Champions League: Arsenal on top of Group A
Uefa Champions League Match Week 3: Arsenal 6-0 Ludogorets
Arsenal 6-0 Ludogorets
Sanchez (12’min)
Walcott (42’min)
Oxlade-Chamberlain (46’min)
Ozil (56’min, 83’min, 87’min)
Veteran Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger celebrated his 100th win in Europe after joining the Gunners in 1996 as his side walloped Ludogorets 6-0 at the Emirates Stadium before 59,944 supporters in Champions League Group A. The Gunners earned a crucial three points and a top spot in their group on goal difference above second-placed PSG. Arsenal stretched their unbeaten run to eleven games in all competitions, with seven straight wins.
Arsenal took the lead as Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez opened the match scoring with a delightful chip over Stoyanov in the 12th minute, beginning a goal fest for his side. In the second half Theo Walcott fired home the Gunners' second goal before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain netted the Gunners’ third. Next, German Mesut Ozil scored a brilliant hat-trick as Arsenal sealed an impressive win against Bulgarian champions Ludogorets to put the Gunners on course for the Champions League knockout stage. The hat-trick was Ozil’s first ever in senior competiton.
The Gunners in form performance stood out as they earned their seventh victory in a row, leading to speculation by fans and media that Arsenal may go all the way to the final. Wenger replied with caution. “Let’s not be too quick on the verdict. We have a strong squad and a strong spirit, but you have to take care of it and keep your feet on the ground. The only way to win something big is to focus on the next one and work on humility. I feel that at the moment because we win game after game our confidence is high and maybe we get over these dodgy periods with less psychological damage.”
“We have a good balance in the team at the moment. Maybe we make more of our chances because the final ball is better,” continued Wenger. “Our finishing is better but it's difficult to analyses at the moment. But what is for sure, we score more goals and that's what our game is about. We have a risky game so it is important we take our chances. In the first half, it looked like a difficult game because they were dangerous going forward, they had good technique in short space, they are quick on the counter attack,” added Wenger. “I believe it was not easy but in the second half we took complete control of the game. I think we could have scored more.”
Twenty eight year old German Ozil has scored six goals in all competitions this campaign and Wenger feels he has the right balance as a provider and scorer for the team. 'It looks like he has a taste to score goals,' said Wenger talking about Ozil. “He's getting in behind now. Before he only liked to come for the ball and provide. You want him to be a provider and a scorer and it looks like he's slowly moving towards that better balance.” Wenger reported that Gunners midfielder Santi Cazorla suffered a blow to his Achilles tendon and will likely miss Saturday's Premier League clash with Middlesbrough.
Ludogorets boss Georgi Dermendzhiev’s side squandered many chances to equalize in the first half. “We knew Arsenal were a very good team. We had chances to score. We are playing the second time in the Champions League, it's a pleasure to play against strong teams,” said Dermendzhiev. “Arsenal, I think, will be top of the group. We will continue to learn, our team is small but we have strong character.” Columbian keeper David Ospina who retained his role as Arsenal’s Champions League keeper in place of Petr Cech earned a clean sheet.
Squads
Arsenal
Ospina; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs; Coquelin, Cazorla (Elneny 57 ); Walcott (Lucas 62), Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Sanchez (Iwobi 73).
Subs not used: Cech, Gabriel, Monreal, Xhaka
Ludogorets
Stoyanov; Minev, Moti, Palomino, Natanael; Dyakov, Anicet Abel; Wanderson (Lukoki 80), Marcelinho, Misidjan (Keseru 69); Cafu.
Subs not used: Bojan, Cicinho, Sasha, Quixada, Plastun
Referee: Artur Dias
Man of the Match: Ozil
Buy Arsenal tickets to support the Gunners in their quest for Premier League and Champions League silverware! Arsenal secured three points in Champions League Group A moving ever closer to the knockout round. The Champions League trophy is the prize that Wenger and his side covet, and a victory in Bulgaria in two weeks would be a big step in that direction.
UEFA Champions League Group Stage Week 3 Results & Scores
Arsenal 6-0 Ludo Razgd
Barcelona 4-0 Manchester City
Celtic 0-2 Bor Monchengladbach
Bayern Munich 4-1 PSV Eindhoven
Paris Saint Germain 3-0 Basel
Dynamo Kiev 0-2 Benfica
Napoli 2-3 Besiktas
FC Rostov 0-1 Atletico Madrid
Buy Champions League tickets to watch titan clubs Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, Manchester City, Celtic, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint Germain, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid fight to be named Kings of Europe.
