Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs CSKA Moscow: 5 things we learned – Fabulous but flawed

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal is congratulated on scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League quarter final leg one match between Arsenal FC and CSKA Moskva at Emirates Stadium on April 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal is congratulated on scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League quarter final leg one match between Arsenal FC and CSKA Moskva at Emirates Stadium on April 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 05: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal is fouled by Georgi Schennikov of CSKA Moskva for a penalty during the UEFA Europa League quarter final first leg match between Arsenal FC and CSKA Moskva at Emirates Stadium on April 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images,)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 05: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal is fouled by Georgi Schennikov of CSKA Moskva for a penalty during the UEFA Europa League quarter final first leg match between Arsenal FC and CSKA Moskva at Emirates Stadium on April 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images,) /

2. Mesut Ozil at his brilliant best

Mesut Ozil was at heart of every goal that Arsenal scored. The first was perhaps his most brilliant: A lovely, around-the-corner, first-time pass into the feet of Jack Wilshere, followed by a wonderfully weighted pass that allowed Hector Bellerin to slide a pass across the penalty area that Aaron Ramsey converted.

Ozil then drove through the CSKA midfield, after receiving a pass from Granit Xhaka, played a one-two with Aaron Ramsey before eventually being felled in the box for the second goal. He then secured his first assist of the game, initially setting up the move with an inventive flick into Alexandre Lacazette, before resetting in a deeper position to clip a disguised pass into Ramsey who brilliantly did the rest.

Finally, the German took his time when released down the left flank, picking out Lacazette with an arrowed pull-back cross which the Frenchman controlled and then converted for the final goal. In all reality, he did far more than just his part in the goals — two brilliant passes to Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi should have resulted in the net rippling. This was Mesut Ozil at his truly brilliant best. The longer that continues, the better this Arsenal team will be.