Fenerbahce vs. Arsenal: 6 Things We Learned

That was just what Arsenal needed.

After a dispiriting 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend, Arsenal responded with a convincing 3-0 win over Fenerbahce to all but assure qualification for the group stage of the Champions League.

Go to the next slide to discover what we learned from this hugely encouraging display.

Arsenal Played with a Point to Prove

Arsenal played this game with the bit between their teeth.

After the match, Aaron Ramsey told BBC Sport:

"

It was not the ideal start to the Premier League but we bounced back tonight - we have been criticised but we remained switched on. I'm feeling confident at the moment.

"

It looked as if the players had been stung by the widespread criticism of the current team and calls for new signings. They responded with a hugely committed display that allowed them to dominate against a Fenerbahce team that, on paper at least, appeared dangerous.

Arsenal's Squad Still Isn't Strong Enough

Despite this impressive result, Arsenal still need to improve their squad.

When Laurent Koscielny left the match with a cut, the Gunners were forced to introduce Carl Jenkinson and field Bacary Sagna as an emergency centre-half.

Despite Arsenal's team visibly tiring, Arsene Wenger opted not to introduce another substitute until 81 minutes had been played.

The French manager clearly felt he couldn't afford to turn to the players on the bench without decreasing the team's quality. Wenger needs to add more quality options as soon as possible.

Bacary Sagna Is a Capable Deputy at Centre-Back

Bacary Sagna has spent almost the entirety of his career as a right-back. However, this season he may also find himself used as cover at centre-half.

Sagna filled in as a centre-back during preseason, and was forced to do so tonight when Laurent Koscielny was forced off by a cut.

Sagna's natural athleticism and positional intelligence allowed him to flourish in the unfamiliar role, and he will almost certainly be asked to continue at centre-back on Saturday at Fulham.

Theo Walcott Is Assuming a Senior Role in the Team

Theo Walcott is 24 now. It's time for him to become a senior figure in the Arsenal XI. Judging by this performance, he knows it.

Walcott may not have scored in this game, but he was Arsenal's most threatening player throughout the game. His movement and control to win the penalty for Arsenal's third goal was particularly exquisite.

Last season, Walcott scored a remarkable 21 goals in 31 starts. Judging by this electric form, he could be on course to match that tally. 

Aaron Ramsey Has Added End Product to His Game

Aaron Ramsey is finally getting back to the form that made him such an exciting prospect prior to his leg break.

In this game, he was everywhere. Stationed at the base of Arsenal's midfield, he showed discipline and tenacity, traits more commonly associated with Mikel Arteta.

However, he also broke forward frequently, carrying a genuine threat to the opposition defence. He split the defence with a beautiful pass to create Arsenal's first, before charging forward to fire in the second himself.

Ramsey is developing into a superb box-to-box midfielder.

Kieran Gibbs Should Score More Goals

Kieran Gibbs will have been delighted to have got on the score-sheet this evening, but will also be conscious it should be a more frequent occurrence.

Gibbs is one of the Premier League's most adventurous attacking full-backs, but has only scored a handful of times in his Arsenal career.

Patrice Evra showed just what is feasible for a full-back last season, when he scored four Premier League goals.

Gibbs should be aiming for a similar tally this season.