Five Key Takeaways from Arsenal's Champions League victory over Athletic Bilbao 

Here's Gooner Fanzine print columnist Charlie Ashmore with his verdict on Arsenal's Champions League win in the Basque Country 

1 - I still hate the Champions League

It's an overhyped monstrosity. 

To listen to the media over the last couple of days you'd have thought the football season only starts when the Champions League Group stage starts. 

Yes, I want to win the damned thing (mainly just to shut the pricks in West London up), but the League still comes first each and every time.  And as for this new group stage, it's rubbish.  you have no real idea how you are doing until the last couple of matches because you have no idea (unless you have a chess player's brain and are able to keep everybody's fixtures and results in your head) who everyone else has played and whether they still have easier or harder games to come. 

And how ridiculous is it that PSG played five times against English clubs on their way to winning it last year?  It wasn't long ago that English clubs went a decade without playing Real Madrid yet now it is pretty much guaranteed to happen multiple times a year. 

Familiarity breeds contempt rather than excitement as those muppets who run the game clearly fail to appreciate. 

The competition only becomes interesting when the knockout football starts – hey, there's a thought.  How about a pure knockout Cup?    

Wonder why they've never tried that…what's that you say? 

They did?  And it worked?  But they ruined it because money was more important than football?  There's a surprise.

2 - Feel that squad depth

Already this is becoming a common theme in my comments.  Our benches this season have been extraordinary. 

The Times ran a piece last week suggesting our 2nd XI this season may be the best ever throughout football.  And last night the benefit of a quality bench was clear for all to see as two of our subs combined to win the match for us.

3 - Fake atmosphere – get rid

It was the same at PSG last year.  Why is some bloke with a microphone allowed to be hooked into the tannoy to whip the fans up.  It's a nonsense and it must be distracting to opponent players.  It shouldn't be allowed.  Mind you, try it here and any sensible fan would give it two fingers.

4 - Mosquera

It's time this beast got a mention in his own right as opposed to being included in general comments about the quality of our signings.  £12m?  That is an absolute steal for what we appear to have bought.  Hats off to everyone involved in scouting and securing the deal.  He could prove to be the PL signing of the season.

5 - Commentators – dear God!

I am so pleased I only watch Arsenal on TV occasionally, being at most games in person.  Honestly the commentators are dreadful. 

I like Ally McCoist – he's the sort of bloke I think it would be great to spend some time with chewing the fat over a beer. 

But his co-commentary is dreadful.  But not as bad as the idiot who was commentating – Fletch I think they like to call him in that annoyingly blokey way. 

Most irritating was their persistent obsession with Eze being played in the wrong position and that he should be played centrally. 

Whilst there is a discussion worth having, there is no point having it with people who justified their comments on the basis of how peripheral he was against Forest and yesterday. 

Given that this pair also did the Forest game, you wonder what they were watching and they certainly must have forgotten his assist for the second goal. 

Not very peripheral that! Muppets.