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Arsenal: Player ratings as Ozil to the rescue in UCL

By Thomas Atzenhoffer

SOFIA, BULGARIA - NOVEMBER 01: Mesut Ozil knocks the ball past Milan Borjan of Ludogorets on his way to scoring Arsenal's 3rd goal during the UEFA Champions League match between PFC Ludogorets Razgrad and Arsenal FC at Vasil Levski National Stadium on November 1, 2016 in Sofia, . (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
SOFIA, BULGARIA - NOVEMBER 01: Mesut Ozil knocks the ball past Milan Borjan of Ludogorets on his way to scoring Arsenal's 3rd goal during the UEFA Champions League match between PFC Ludogorets Razgrad and Arsenal FC at Vasil Levski National Stadium on November 1, 2016 in Sofia, . (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal headed into their fourth round tie with Ludogorets Razgrad expecting a walk in the park.

However, the Gunners had no such easy task as the Bulgarian champions worked their socks off looking to give Arsenal something to remember them by after their previous 6-0 thumping suffered in London.

The packed stadium with just over 8,000 fans made the visitors feel the heat as Ludogorets went after the Gunners from the opening whistle and nearly pulled off a shocker.

If it were not for Olivier Giroud scoring in the last minutes of the first half and Mesut Ozil playing hero in stoppage time Arsenal would have been headed back across the continent three points light.

Last season the Gunners most likely would have lost this encounter, but this season they look much more mentally tough and coming back from two early goals to claw themselves to victory was impressive.

PLAYER RATINGS

David Ospina – Had a poor first half but came back with two strong saves in the second to help keep the hosts at bay. – 6.5

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Carl Jenkinson – A surprise inclusion for many and was beaten to the ball for the opener, but shook off the rust as the game wore on. – 6.5

Shkodran Mustafi – Not his best shift in an Arsenal shirt as he was caught out twice for the two Ldogorets goals. – 6.0

Laurent Koscielny – Failed to settle his defense with his veteran presence and leadership. – 6.0

Kieran Gibbs – Was turned all directions for the home sides second goal but picked himself up a bit better on the attack. – 6.0

Francis Coquelin – Was nowhere to be found in the first half as Ludogorets bossed the midfield in the opening 45 minutes. – 6.5

Granit Xhaka – Give credit where it is due for having scored the first Arsenal goal and starting the come back, but gave the hosts too much space to play through the middle. – 7.0

Aaron Ramsey – Seemed to keep forcing the issue and looked like he was trying to be to creative when he could have been more direct. – 7.0

Mesut Ozil – A man of the match performance, set up the first goal and showed great composure to round the keeper and two defenders for the all important winner in extra time. – 8.5

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Alexis Sanchez – Went missing for large parts of the game as he is playing better through the middle than on the wing at times this season. – 7.0

Olivier Giroud  – Showed the aerial prowess he is capable of with the leveler, could still have done more. – 7.0

Arsenal are now guaranteed a place in the knockout round of 16, but they are level with Paris Saint Germain on 10 points at the top of the table and they will have to slug it out against the Parisians and FC Basel to see who will win the group.

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