Arsene Wenger's side were rarely troubled by their Dutch opponents and won easily, thanks to goals from Samir Nasri, Abou Diaby and a brace from captain Cesc Fabregas.
They will have to wait to secure their place in the last 16 of the competition though, due to Standard Liege's 1-0 victory over Olympiakos.
Injuries forced Wenger to make three changes to the side that beat Tottenham in the north London derby. Emmanuel Eboue and Kieran Gibbs replaced Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy at full-back whilst Nasri made only his second start for the season.
Arsenal were immediately into their stride as a flowing one-touch move through midfield allowed Robin van Persie to hit a curling right-foot shot inches past Sergio Romero's right-hand post in the third minute.
Romero then gifted Van Persie another opportunity when he inexplicably picked up a back pass. The in-form Dutchman was unable to find a way past the AZ wall from the corner of the six-yard box though.
AZ were unable to keep possession as Alex Song marshalled the midfield and found themselves behind when Fabregas cut in from the left and hit a low shot that beat Romero at his near post.
Fabregas' shot came through a defender's legs but the AZ goalkeeper should have done better with the Arsenal skipper's tame effort.
The goal sparked Ronald Koeman's team into life with Maarten Martens driving a shot straight at Manuel Almunia before Australian international Brett Holman shot wide from 25 yards.
However, they were unable to exert any extended periods of pressure on the Arsenal backline and found themselves 2-0 down just before half-time. Andrey Arshavin played the ball through for Nasri, who lost Hector Moreno with some neat footwork on the edge of the box before placing the ball past Romero.
Arshavin was the architect again ten minutes into the second half when he played in Fabregas on the left of the AZ box to score his second and stretch Arsenal's lead further.
AZ almost pulled a goal back when Holman knocked the ball down for Graziano Pelle in the box, however the forward was denied by Almunia - who pushed his shot onto the crossbar from point-blank range.
And AZ were punished with 20 minutes remaining as a poor corner delivery allowed Arsenal to launch a sweeping counter attack. Eduardo – on as a substitute for Van Persie - released Arshavin with an extravagant back heel on the half way line and the Russian squared for Diaby to net his team's fourth.
Koeman's men grabbed a late consolation goal through substitute Jeremain Lens ten minutes from time, but the night belonged to Wenger - who recorded his first victory over his Dutch counterpart and his team's tenth home win of the season.
They will have to wait to secure their place in the last 16 of the competition though, due to Standard Liege's 1-0 victory over Olympiakos.
Injuries forced Wenger to make three changes to the side that beat Tottenham in the north London derby. Emmanuel Eboue and Kieran Gibbs replaced Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy at full-back whilst Nasri made only his second start for the season.
Arsenal were immediately into their stride as a flowing one-touch move through midfield allowed Robin van Persie to hit a curling right-foot shot inches past Sergio Romero's right-hand post in the third minute.
Romero then gifted Van Persie another opportunity when he inexplicably picked up a back pass. The in-form Dutchman was unable to find a way past the AZ wall from the corner of the six-yard box though.
AZ were unable to keep possession as Alex Song marshalled the midfield and found themselves behind when Fabregas cut in from the left and hit a low shot that beat Romero at his near post.
Fabregas' shot came through a defender's legs but the AZ goalkeeper should have done better with the Arsenal skipper's tame effort.
The goal sparked Ronald Koeman's team into life with Maarten Martens driving a shot straight at Manuel Almunia before Australian international Brett Holman shot wide from 25 yards.
However, they were unable to exert any extended periods of pressure on the Arsenal backline and found themselves 2-0 down just before half-time. Andrey Arshavin played the ball through for Nasri, who lost Hector Moreno with some neat footwork on the edge of the box before placing the ball past Romero.
Arshavin was the architect again ten minutes into the second half when he played in Fabregas on the left of the AZ box to score his second and stretch Arsenal's lead further.
AZ almost pulled a goal back when Holman knocked the ball down for Graziano Pelle in the box, however the forward was denied by Almunia - who pushed his shot onto the crossbar from point-blank range.
And AZ were punished with 20 minutes remaining as a poor corner delivery allowed Arsenal to launch a sweeping counter attack. Eduardo – on as a substitute for Van Persie - released Arshavin with an extravagant back heel on the half way line and the Russian squared for Diaby to net his team's fourth.
Koeman's men grabbed a late consolation goal through substitute Jeremain Lens ten minutes from time, but the night belonged to Wenger - who recorded his first victory over his Dutch counterpart and his team's tenth home win of the season.
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