Six games for Arsenal to become true greats

High praise from affable 'Arry, but then this was a terrific performance from the Treble chasers, one suggesting there has been a shift in power in the English game.

Redknapp certainly thinks so. 'Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are the three outstanding teams in the Premiership,' said Redknapp. 'But Arsenal have moved on another notch.

'I can't see a weakness in their side and they play with such movement, power and pace. They attack from everywhere.

'You just can't imagine anyone beating them in the Champions League. I backed them when they were 33-1 and facing a first-round exit. They're the team of the future. They're all athletes, they all work for each other, and they all have real ability. Jose Reyes showed what a terrific player he is as well.'

For Arsenal, however, this is familiar and dangerous territory.

Redknapp was happy to compare them to the great Ajax team of the Seventies and the all-conquering AC Milan side who came more than a decade later. It suited him to do so, of course, having just seen his team suffer their heaviest defeat of the season.

But this was Portsmouth, not Porto, and an FA Cup-tie rather than the competition which divides the great from the good.

Arsenal might have beaten Milan 5-1 twice this season - if we count Mr Mandaric, the Pompey chairman, as well as Inter at San Siro. Yet if Arsenal are within touching distance of a third domestic Double in seven seasons, there remains much to be done before they lift the European Cup. Celta Vigo come first on Wednesday, and the prospect of quarters, semis and a final after that.

Six games, then, stand between Arsenal and greatness, and they will provide a far sterner test than the one they encountered here. Wenger understood that only too well and so did his players.

The goals from Henry, Freddie Ljungberg and Kolo Toure made for a wonderful spectacle, but little else. 'We have to wait before we can start saying we're a great side, or the best Arsenal have had,' said Vieira. 'Football is about winning trophies and at this stage we haven't won anything.'

To do so, they need to play better than this. Or at least they do in the eyes of the hypercritical Wenger.

'I think we can play better than that,' said Arsenal's manager. 'We missed passes, gave away possession too easily. I know that sounds ridiculous when we've won 5-1, but there were lots of errors. We strive for improvement.'

Quite how they improve on this would be a treat in itself, an early effort from the exciting Reyes that rattled the Portsmouth crossbar setting the tone for this contest.

There were moments when Arsenal's distribution from the back was poor and moments when the excellent Linvoy Primus appeared as invincible as Henry.

Then, however, came the 25thminute breakthrough, Henry seizing on a mistake from the hapless Petri Pasanen to guide a left-foot shot beyond Shaka Hislop.

Two more goals followed before the interval, Ljungberg making the most of a super one-two between Edu and Vieira, and Toure pouncing on a defensive lapse at a corner.

Successive shots from distance extended Arsenal's lead after the break, Henry going first before Ljungberg's effort beat Hislop thanks to a deflection off Primus.

Teddy Sheringham responded to the taunts from the Arsenal fans with a consolation goal in the 90th minute, prompting the home fans to sing: 'We're going to win 6-5'.

'After the week football has had, it will be good to see some positive headlines,' said Wenger in reference to the Leicester players facing sexual assault charges. 'We are a team who like to give pleasure.' On Saturday, they certainly did that.