RAMBO’S Ramsey’s wondergoal lights up Emirates as he and Lacazette give the Gunners a massive advantage WELL-HEELED
Mesut’s the master as he sets up Alex and Aaron in rout of the Russians
AARON RAMSEY’S wonder goal hit CSKA to leave Arsenal with one foot in the Europa League semi-finals.
The Welshman netted the opener after nine minutes then pulled off an audacious back-flick (above) over keeper Igor Akinfeev.
Alexandre Lacazette also scored twice and Arsenal head to Moscow next week with a three-goal lead.
GONE are the big Champions League nights, but Mesut Ozil proved he is still worthy of the biggest European stage.
Ozil masterminded Arsenal’s impressive victory with a man-ofthe-match display which will surely make next week’s return leg in Moscow a mere formality.
The Germany World Cup star provided two assists, won a penalty and turned around a match which, albeit briefly, looked as if it might be a difficult night for the Gunners.
Ozil’s contribution might get overshadowed in some respects by two-goal Aaron Ramsey’s wonder strike but it was the Germany midfielder who made it feel like fun to watch Arsenal again.
It has been a torturous few weeks for Arsene Wenger at the Emirates because the fans have stayed away and Arsenal’s poor form has left the Europa League as their last salvation.
But, after a fabulous five-goal first half, those in the stadium who turned up in much bigger numbers than against Stoke on Sunday gave them a standing ovation.
The attendance was given out as 58,285 on the basis of the number of tickets sold and it probably proves that if Arsenal play better football and it is a big occasion then they will turn up.
CSKA Moscow were supposed to be better away from home but the reality was that they looked a poor side, and it is something of a mystery how they knocked out Lyon in the last round.
Arsenal took just nine minutes to go ahead as Jack Wilshere spread the ball wide, Hector Bellerin’s low cross was then swept home at the back post by Ramsey.
Arsenal’s most difficult spell came when Laurent Koscielny gave away a foul and Aleksandr Golovin curled home a brilliant 15th-minute free-kick into the top corner for what may still prove a precious away goal.
Two minutes later, former Leicester striker Ahmed Musa hit the side. But from that wake-up call, Ozil took charge.
His surging run into the box drew a foul from Georgi Schennikov and Alexandre Lacazette coolly converted a 23rdminute penalty.
Ozil’s lovely through-ball put in Ramsey for the best goal of the night, the Wales midfielder then cleverly flicking the ball over CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev’s head and into the net.
It was Ozil again who set up Lacazette for Arsenal’s fourth as the Arsenal striker rediscovered his form and confidence with three goals in two games in the space of five days.
Ramsey could have got a hattrick but for some bad luck in front of goal but the result should be comfortable enough to see Arsenal into the semi-finals.