Report: Ludogorets 2-3 Arsenal (inc. goals)

Starting XI: Ospina, Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud

Subs: Cech, Gabriel, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Holding, Iwobi, Elneny, Maitland-Niles

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Arsenal secured safe passage to the knockout stages of the Champions League for a 17^th successive season as they fought back from two goals behind to secure a 3-2 win against a determined Ludogorets team in Sofia.

Jonathan Cafu and Claudiu Keseru gave the hosts a commanding lead inside 15 minutes before Granit Xhaka and Olivier Giroud hauled the Gunners level before the break. The game appeared to be edging towards a draw before brilliance from Mesut Ozil three minutes before time sealed a tremendous comeback win.

After the 6-0 demolition of Ludogorets at the Emirates, Arsene Wenger told his players that their vanquished Bulgarian opponents would be eager to prove themselves on home turf. The boss has been in the game long enough to know that if you take your foot off the gas, you pay the price. His players, sporting unnecessary neon yellow shorts with their blue third kit, obviously didn’t heed the warning.

Having started brightly and had a chance to take the lead, Ozil’s scuffed finish not doing justice to a sweeping counterattack, the Gunners promptly went behind.

Only 12 minutes were on the clock when a harsh free-kick was awarded against Xhaka for a nothing handball. From the resulting set piece Cafu stole finished from six yards out as the ball arrived at the back post. Should Ospina have come for the ball? Perhaps. (1-0)

Three minutes later, Cafu turned provider as the hosts, pumped by a partisan home crowd, extended their lead. Gibbs was skinned by the Brazilian and Claudiu Keseru slipped between Koscielny and Mustafi and neatly slotted past Ospina first time from the cutback. November was just over 20 hours old and it all felt very Arsenal. (2-0)

Thankfully, within six minutes the deficit was reduced. Alexis fed Ozil inside the left channel and the German’s pass, made just before the ball rolled over the byline, was met by Xhaka who deftly controlled his left-foot effort into the net. It was the Swiss’ first Champions League goal and very timely. (2-1)

The goal certainly settled Arsenal’s nerves and they began to impose themselves on the game, constantly probing and dominating possession. Ozil hit a delicious volley from the edge of the box that was goalbound but blocked just in time.

Four minutes before half time Wenger’s men grabbed a deserved equaliser courtesy of Giroud’s third goal in less than an hour’s football. Ramsey, out on the right wing, hit a straight diagonal ball into the box for the Frenchman, rising like a salmon in front of the keeper, to flick home. (2-2)

The start to the second period was pockmarked by a succession of fouls as the whistle-happy Dutch referee came to the fore. Unsurprisingly, Arsenal’s bash brothers, Coquelin and Xhaka, both found themselves in the book. Jenkinson later joined them.

In the heat of battle the fluidity of the opening 45 munutes was lost with the Gunners struggling to muster any attacks of note. Indeed, the home side having recovered their composure looked the more likely to score.

Just past the hour mark, Wanderson, one six Brazilians in the Ludogorets’ starting lineup, should have restored the home side’s lead only to hit a weak shot straight at Ospina after the Gunners were caught light in defence on the break. Two minutes later the Colombian denied the same man a second time, this time diving low at the attacker’s feet. Brave and necessary keeping.

Looking to inject some pace, Wenger sent on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in place of Aaron Ramsey but the game remained fractured. It looked as though Arsenal might have to settle for a point, until Mesut Ozil stole the points and secured qualification to the knockout stages.

With three minutes remaining the German sprung the Bulgarians’ defence to latch onto substitute Elneny’s great pass. There was much to do, but the midfielder did it all with a nonchalance befitting his status as one of the game’s best players. First he skipped the ball over the onrushing keeper, then he danced past two defenders before rolling the ball home. It was a truly fantastic individual goal and a fine way to win a game. (3-2)

In the other game, PSG secured a 2-1 victory over Basle meaning they too qualify. Top spot will likely go to the victors when Arsenal face the French champions at the Emirates on 23 November.