Alex Iwobi: ‘Winning Champions League group is big advantage’

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi has expressed his delight, after he scored his first ever goal in the UEFA Champions League, as they cruised to a 4-1 win over FC Basel on Tuesday.

Sanchez and Ozil were then taken off and wrapped in cotton wool ahead of a busy schedule, and Wenger was pleased his decision to stick with a strong side rather than shuffle his pack was vindicated. “It’s important to finish first because we have the second game at home”.

“We are in December, the next round will be played in February-March, and so we will have to see what kind of form we’ll be in”.

As a result, Arsenal know they will avoid Barcelona and Monaco, who have knocked them out in the past two seasons respectively, as well as Atletico Madrid and Napoli in Monday’s draw.

“We had too much respect for them and didn’t play with enough courage”, said Moenchengladbach boss Andre Schubert.

This would be tricky, however, since PSG would get to tee off on hapless Ludogorets at home and Arsenal faced Basel away at the St. Jakob-Park, where it had taken PSG a 90th-minute goal to emerge victorious.

Arsenal unexpectedly finished atop Group A, rising above Paris Saint-Germain which drew 2-2 at home to winless Ludogorets Razgrad.

Arsenal have lost in the Round of 16 in the previous six years, often after drawing a heavyweight team like Bayern Munich or Barcelona.

“We did this job in a convincing way, mobile, started very well, scored goals”. “It’s hard to know (the advantages of finishing top) you feel a bit less guilty”, Wenger said.

Iheanacho equalised for Manchester City in their 1-1 draw with Scottish side Celtic, who opened the scoring after four minutes through Patrick Roberts; a player on loan from Man. City.

Progressing as group winners could still see Arsenal come up against German title holders Bayern Munich or Bayer Leverkusen, while reigning European champions Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are possible opponents depending on Wednesday’s result.

Also, Atletico Madrid had already secured first place in Group D but lost its flawless record in a 0-1 defeat at Bayern.

“They play nice pretty football and are great to watch, but they are not a threat to the top teams in England, so it’s easy to for every football fan to turn around and say; ‘Arsenal play some great stuff, they are lovely to watch'”.

By holding PSV Eindhoven to a 0-0 draw, newcomer Rostov clinched third spot and a place in the Europa League.