Arsenal crush CSKA Moscow after Ramsey brilliance

Arsenal are well on their way to the Europa League semi-finals after demolishing CSKA Moscow at the Emirates.

The gentle genius of Mesut Ozil inspired the home side, who scored four times in an extraordinary first half. There were two goals for Aaron Ramsey – who also hit the post and had a goal dubiously disallowed – and two for Alexandre Lacazette.

CSKA had chances of their own, and were briefly level through a superb free-kick from Aleksandr Golovin, but their ageing defence was run ragged from start to finish. Arsenal could have scored 10.

They had to settle for four, all scored in the first 35 minutes. The best was Ramsey’s second - a glorious first-time volley over Igor Akinfeev from Ozil's lofted pass.

After half-time Arsenal missed a hatful of chances to put the tie completely to bed. But on this evidence, it would be a major surprise if they don't make it through to the last four.

Their attacking play was mesmerising and would trouble anyone. But there were some defensive frailties that might be exploited by a streetwise team like Atletico Madrid. Though Arsenal were wonderful to watch, the match told us little about them that we didn’t already know.

Mesut Ozil (Arsenal): Ramsey and Lacazette scored twice but only one man stood out. Ozil killed CSKA softly; his subtle, penetrative passing created a stream of clear chances, including all four goals. He may never have played better for Arsenal.

Arsenal: Cech 6, Bellerin 6, Mustafi 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Xhaka 7, Wilshere 6, Ramsey 8, Ozil 10, Mkhitaryan 7, Lacazette 8. Subs: Iwobi 6, Welbeck 6, Elneny 6.

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev 5, Ignashevich 5, V Berezutski 5, A Berezutski 5, Kuchaev 6, Natcho 6, Schennikov 5, Dzagoev 5, Golovin 6, Musa 7, Wernbloom 6. Subs: Vitinho 5, Milanov 6. Khosonov 6.

9’ GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 CSKA Moscow (Ramsey) Ozil finds Bellerin, who slides a low cross into the area from the right. It beats everyone at the near post and comes to Ramsey, who sidefoots emphatically past Akinfeev. That's a fine finish.

15’ GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 CSKA Moscow (Golovin) An aerial challenge of rare stupidity from Koscielny on Golovin gives CSKA a free-kick just outside the area - and they score from it! Golovin clips a superb free-kick over the wall and just inside the post, giving Cech precisely no chance.

23’ GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 CSKA Moscow (Lacazette pen) Ozil surges into the area and falls over under a challenge from Schennikov. It looked a bit soft but the goalline official gave the penalty. Lacazette drives the penalty low into the net with Akinfeev going the wrong way.

28’ GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 CSKA Moscow (Ramsey) This is genius from Aaron Ramsey! The brilliant Ozil dinked a little pass over the defence to put him clear on goal. He saw the keeper coming and, as the ball dropped, twisted his body to cushion a volley over Akinfeev's head with the outside of the right foot. That is a sensational goal.

35’ GOAL! Arsenal 4-1 CSKA Moscow (Lacazette) Ozil drives a cutback to Lacazette, who controls the ball on the edge of the area and slaps a low shot past Akinfeev.

77’ RAMSEY HITS THE POST! Never mind the hat-trick, he could have had a double hat-trick tonight. Iwobi found him unmarked on the edge of the box, and he curled a lovely effort that clattered off the outside of the post.

Arsenal have won their last five games in all competitions, scoring 15 goals in the process.

CSKA’s back three had a combined age of 108.