Arsenal Vs Ludogorets: Recap, Highlights And Analysis

Arsenal pummeled Ludogorets on Wednesday night in the Champions League. Here is a full recap, including all the highlights and analysis you need to know.

Recap and Analysis

This was an absolute rout. Arsenal comfortably saw past Ludogorets on Wednesday night, thanks to an attacking display of style and verve, fluid and dynamic movement with some lethal finishing on display.

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While there were concerns defensively in the first half – certainly a lack of communication between the usually unruffled pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi caused more problems than Arsene Wenger would have liked – ultimately, the match was won by half time and simply enjoyed in the second.

The first goal came thanks to the brilliance of Alexis Sanchez. Coming back on to an onside position, the Chilean span down the left channel, released by a neat Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pass. Sanchez drove down the left wing with options to his right, paused, cut inside, looked to have lost the opportunity and then produced a phenomenal dink into the far bottom corner past the sprawling Vladislav Stoyanov.

It was a frustrating remainder of the first half, as misplaced passes, a tired looking high press and poor communication allowed Ludogorets back into the game, and if not for a few decent David Ospina saves, could easily have levelled the game. However, the second goal came in equally fabulous fashion. With Mesut Ozil peeling out wide to the left-hand side, Theo Walcott drifts to the edge of the box, the German finds him with a wonderfully chipped ball, Walcott took a touch, steadied himself, and fired home from 20 yards out.

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The second half was where the Gunners were able to turn on the style. Oxlade-Chamberlain scored almost immediately from kick off as a dangerous Kieran Gibbs ball was cleared poorly and he simply caressed the ball into the bottom right corner first time. The fourth came through Ozil after he finished calmly after making a lovely curved run in behind a high Ludogorets line. However, the true quality in this goal came from his teammates.

Firstly, Laurent Koscielny recovered after being caught out of position having shown great pace, winning the ball back with a wonderful slide tackle. The ball falls to Santi Cazorla, who, after taking one touch and turning, looked up to see Ozil running through and played a delightful pass into the open space. It was yet another tremendous goal.

The fifth goal came from Ozil once more. Lucas Perez, who came on for Walcott earlier in the game, was released down the left-hand side thanks to a beautifully weighted pass from Oxlade-Chamberlain, showed great pace to get to the ball first and then played a simple square ball which Ozil slotted home with ease.

Ozil then completed the rout and his hat-trick with a sumptuous volley in the closing stages. Once again set up by Perez, who again showed a dangerous burst of pace and then an awareness to wait for the right pass and find Ozil with a little cross who smashed it home.

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This was an excellent performance from Arsenal once again. They were ruthless in attack, fluid in midfield and while there were some issues early on defensively, in the second half they were much improved. They host Middlesborough on Saturday in the Premier League birmming with confidence, and few would bet against them extending their now seven game winning streak.

Highlights

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