OZIL CAPS GUNNERS’ STUNNING FIGHTBACK

ARSENAL displayed grit and resolve as well as their customary attacking brilliance to claim victory in Bulgaria last night. Arsene Wenger’s team fired six past Ludogorets without reply in London just two weeks ago and yet found themselves two goals down within a quarter of an hour to efforts from Jonathan Cafu and Claudiu Keseru. Wenger watched the sort of defensive chaos descend which he must have dared to think had been eradicated by some solid summer signings. As they wobbled, it sounded a warning that deficiencies and mental fragility still lurks. Fortunately for the Frenchman, his team remain ever potent in attack and Ludogorets proved again to have their own problems at the back. Goals from Granit Xhaka and Olivier Giroud brought Arsenal level before the break and just when they thought they would drop points, up popped Mesut Ozil (pictured) with one of the most beautiful goals you will ever see. Ozil raced clear with three minutes left, lifted the ball over the goalkeeper, picked it up on the other side and dummied past two defenders before rolling the ball into an empty net. ‘We were surprised by the speed of their start,’ said manager Arsene Wenger. ‘We were less fluent in the second-half, but we eventually got a goal close to the end. ‘Ludogorets maintained their intensity for 90 minutes, so it was more difficult than at the Emirates.’ The Gunners sit top of Group A on goal difference from Paris Saint Germain with both teams assured qualification already.