Arsenal effectively sealed their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League as they strolled to success against Dutch champions AZ Alkmaar at The Emirates Stadium.

Two goals from captain fantastic Cesc Fabregas, and efforts from Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby, ensured a comfortable night for Arsene Wenger's side, who remain unbeaten at the top of Group H.

The Gunners were in cruise control as they toyed with Ronald Koeman's defence, who simply could not cope with the home side's pace, ingenuity and movement.

One man who did deserve a goal was Russian maverick Andrey Arshavin, providing three assists for his team-mates, causing all-round havoc with his devilish manipulation of the football and stupefying creative vision.

How treble winners Barcelona could have done with a player of Arshavin's creativity, as they huffed and puffed their way to a goalless draw against Rubin Kazan in Russia.

Pep Guardiola may live to regret the day he let Arshavin escape to North London and into the clutches of Wenger.

Fabregas broke the deadlock on 25 minutes, with his low placed shot from 20-yards creeping past Sergio Romero's near post, putting Wenger's side on their way to a perfect 10 home wins in all competitions this season.

Samir Nasri doubled his side's advantage before half-time, latching on to a delightful Arshavin through-ball, before cutting inside and calmly dispatching his shot past Romero in only his second start since breaking his leg in July.

Fabregas, who has shone in the heart of the Gunner's engine room this season, made it three just after half-time following another perfectly weighted Arshavin pass, leaving the Spaniard to side-foot with aplomb into the roof of the net.

The former Barcelona youth player looks to be two steps ahead of the opposition at times and has now scored five goals in his last 11 games.

Diaby wrapped up the points, hitting AZ on the counter to complete the rout with a well-taken finish from close-range on 72 minutes.

The Dutch side secured a late consolation goal through Jeremain Lens, stabbing home a Brett Holman flick.

The goal was the only blemish on a near perfect night for Wenger's side, who have now scored an astonishing 33 goals in their last ten matches at the Emirates.

Arsenal would have to lose their final two matches to fail to make it through to the knockout stages, combined with an unlikely sequence of results involving Olympiakos and Standard Liege.

Wenger will fancy his side to make it all the way to the final and they stand every chance with the world class Arshavin and Fabregas pulling the strings from midfield.

Arsenal (4-3-3): Almunia; Eboue, Gallas, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Fabregas (Ramsey, 66'), Song, Diaby; Nasri, Arshavin (Rosicky, 75'), Van Persie (Eduardo, 66')

AZ Alkmaar (4-4-2): Romero; Jaliens, Moisander, Moreno, Poulsen (Pocognoli, 64'); Holman, Mendes Da Silva (Wernbloom, 70'), Schaars, Martens; Pelle, Dembele (Lens, 58')