gave me a start when they came on. Fortunately they were never as good as the baggies, and Wenger had a cunning plan of his own, he played his Carling Cup team.

Which brings us to the mystery mentioned in the headline, if Arsenal could play so well on a Tuesday night why did they play so badly the previous Saturday? But this victory, enjoyable as it was, was against a weak opposition, and it will not throw any light on the mystery of why Arsenal played so poorly against WBA. It was an improved performance, but not the kind of test that Chelsea may prove to be.

This was a game you could win with a Carling team.  However, it is also irritating because it highlights the inconsistencies of this squad. Brilliant at Spurs, awful at home against WBA, and comfortable at Belgrade. Can Arsenal win big games without Fabregas – we are still waiting to find out.

Arsenal played some great football, and the Wilshere one two that led to Arshavin’s goal had Barcelona written all over it. So with only 15 minutes gone Arsenal were one nil up. Arsenal then besieged the Partizan goal mouth but failed to score, and inevitably lost the lead on 33 minutes.

Arsenal should have gone in several goals up at half time, not level. In the second half both Partizan and Arsenal both missed penalties, then in the last 20 minutes two headed goals saw the Gunners put the game to bed. It was a well deserved victory against moderate opposition.

Does it mean Chelsea will be trembling in their boots? No it won’t, but it might warn them not to take things for granted. However I am not sure that the Carling team can get a hat trick of Spurs, Partizan and Chavs. Wenger will have to play his strongest team, but can he be sure who that is?