Ludogorets Razgrad travelled to London to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, and no one believed the side from Bulgaria would emerge with a result. Even English pubs forsook trying to entice patrons as there was simply nothing to see here.
@borussia_en ludogorets feel your pain pic.twitter.com/aDw7veNiDS
— sath (@sathyajames) October 19, 2016
After all, Ludogorets had a crest that looked eerily similar to an application you might find in your Macbook’s Dock up until a year ago.
Did this come with my Microsoft Office Suite? Photo: @SportDictatorHQ | Twitter
Besides that, this is an Arsenal side whose undefeated run dates back to August 14th. They’d also won six straight matches since their 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain on September 13th. What we’re trying to say is that Arsenal are probably the best club in England at the moment. Ludogorets aren’t even the top team in Bulgaria, that’s Levski Sofia.
In the 12th minute, everyone’s premonitions came true. Arsenal took the lead, and they took the lead with some style. Alexis Sanchez scored with a sublime chip after humiliating his marker.
Oh my goodness what a chip, @Alexis_Sanchez #UCL @HeinekenSoccer #UCLonFOX https://t.co/wzK99ZqLwS
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 19, 2016
Theo Walcott curled in another sensational strike after being picked out at the top of the box by Mesut Ozil. Everybody was enjoying themselves now.
Theo Walcott doubles Arsenal's lead with his third goal in five days, and 3rd in this #UCL group stage. #UCLonFOX https://t.co/wjMbPftUq4
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 19, 2016
Halftime thankfully arrived for Ludogorets, but then the second half unfortunately started. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored Arsenal's third shortly after the break.
Oxlde-Chamberlain's season high for goals is 4 in 2011/12, he already has three this season. #afc pic.twitter.com/826Ef2RRy9
— ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ (@WengerTactic) October 19, 2016
Then Mesut Ozil scored Arsenal's fourth, just in case Ludogorets hadn't got the message. His first touch? Yeah, it was alright.
Watch and learn, kids. That first touch by @MesutOzil1088 was https://t.co/93zXQTmOXU
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 19, 2016
Ozil added his second and Arsenal's fifth in the 83rd minute, casual as you'd like. No one scores goals by jamming the ball straight into the ground quite like Ozil.
OZIL with another! Well done Perez! https://t.co/IHwBvtONz6
— Arsenal News (@__arsenalnews_) October 19, 2016
Ozil got his hat trick in the 87th minute, but it was actually getting close to being too much at this point.
Another one! @MesutOzil1088 scores his 1st career hat trick, 4 days after scoring on his birthday. On. Fire. #UCL https://t.co/yliMzPITx0
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 19, 2016
This is an unprecedented streak of joy for Arsenal. They’re joint leaders in the EPL, they look certain to advance from the UCL group stage and players like Olivier Giroud and Per Mertesacker aren’t playing. This is all great news for Gunners fans.
Arsenal’s next four fixtures? Middlesbrough, Reading, Sunderland and, once again, Ludogorets. Life is in Islington.
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