Arsenal came flying out of the tunnel like a team with a point to prove and a competition to win on Thursday night.

Overview

Defensively, however, they were a liability as we’ve seen so often over the last load of years. But wasn’t that always the deal with Arsene Wenger? We accept the defensive flaws because the team wowed us so much at the other end.

We haven’t had that for a long time and, against CSKA on Thursday night, we got a 90-minute reminder of why we gave Arsene so long for so little in return.

It was a display we know they are capable of producing but see far too rarely. It finished 5-1 but in reality it should have been at least double that.

So how did the players do individually?

Next, defence, midfield, forwards and subs…

Defence

Petr Cech 7

David Ospina was conveniently injured ahead of this game but it was strongly rumoured before the game that Cech would start anyway. If he really is hurt, is there another keeper in the history of football who gets injured more than the Colombian?

Superb distribution set up a number of Arsenal attacks and Cech, while no longer the keeper he once was, still instils a greater degree of confidence in the defence than Ospina.

Not that we saw much confidence from the defence on Thursday night. Still, imagine how bad it might have been with Ospina there and even less confidence. *shudders*

Cech had no chance with CSKA’s free-kick and little to do for most of the match apart from a save just after the hour mark that required him to get down low.

Thankfully his parry, which was tapped in, fell to a player in an offside position.

Hector Bellerin 7

Assisted Aaron Ramsey and faced little opposition on the right-hand side with his opponent not even able to complete half his passes. That being said, he didn’t get forward all that often and put in only one cross.

Booked for a panicky tackle after a poor touch took the ball away from him.

Shkodran Mustafi 6

His ridiculous hooked clearance straight into the middle of Arsenal’s defence caused all sorts of chaos that ended with Kos committing a foul from which the Russians scored.

Did not enjoy playing against Musa and went on a run to nowhere all by himself in the final few minutes for reasons that will probably never be understood.

Laurent Koscielny 6

Rested on Sunday so he’d be fit for this game and gave away the freekick that allowed CSKA to equalise and grab an important away goal. Didn’t excel, didn’t implode and also struggled with Musa.

Nacho Monreal 6

Almost set Ramsey up for his hattrick with a sharp pullback only to see the Welshman’s shot blocked as it headed towards the goal.

Wasn’t much of an attacking threat for most of the match until midway through the second half and then only briefly.

Next, midfield, forwards and subs…

Midfield

Granit Xhaka 7

Got himself involved in the panic leading to the freekick from which CSKA scored. Won freekicks well by falling over when in a tight corner. Could have had an assist with a floated ball to the back post only for Ozil to put it wide on the half-volley with the outside of his boot.

Splendid long ball to set Ozil off on another mission to assist for Arsenal’s fourth. Booked for a tackle that was so late I started to wonder if it was pregnant.

Aaron Ramsey 10

If Aaron Ramsey is trying to prove to Arsenal he’s worth a major payrise or to another club he’s worth signing, then he’s doing a brilliant job since his minor surgery.

Scored a brilliant goal at the end of a flowing move he made happen with a collection of delightful layoffs and fancy footwork, only to see the offside flag rule it out incorrectly. He made no mistake a few minutes later when he slammed the ball high into the roof of the net at the end of another example of Wengerball.

Also played Ozil in behind for the German to win the penalty.

His second goal, however, was just sublime. The run, the timing, the touch and direction never mind the audacity to try a backheel lob in the first place. This isn’t even the first time he’s tried that move.

Had numerous chances to score his second Arsenal hattrick and also hit the woodwork.

Not only would I give him a massive payrise to ensure he stays at Arsenal, I’d make him captain too.

Jack Wilshere 6

Dummied the ball when Ozil assisted Laca to make it 4-1 but that was his highlight.

An industrious evening from Jack if not the best creatively. Where Ozil and Ramsey were finding the sliderule passes, Jack seemed in need of a slight calibration. Completed only 73.3% of his passes – the worst of any outfield Arsenal starter by a distance, had zero shots, zero key passes and just 36 touches. One dribble, zero tackles, zero interceptions, zero clearances, zero blocked shots, zero crosses, and zero through balls make up his stat set for the evening.

With Adam Lalalla’s injury opening up a slot in the England squad for the World Cup and no clubs rushing to offer him the type of salary he thinks he’s worth, Jack needs to find his eye and touch sooner rather than later. Hopefully it will come with the effort he’s putting in on the pitch.

Was replaced after 74 minutes and what was probably his best pass of the game to put Iwobi in.

Next, forwards and subs…

Forwards

Mesut  Ozil 10

Hauled down for Arsenal’s penalty after some lovely movement got him in behind then dinked in the ball for Ramsey’s sexy second. Assisted Laca for his second, should have assisted Mkhitaryan only for the Armenian to mess up his finish and was on an assist frenzy for the whole game.

This was Mesut Ozil at his finest and any more words I use will only detract from his glory.

The loudest chant of the evening was Mesut Ozil’s song.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan 6

Hit the side netting after just three minutes at the end of a great move and his finishing didn’t really improve until he went off after an hour and a very heavy tackle. Seven shots, only one on target. He’s out for the weekend’s game against Southampton with the knee problem he picked up after a poor tackle.

Alexandre Lacazete 8

Scored again from the spot and then netted another great finish from just behind the spot into the corner to make it 4-1.

Looks like a new man since his return post-surgery and it seems clear his knee problem was hampering his ability to show us what he’s really got.

Was disappointed to be replaced after 74 minutes.

Next, subs…

Subs

Alex Iwobi 6

Replaced Mkhitarayn on the hour mark when the Armenian failed to recover after a heavy tackle. Tried to play someone in when he was primed to score and got the pass wrong. Was involved a few times after that, almost assisting the assist-master only for Ozil’s considered shot to be saved by Akinfeev.

Mohamed Elneny 6

Did what Elney does. Kept the ball moving, buzzed around with competence.

Danny Welbeck 6

Should have scored Arsenal’s fifth only to see it well saved. To the surprise of no one, replays showed it was a deflection off the defender and on to Welbeck rather than the forward actually making a clean connection.