Aaron Ramsey and Alex Lacazette both helped themselves to a brace as Arsenal beat CSKA Moscow 4-1 in the first-leg of the Europa League quarter-final clash at the Emirates.
Afterwards, the duo faced the BT Sport cameras. Here’s what they had to say.
On having one foot in the semi-finals…
AR: I don’t know. We knew the home leg was going to be important and we had to score goals. Thankfully we did, but we know it’s going to be a difficult game over there. We’ve put ourselves in a good position.
On enjoying the game…
AL: Yeah, it was good, a good game. Even though we conceded a goal, we scored four so it’s good. I’m happy, I’ve come back. I feel good.
On not wanting to be subbed…
AL: Yeah, I wanted [to stay on and score a third], like Aaron. But today was not the day for the third goal. It’s fine. I’m happy.
On missing his chances for a hat-trick…
AR: Yeah, I know. I like to make them late runs into the box and I have plenty of opportunities. I’m happy to have contributed to the team but on another day I might have got a third. It wasn’t to be.
On flicking the ball over the keeper for his second…
AR: Yeah, I saw a little movement [from the keeper] and I knew if I could get it over him it would have had a chance of going in. Thankfully it did.
On scoring important goals…
AR: We always knew it was important at home, we needed to score goals and we managed to do it. Laca’s back in the team and scored a couple as well, we’ve managed to score quite a few goals lately, hopefully, we can keep that up for the rest of the season.
On the job being done…
AL: It’s done for today, but we have an important game on Sunday and then we can think about the next game [in Moscow].
On having reservations about playing in Moscow…
AR: No, of course not. We’re going over there for a game of football so we’re looking forward to that. We know we have a game on Sunday, so we’ll prepare for that. We’re looking forward to the rest of the season and hopefully, we can finish off strongly.
Good lads both of them, great goals. Looking forward to them finishing the job in Moscow.
Could be a good finish to the season and brings some hope for next season too.
Incidentally the team seem far more together and happier recently.
Hope Rambo signs up, he is looking good and that would boost the team even further.
They do indeed. Noticed that myself. Fuck Sanchez.
They do, and it’s great to see that özil is looking happy again.. When he plays with a smile on his face he is just ridiculous. He was looking very pissed off on the pitch for a few weeks after signing.
I might be reading too much into it, but it seems like no one really wants to pass to Jack at the moment. He doesn’t look too happy either. Hopefully it is just fatigue. I fear that they all know he’s off in the summer.
I saw plenty of close-ups where Ozil looked quite unhappy. He does not like it when anyone makes a poor pass or a poor run–including, in fairness, himself. He is a great player, who often displays what pundits consider “poor body language.” If he plays like he did yesterday, I don’t care what kind of language he uses.
He took the second goal ever so well. We have a new scorpion king in town. Egg on your faces perennial Rambo bashers! ?
Exactly! I know everyone’s allowed their own opinion but if you couldn’t/can’t see wha a player he is then I think you should have a word with yourself!
It’s been a disappointing season but it also boggles the mind how we have both Lacazette and Aubameyang. I would take either of them over Lukaku, Morata or Firminho.
And what’s the point of being the highest scoring English striker when you’re in a team that will never have trophies?
I mostly agree, but I do like Firminho as a player. Not a guy we need by any means but better (imho) than the other two numpties.
Footballers are so boring
The LacaRam combo. Devastating