Theo Walcott calms Arsenal nerves to secure win over Partizan Belgrade

Arsenal's closest contest was with themselves. Partizan Belgrade were also involved, yet the interest lay with Arsène Wenger's team and their quest for reliability. The visitors have taken no points in group H while conceding 13 goals but there were spells here in which they had hope. Unless Arsenal find mercilessness within themselves they will be at risk.

It is not a coincidence that, in contrast to Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, they have failed to top their group. The lack of authority was reflected as well in the red card for Bacary Sagna after he had committed a professional foul in the 86th minute when Aleksandar Lazevski was about to break into the penalty area. The Champions League knockout phase will have to start without the suspended right-back.

If Arsenal cannot yet seem to keep a game under full control, even when a vulnerable side such as Partizan comes to the Emirates, there was still an aplomb to them in the distinguished way they re-established the lead after Cleo had equalised in the 52nd minute. The sole goal in open play for Partizan in this group arose because defenders backed away and the Brazilian forward relished the opportunity to shoot, with the drive deflecting off Sebastién Squillaci to leave Lukasz Fabianski stranded.

He had also scored his side's other goal, from the penalty spot, against Arsenal in Belgrade. While Wenger's men were obviously shaken by the leveller at the Emirates, there was wonderful individualism to restore composure to the whole line-up. Theo Walcott had come on as a substitute but this was not an occasion for his speed simply to be pitted against a wearying side. He restored the lead with a gleaming piece of technique.

Walcott struck in the 73rd minute. Sagna's cross was headed poorly on to his chest by Marko Jovanovic and the forward clipped a considered volley into the far corner of the net. The technique was outstanding and perhaps indicated that Walcott can still add a greater breadth to his game that will fulfil the promise he had as a teenager and restore him to being a more regular starter.

That kind of dramatic action was, by then, a necessity rather than a mere adornment. Calm was not fully restored until the third Arsenal goal came from Samir Nasri, after Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner had combined. It had been beyond the side to open the match with a briskness that would have made the entire exercise simpler.

The apparent challenge of the game was then at so low a level that Arsenal could hardly bring themselves to rise above the ordinary. They may have been justified in supposing that a goal for them was unavoidable. The opportunity came after Sagna's delivery had deflected to Robin van Persie, who was then brought down needlessly by a challenge from Jovanovic. The Dutchman converted the penalty after 30 minutes with a confidence appropriate in a match were the opposition was so limited.

In spells it felt ludicrous that there could be any trace of stress. At the moment Partizan might almost exist to demonstrate how great a difference there can be between domestic and European competition. They lead the Serbian Super League by five points after scoring 41 goals in 15 games. In the Champions League they have floundered.

At first it was only bad luck that made Arsenal wince. The left-back Kieran Gibbs caught his foot in the pitch and eventually had to make way for Emmanuel Eboué. Credit did have to go to Partizan for denying Arsenal total contentment before the interval. They defended with more purpose than anyone could have anticipated as they strove to complete their Champions League campaign in a dignified way.

There was no suggestion of a spree for Arsenal before half-time. The moves tended to have marginal flaws but Wenger himself had not introduced any complacency. The selection confirmed that this was an encounter that had to be treated with the utmost seriousness. There have been other fixtures that have seen Arsenal lack professionalism and suffer for it.

Partizan's endeavour did them credit after the miseries that had been endured previously. Disbelief may have hindered Wenger's team after the equaliser and the reaction was not immediately ferocious. It was Partizan, with nothing to lose any more in the Champions League, who showed the ambition and moments of style that had looked beyond them until now.

More hardened sides than Arsenal would not have permitted such a night to contain anything more than a thorough and uncomplicated victory. That, all the same, is part of the appeal at the Emirates. Nobody can be quite sure what they are witnessing.

Arsenal, in their own fashion, are a club of means and, troubling though this match was in periods, the manager still allowed Jack Wilshere some rest as the youngster was an unused substitute.

As with their north London foes Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal exude a sense that something new is emerging. The last 16 of this tournament will tell us more about the true worth of both clubs.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 8 Dec 10