Ludogorets Razgrad 2-3 Arsenal

Mesut Ozil has scored four goals in his past two Champions League games, after scoring just three in his previous 22

Mesut Ozil scored a stunning late goal as a resilient Arsenal came back from 2-0 down to beat Ludogorets Razgrad and reach the Champions League knockout stages.

Ozil was a picture of composure as he ran through on goal, chipped the keeper and cut inside two defenders before slotting in from close range for a dramatic winner.

Earlier on, Arsenal's hopes of a repeat of their 6-0 win in the reverse tie were quickly dispelled when Jonathan Cafu put Ludogorets in front against the run of play by steering in a left-footed volley from a Wanderson free-kick.

Cafu turned provider three minutes later as he jinked past Kieran Gibbs and squared a ball for Claudiu Keseru to turn in as the Bulgarian side shocked the Gunners with a second in a frantic opening.

Granit Xhaka guided in a 15-yard shot from an Ozil cross to pull one back for Arsene Wenger's side before Olivier Giroud expertly headed in Aaron Ramsey's clipped cross to equalise.

Arsenal keeper David Ospina twice saved from Wanderson before Ozil secured his side's progress into the last 16 and extended their unbeaten run to 15 games.

Relive Ludogorets Razgrad v Arsenal

Mesut magic gives Arsenal edge

One of the highlights of Arsenal's season so far has been the goalscoring form of Ozil. The German playmaker has already taken his tally this season to seven, having scored eight for the Gunners in total last term.

He should have opened the scoring early on when Francis Coquelin played him through on goal, but he struck a tame shot that was easily saved.

Ludogorets punished the miss with two goals, but Ozil then played a key part in Arsenal's recovery as he gesticulated for his team to increase their effort.

He set up Xhaka for his first Champions League goal and timed his run to perfection to meet Mohamed Elneny's pass on the way to his goal, adding to his hat-trick in the first game against Ludogorets at the Emirates.

Ozil has now been directly involved in eight goals in his past five games for Arsenal in all competitions, with five goals and three assists.

Ozil's touchmap shows his influence on Arsenal's attacking play - he had three shots and made four key passes during the match

Can Gunners maintain resolve?

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his side's "prime target" was to win Group A in order to avoid playing tougher opposition.

The Gunners have gone out at the first knockout stage of the Champions League in the past six seasons, having last won their group in 2011-12.

Wenger's side showed vulnerabilities at the back when Ludogorets went on the counter-attack, but they demonstrated spirit and character to recover. This means they could be ready to avoid the capitulations which have marred previous European and Premier League campaigns.

Arsenal's mental strength will again be tested when they face Tottenham followed by Manchester United in the league before what could be a decider to finish top of Group A when they host Paris St-Germain.

Sanchez and Giroud dilemma for Wenger

The energy and goals of Alexis Sanchez playing as a central striker have proved a major success for Wenger this season.

However, with Giroud returning to fitness and scoring two key goals in Saturday's top-flight win at Sunderland, Wenger chose to give the Frenchman his first start of the season against Ludogorets with the job of leading the Gunners' attack.

Sanchez was shifted out to the left wing and, initially, it seemed to reduce the Chile international's threat as well as Arsenal's.

But Giroud did score the equaliser and Wenger now has to decide which attacking formation works best for his side in the key games coming up.

Man of the match - Mesut Ozil

"It's not over until it's over! Difficult start but great comeback," Ozil tweeted following his winner

What they said:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: "You wanted Mesut Ozil to take his chance earlier, but in the end he shows he has enough skill to prove he was right.

"I believe the hardest thing is to be consistent at the top level, but hopefully we can now go further [in the competition].

"We need to maintain the quality of our results until the match against Paris St-Germain and then hopefully we will be in a position to finish top of the group."

The stats you need to know

• Arsenal came from two goals down to win a Champions League match for the first time since September 2009 (also 3-2 against Standard Liege).
• Olivier Giroud has scored five of Arsenal's past eight goals away from home in the Champions League (each of his past five in the competition have come away from the Emirates).
• Ludogorets scored more than once in a Champions League game for just the second time in their history, with the first instance also coming against an English side (2-2 v Liverpool in November 2014).
• The Gunners have now kept just two clean sheets in their past 10 away games in the Champions League.
• Granit Xhaka netted his first goal in the Champions League on what was his 18th appearance in the competition.

What next?

Arsenal are next in action against north-London rivals Tottenham on Sunday at midday. Their two remaining Champions League games are at home to PSG on Wednesday, 23 November and Basel on Tuesday, 6 December.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Ludogorets

• 1Borjan
• 25MinevBooked at 38mins
• 5Palomino
• 27Moti
• 6Batista Pimienta
• 18Dyakov
• 12Andrianantenaina Abel
• 22Barbosa
• 84Nascimento da Costa
• 88Cristaldo Farias
• 28KeseruSubstituted forMisidjanat 80'minutes

Substitutes

• 4Gusmao
• 8Pacheco Affini
• 11Azevedo Junior
• 21Stoyanov
• 32Plastun
• 92Lukoki
• 93Misidjan

Arsenal

• 13Ospina
• 25JenkinsonBooked at 70mins
• 20Mustafi
• 6Koscielny
• 3Gibbs
• 34CoquelinBooked at 59mins
• 29XhakaBooked at 66minsSubstituted forElnenyat 87'minutes
• 8RamseySubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 75'minutes
• 11Özil
• 7SánchezSubstituted forIwobiat 90'minutes
• 12Giroud

Substitutes

• 5Gabriel
• 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
• 16Holding
• 17Iwobi
• 33Cech
• 35Elneny
• 55Maitland-Niles

Referee:

Bas Nijhuis

Attendance:

30,862

Match Stats

Home TeamLudogoretsAway TeamArsenal

Possession

Home42%

Away58%

Shots

Home7

Away12

Shots on Target

Home4

Away4

Corners

Home4

Away5

Fouls

Home10

Away23

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Ludogorets Razgrad 2, Arsenal 3.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Ludogorets Razgrad 2, Arsenal 3.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Mesut Özil (Arsenal).

Posted at 90'+3'

Anicet (Ludogorets Razgrad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt blocked. José Luis Palomino (Ludogorets Razgrad) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Wanderson with a cross.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Ludogorets Razgrad. Conceded by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Substitution

Posted at 90'

Substitution, Arsenal. Alex Iwobi replaces Alexis Sánchez.

Posted at 90'

Francis Coquelin (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Virgil Misidjan (Ludogorets Razgrad).

Goal!

Posted at 87'

Goal! Ludogorets Razgrad 2, Arsenal 3. Mesut Özil (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mohamed Elneny with a through ball.

Substitution

Posted at 87'

Substitution, Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny replaces Granit Xhaka.

Posted at 86'

Offside, Arsenal. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tries a through ball, but Mesut Özil is caught offside.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal).

Posted at 86'

Jonathan Cafu (Ludogorets Razgrad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Marcelinho (Ludogorets Razgrad).

Posted at 84'

Attempt missed. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).

Posted at 81'

Virgil Misidjan (Ludogorets Razgrad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 80'

Foul by Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal).

Posted at 80'

Wanderson (Ludogorets Razgrad) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Ludogorets Razgrad. Virgil Misidjan replaces Claudiu Keseru.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal).

Posted at 79'

Cosmin Moti (Ludogorets Razgrad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 78'

Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Wanderson (Ludogorets Razgrad).

Posted at 76'

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Svetoslav Dyakov.

Substitution

Posted at 75'

Substitution, Arsenal. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Aaron Ramsey.

Posted at 75'

Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Svetoslav Dyakov (Ludogorets Razgrad).

Posted at 74'

Foul by Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal).

Posted at 74'

Svetoslav Dyakov (Ludogorets Razgrad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 72'

Attempt missed. Jonathan Cafu (Ludogorets Razgrad) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Wanderson.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal).

Posted at 71'

Wanderson (Ludogorets Razgrad) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Booking

Posted at 70'

Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal).

Posted at 70'

Wanderson (Ludogorets Razgrad) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 67'

Foul by Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal).

Posted at 67'

Jonathan Cafu (Ludogorets Razgrad) wins a free kick on the right wing.

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