Ludogorets’ manager, Georgi Dermendzhiev, claimed before the first tie that although Arsenal are favourites to win the group in the Champions League, the Gunners are the ones who should be afraid but now he appears to have backtracked.

Speaking to the press as Arsenal travel to Sofia to try and win another three points against Ludogorets, the 61-year-old pointed out that his team will be more cautious this time.

Before this, Dermendzhiev claimed that he wasn’t afraid of us.

“We are not scared by Arsenal. I think they should be afraid of us, we can surprise every team.

“Arsenal are favourites, maybe even for the group. But we are not worried, and not afraid.”

Now, he’s singing from a slightly different hymn sheet.

Last time the two teams met at the Emirates, Arsenal won 6-0 and Mesut Ozil scored his first ever professional hattrick. Therefore, although we’ll probably field a slightly weaker team since we’ve got the North London Derby at the weekend, it should be a reasonably simple win.

Saying this, Ludogorets were far from push overs when they visited. We may have won by six goals but when it was just 1-0, they were right in it.

Without being patronising, you have to admire their confidence.