Ozil inspires Gunners
MESUT Ozil scored a hat-trick after stunning goals from Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott as Arsenal dismantled Ludogorets Razgrad in a ruthless Champions League display.
Sanchez got the first with a masterful chip from just inside the box.
Walcott powered a curling shot home after Ludogorets’ Wanderson hit a post.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain smashed a loose ball into the corner for the third, before Ozil scored three times in a game for the first time in his career.
The Gunners have now won seven games in a row in all competitions – scoring 23 goals – and are undefeated in 11 matches.
Their last defeat was at home to Liverpool on the opening day of the Premier League season.
Victory over Bulgarian champions Ludogorets means Arsenal top Group A ahead of Paris St-Germain, who beat Basel 3-0 on goal difference.
Also last night, Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona punished 10-man Manchester City on Pep Guardiola’s return to his old club.
City were competitive in the first half, but made far too many errors against a ruthless Barcelona revelling in Messi’s return from injury.
A Fernandinho slip inside his own box put Messi clear for his first, then Kevin de Bruyne lost possession allowing Andres Iniesta to set up the Argentinian for a left-footed strike into the bottom corner.
The evening got worse for the visitors when goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was sent off for handling outside the box, and minutes later Messi struck again.
Barcelona were also reduced to 10 men in the last 15 minutes as substitute Jeremy Mathieu was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Raheem Sterling, but by then the damage had been done.
Willy Caballero saved a Neymar penalty – but the Brazilian scored from open play minutes later to complete a comprehensive win for the La Liga side. Meanwhile, Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has asked for a change in mentality to revive the club’s Premier League campaign, which is in stark contrast to their impressive Champions League form.
Champions Leicester sit 13th in the Premier League after a mixed start to the season, while being on the brink of entering the Champions League knockout rounds after three group stage wins.
“We cannot continue in this way, and our goal is to change our concentration in the Premier League,” Ranieri said.
“When you are playing in the Champions League, your mind is more concentrated, you are more focused on the match.” – BBC-Reuters