Kevin Whitcher
After the 6-0 tonking a fortnight ago, the trip to Sofia to face Ludogorets was thought to be something of a formality, a nailed on three points. Arsene Wenger didn’t think so, as he fielded both Ozil and Sanchez, two players that, in previous seasons, might have been rested for this fixture. With the opportunities to win this competition dwindling for the manager (might this be his last attempt?), it appears he is keen to win the group to give himself the best possible chance of making the last eight. There were several changes though. Ospina in goal was expected, but also in the starting eleven were Carl Jenkinson, Aaron Ramsey (playing in Theo Walcott’s position), Granit Xhaka and Olivier Giroud.
It was a big day out for the Bulgarian Arsenal Supporters Club (hello Angel), the first time that the Gunners have played in the country since… someone will tell me, but I have a feeling that we are talking circa 1970 here, if ever.
Arsenal took the field in their third kit, although with yellow shorts replacing the regulation blue ones it looked very odd. It was a chilly evening, with subs covering themselves with blankets on the bench. Arsenal had a very decent chance early on, but Ozil fired it straight at the keeper.
Not too long afterwards, the home side were two up. A free kick was poorly defended for the first, and Kieran Gibbs was made to look like a pub team left back for the second. With defending of this quality, one wonders what might happen if the Gunners draw Barcelona in the knockout rounds of this competition, as they inevitably will.
At least Wenger’s side were not facing a two goal deficit for long, as from the by-line (and almost over it) Ozil found Xhaka in the penalty area for a nice finish. Arsenal enjoyed more of the possession, but Ludogorets looked more threatening. Ospina didn’t engender great confidence in the air.
Gradually, the Gunners established more of a foothold on the game, with an Ozil volley almost leveling the scores, before, with half-time approaching, Olivier Giroud converted a very decent Ramsey cross to make it 2-2.
Everything calmed down a bit in the second half, with much less goal threat, until Ospina got his team out of jail with a good save from a break on Carl Jenkinson’s flank. Defensively, this was nothing like a controlled European away performance. Arsenal were equally suspect in Paris, and this is an area where work really needs to be done if the club are to buck the trend and actually progress in this competition. They will be found out if they are unable to restrict space and opportunities in their own half.
Xhaka was forced to take a yellow card to stop another break soon after, and the Ox and Elneny came on for Ramsey and Xhaka respectively as the game looked to peter out. Fortunately, for the visitors, there was a twist in the tale, as a late Elneny through ball found Ozil clear. The German kept calm to take it past the keeper and then pick his spot to ensure his finish was not blocked by a pair of defenders. It was a beautifully taken goal, the kind, let’s face it, that Theo might have contrived to balls up. And it came so late, that the opportunities for the home side (that featured as many Brazilian as Bulgarian players) to level were very limited.
Arsenal held out for a victory that could allow them to top the group, dependent on what happens in three weeks’ time v PSG.
As to the return of Olivier Giroud, my suspicion is that he will be back on the bench for the weekend derby. He was played last night to give him the chance to work on match fitness, but the system with Sanchez as the central striker has been developing, and the manager will want to see it through. Giroud is the man to shake things up from the bench if required, as we saw against Sunderland last Saturday. As the main man, he has had enough opportunities, and his failure to produce when it mattered last season was not a one-off. He will start the odd game, but is no longer one of the first eleven.
So a game with a few talking points, but most important, three points at the end for Arsenal. At the death, the quality of Ozil made the difference, and he is enjoying a fine run of form at present. Let’s hope he remains as influential against Spurs on Sunday.
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