Arsenal fans explode as Mesut Ozil sinks Ludogorets

Arsenal face their Bulgarian opponents in back-to-back Champions League matches, knowing two wins could secure a place in the last 16. Mustafi’s weak header allowed Jonathan Cafu to pressure David Ospina into a panicked safe, and Koscileny was caught unaware when the Brazilian snuck in behind to snatch the ball and try to round the goalkeeper.

“We are taking more of our chances”.

Misidjan was in the clear moments later and after Ospina dealt with the initial effort, Wanderson had another presentable opportunity but he dragged his effort wide of the mark from 18 yards out. Ozil picked out Walcott, who created some space with a great turn and powered home a high finish.

Walcott misfired again when he blasted straight at Stoyanov from close-range, but he made amends in the 42nd minute.

Within seconds of the restart, though, Arsenal extended its advantage to move out of sight. Arsenal have also been playing some fluid football without him in the side, and the emergence of Iwobi and impressive performances of Alexis Sanchez have meant that Giroud will find it tough to break back into the team.

The opposition tried to counter this opener, and almost did a couple of times as the first half wore on, but Arsenal had their chances too, and 42 minutes in, Theo Walcott, with all the time in the world from 20 yards, smashed home.

Ozil then fluffed an opening, failing to connect sweetly when gifted the ball on the edge of the area by Moti’s poor clearance.

Despite the emphatic nature of Wenger’s 100th European win for Arsenal, the Frenchman admitted his side had ridden their luck.

– Mesut Ozil scored his first hat-trick for Arsenal in any competition and he is the fifth player to score one in the Champions League for the Gunners. His sumptuous lob in the 12th minute means he has now been involved in four of the Gunners goals in the Champions League this season, scoring two himself.

“It’s amusing because the more goals we scored, the better we defended”.

Ozil still had time for a picture-book finale as he volleyed home from another Perez cross, with the remarkable late salvo sending Arsenal’s fans home wondering if their latest stylish victory in Europe can be followed by a foray into the latter stages.