Arsenal hit 7 past Slavia

Arsenal equalled a Champions League goalscoring record as the Premiership leaders romped to a 7-0 victory at the Emirates over Czech side Slavia Prague. The young Gunners side gave Arsene Wenger the perfect birthday present when Cesc Fabregas, Aleksandr Hleb and Theo Walcott scored twice each and Nicklas Bendtner got one to complete the rout. On this form, Arsenal are showing they can beat anyone. A tough trip to Anfield in the Premiership at the weekend awaits.

This was the north London club's biggest Champions League win and almost certainly clinches their place in the knockout stages.

The Gunners were in ferocious form and Theo Walcott looked superb all night. Aleksander Hleb is beginning to show why Arsene Wenger spent £10m on him, and Cesc Fabregas is proving why many consider him among the best in the world.

Right from the start Arsenal were in complete control. Hleb's knack of crafting a precise pass from the tightest angles has prised open plenty of defences and the Belarus winger did it again in the fifth minute. Hleb went on a series of marauding runs and Fabregas took a touch and bent a superb strike into the far corner of Martin Vaniak's goal.

Hleb scored in the 24th, Matej Krajcik miscued Fabregas's corner the ball ran through to Hleb. He took full advantage, driving in a low shot that took a deflection off Hubacek and into the goal.

In the 41st minute, Daniel Pudil played a backpass that fell short of Vaniak, who panicked and scuffed his clearance to Walcott.

The teenager gratefully accepted the gift as he skipped around the Slavia keeper before stroking home his first goal since February and only his second for Arsenal.

After half time, Arsenal were even better. A fourth goal arrived 6 minutes in, Fabregas was the creator as he picked out Hleb on the left-wing. The player took control, beat a defender and hit the ball into the left hand corner of the net.

Four minutes later, Hleb threaded a defence-splitting pass through to Walcott, who scampered clear to score via the far post with a great goal that went in off the far post. Walcott looked outstanding throughout.

Arsenal finished the rout in superb fashion in the 88th minute as Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner rounded the keeper and hit the ball home to make it 7-0.

What an evening for the Gunners - on this form, they look unstoppable, and this is the perfect preparation for a tough trip to Anfield at the weekend.