There were plenty of reasons for Arsenal to be satisfied with their night’s work in Basel. Their thumping 4-1 victory was positive enough, but Paris Saint-Germain’s surprise 2-2 draw with Ludogorets Razgrad also meant that this result was enough for the Gunners to top Champions League Group A.
Arsene Wenger will be delighted with the way he was able to rotate his side and maintain momentum—and no one impressed more than Lucas Perez.
The Spaniard, who was making his first Champions League start, ended the night with a hat-trick. It’s a tremendous feat, and one that could kickstart the Arsenal career of a player whose progress thus far has been hindered by injury and a lack of opportunities.