Lucas Perez plunders hat-trick as Arsenal snatch top spot from PSG

Arsenal were merciless in dispatching a frankly appalling Basel 4-1, qualifying for the last-16 as group winners thanks to Ludogorets’ surprise 2-2 draw at PSG.

It only took Arsenal eight minutes to score their first, a move the length of the pitch given impetus by Alexis Sanchez's pass for Kieran Gibbs, whose cross was turned in almost apologetically by Lucas Perez on his return from injury.

And it only took a further eight minutes for Arsenal to double their advantage, another period of passing elevated first by Sanchez, then by Mesut Ozil, to again free Gibbs, whose shot was palmed out to Perez; again, he had time to plot his close-range finish.

Basel improved slightly thereafter, but just after half-time Arsenal scored again, Perez completing his hat-trick after Gibbs' through-ball found its way through Sanchez and into his path, and on 54 minutes, Alex Iwobi scored his first of the season, Sanchez's pass releasing Ozil, who teed-up a tap-in.

Arsenal coasted through the remainder of the game, allowing Seydou Doumbia, on as a substitute, to craft and finish a delightful consolation, but as they ambled down the tunnel and the final whistle blew in Paris, an already excellent night became a perfect one.

How good is Alexis Sanchez? Yes, very, but this is not really the question, rather, are we seeing him develop into a great, or is this simply a good run? It is the otherworldly consistency of Ronaldo, Messi and Suarez that marks them out, as much as the standard they are able to attain; moving to centre-forward might just be the catalyst which prompts Sanchez to do similarly.

Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal): It feels churlish not to give it Lucas Perez for his hat-trick, and he will no doubt be extremely disappointed to be overlooked, but what can you do? His first two goals owed plenty to Sanchez's brilliance, he was even involved in the third - unwittingly, but still - and was back to doing it on purpose for Iwobi's effort.

It took Lucas Perez 47 minutes to score the same number of Champions League goals as Spurs have managed all season.

Basel: Vaclik 6, Lang 5, Suchy 5, Balanta 6, Traore 6, Xhaka 5, Serey Die 5, Elyounoussi 5, Delgado 6, Steffen 7, Janko 6. Subs: Calla 6, Doumbia 7, Zuffi 6.

Arsenal: Ospina 7, Gabriel 6, Koscielny 6, Holding 5, Gibbs 7, Xhaka 6, Ramsey 6, Lucas 8, Ozil 8, Iwobi 6, Sanchez 9. Subs: Elneny 6, Giroud 6, Walcott 6.

8’ - GOAL! BASEL 0-1 ARSENAL (PEREZ): This is remarkably miserable from Basel, Sanchez taking possession outside the box after a succession of Arsenal passes, turning, and lifting a ball for Gibbs down the left. His cross is far from perfect, but Balanta contrives to miss it, so Lucas, at the back post, has time to take a touch and apologetically lift a finish into the roof of the next from under the bar.

16' - GOAL! BASEL 0-2 ARSENAL (PEREZ): This goal is not far off identical to the first, in its way. Arsenal keep the ball knocking it side to side, and then Alexis' sharp turn opens the space for Ozil to deliver a lovely pass into the path of Gibbs. This time, he shoots, Vaclik saves, and the ball bounces out to Lucas, who again has plenty of time to plot his finish, this time slamming it home. This game is over.

40' - CHANCE: But what's this? Steffen runs at Gibbs, who tries to show him down the line, but instead he bursts across the edge of the box and slams a low curler at goal. Ospina sees it late and gets down well to strongarm it, pouncing to snaffle the loose ball before Janko can stick it away. Excellent keeping - he might be the best number 2 in the world.

47' - GOAL! BASEL 0-3 ARSENAL (PEREZ) Dearie Basel. Gibbs seizes on a loose pass, welts a ball into Sanchez which passes through him and puts Lucas in; he smacks a low finish into the corner, and that's his hat-trick!

54' - GOAL! BASEL 0-4 ARSENAL (IWOBI) This is lovely from Arsenal, a clever ball to halfway from Koscielny finding Ramsey, and he transfers to Sanchez on the left touchline, whereupon he promptly rams a defence-splitter into Ozil, on the left side of the box. He cuts back, and there's Iwobi to tap-in.

67' - ARSENAL HIT THE BAR! Oh man! What a free-kick this is from Sanchez! From outside the box, just left of centre, smacks it, not quite knuckleball-style - his approach is still for a curler - and it swings left then flies right, diddling the keeper by a couple of yards, and smacking the underside of the bar. The ball then bounces down and Ramsey heads into Vaclik's arms, but really, that was special.

78' - LOVELY GOAL! BASEL 1-4 ARSENAL (DOUMBIA) What a goal this is! Holding gives the ball away just outside the box, right-hand side, and Doumbia performs a Zidane pirouette, exchanges passes with Janko, cuts across the face of goal and lifts a finish over the diving Ospina with outside of his right foot.