v. Ludogorets, 2016. : Gunners

It’s not the flashiest pass, but r/gunners needs to understand that we’re not going to get crazy Özil bangers ’til July. We have to have some more classical passes, and this a good example. It’s simple, but intelligently delivered; Walcott would not have had nearly as much space to shoot had Mesut not faked the Ludogorets defenders into thinking the pass was going into the center of the box. In any case, we smashed Ludogorets 6-0 in this game. Özil—after a poor first 20 minutes—was lights-out.

Fun facts about this game:

• Ludogorets, along with Levski Sofia, are the only Bulgarian teams to ever enter the group stage of the Champions League.

• Özil, on top of all his through balls, scored a 31-minute hat-trick in this one, his first and to date only hat-trick for the Gunners.

• To put a more depressing spin on things: this was Santi Cazorla’s last game for Arsenal. At least until his testimonial. It’s commonly thought Wenger should not have picked him for this one, as he was already playing through injury.