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Welcome to my Arsenal blog for the 2015/16 season; here you can check out my thoughts on the current goings on at the club.
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Friday 4 October 2013

Arsenal dominate Napoli as Ozil scores first goal

Arsenal put in one of their most convincing and best performances in a very long time as they defeated Napoli 2-0. It was a dominant display that sent out a message to the rest of Europe that Arsenal are certainly not to be taken lightly this season. Mesut Ozil opened the scoring with his first goal in the red and white. He then assisted the second, scored by Olivier Giroud. It was perhaps one of the best displays of football, excluding Barcelona, since we've moved to the Emirates. The game was a very different story to that of when they played each other in the Emirates Cup as they drew 2-2.
The stars of the show; Ozil celebrates his goal with Ramsey
The match marked the anniversary of 17 years in charge for Wenger - it was a perfect way to celebrate it. Top of the Premier League and now top of the supposed group of death in this season's Champions League. It could've not have gone much better considering we lost our very first game of the season, lets not go back to that though.

Both of Arsenal's goals came in the first fifteen minutes as Napoli didn't know what had hit them. Aaron Ramsey didn't get on the score sheet this time but he assisted the first goal. He got down the right hand side and then picked out Ozil in acres of space. The German then hit a sweet volley with his left foot into the corner of the net. It was great technique from a great player. Ramsey and Ozil himself had linked up brilliantly all game and it was as though they'd been playing together for years, let alone a single month!

The other goal was a welcomed one for Oliver Giroud as he grabbed his sixth of the season following going 4 games without one. It was the Frenchman who started the move off. Laying the ball to Ozil who got to the byline and then slid the ball into Giroud who couldn't miss. That was Ozil's fifth assist since joining the club, 2 of which were put away by Arsenal's main striker, Olivier Giroud. He certainly is looking a different man from last season.

Another man who put in a superb display in the middle of the park was Mathieu Flamini. Many had doubted as to why Wenger had brought him back but he's been committed, passionate and hard-working. He's exactly what we've been missing since he himself, had left 5 years ago. Rosicky made his comeback from injury as he played out on the left flank and played a solid 60 odd minutes. Mikel Arteta started as he continued his recovery from an injury that had kept him out of many of this season's early matches.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey(88), Rosicky(63), Ozil, Giroud. 
Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal(88), Jenkinson, Wilshere(63), Gnabry, Bendtner. 

Napoli: Reina, Albiol(83), Britos, Zuniga, Inler, Behrami, Hamsik, Insigne, Mesto, Pandev(61), Callejon(77).   
Subs: Cabral, Fernandez(83), Armero, Cannavaro, Mertens(61), Dzemali, Zapata(77).

My man of the match: Mesut Ozil

Referee: Milorad Mazic (SRB)
Attendance: 59,536

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