Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez
showed why their value to Arsenal is priceless as the peerless duo inspired a
6-0 thrashing of Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets in the Champions League on
Wednesday.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has urged Ozil and Sanchez not to get
greedy after reports they both plan to demand Arsenal increase their wages to
£250,000-per-week ($307,000, 279,000 euros) when contract talks are reopened
later this month.
Sanchez and Ozil’s current deals expire in 2018, but Arsenal want their prize
assets to commit their long-term futures to the club and on the evidence of
their swaggering displays at the Emirates Stadium, they should pay them
whatever they want.
Sanchez was the catalyst for Arsenal’s romp as the former
Barcelona star netted his sixth goal of the season with a quite brilliant first
half chip, while German midfielder Ozil smashed a second half hat-trick.
Video here
Video here
Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were also on the scoresheet for
rampant Arsenal, who are top of Champions League Group A after three matches
and well on course for the last 16.
Unbeaten in Europe this season, Arsenal have now won seven
successive matches in all competitions.
Making four changes from the team that beat Swansea on Saturday,
Wenger called for his players to keep their foot on the gas after building some
impressive momentum in recent weeks and the response was emphatic.
After scoring twice against Swansea, Walcott had a golden
opportunity to extend his hot streak when Sanchez picked him out unmarked
inside the penalty area.
With only Ludogorets goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov to beat,
Walcott strangely opted for a cross and his scuffed delivery was easily
cleared.
Walcott’s faux pas was never likely to derail Arsenal for long
as they cut through the Ludogorets defence time and again before taking the
lead in the 12th minute.
– Prime form –
Taking possession on the left edge of the Ludogorets penalty
area after beating the Bulgarians’ attempted offside trap, Sanchez looked up
and lofted a majestic chip that arched over Stoyanov before nestling into the
far corner.
While Arsenal were in prime form going forward, they were less
convincing at the back and Wanderson threatened with a stinging drive that
forced David Ospina into action.
Breached again moments later, Arsenal were saved by Ospina, who
raced off his line and barely got to the ball before colliding with Virgil
Misidjan, who appealed in vain for a penalty.
Ospina also had to be alert to block on the edge of the area
before Wanderson fired against the woodwork from the rebound.
Walcott misfired again when he blasted straight at Stoyanov from
close-range, but he made amends in the 42nd minute.
Given time to size up his shooting chances 25 yards from goal,
Walcott punished Ludogorets’ slack marking with a superb shot that flashed past
the slow-to-react Stoyanov.
With their chances of taking even a point looking forlorn,
Ludogorets faded in the second half and Oxlade-Chamberlain pounced on Kieran
Gibbs’ half-cleared cross to score Arsenal’s third goal from 10 yards in the
46th minute.
Wenger’s men weren’t finished yet and Ozil made it four when he
raced onto Santi Cazorla’s superb long pass and drilled a low strike past
Stoyanov in the 56th minute.
There was still time for Ozil to improve his own bid for a
bumper new deal as he struck again with a cool finish in the 83rd minute.
Ozil completed his hat-trick in the 87th minute when he blasted
home with a fierce close-range volley.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
DROP COMMENTS