Arsenal have one foot in the Europa League semi-final after putting four past CSKA Moscow, with the only negative coming in the shape of an away goal. You would certainly expect us to score against this team in Russia as well, so it is almost job done.
The Gunners did not exactly get off to a flying start, taking a few minutes to settle in nad being thankful for an iffy offside call when the Moscow striker Musa was through on goal, but we certainly grew into the game. It took just nine minutes for Aaron Ramsey to score the opener with a sweet strike after a hard and low pinpoint cross from Bellerin.
For a short spell it looked as though we might chuck it all away, as three succesive errors at the back from Mustafi, Xhaka and Koscielny gave Golovin the chance to strike an unstoppable free kick past Cech and the Russians looked threatening afterwards but found themselves 4-1 down at the break.
A well taken penalty by Lacazette restored the lead before Ramsey scored an absolute beauty with an instinctive flick over the keeper with his side foot, assisted by Ozil who also provided the assist for Lacazette’s second and that gave the German a Europa League record. He nearly made it five just before halftime as well but put the ball wide.
Arsenal really should have added at least one more goal in the second half, with Ramsey unlucky to hit the post instead of capping a great flowing move. Welbeck was also denied, somehow, by a point blank save that Akinfeev knew little about.
Despite a host of chances, though, we had to settle for the 4-1 but I reckon that most Arsenal fans would have gladly taken that before kick-off.
Bpb.