Mesut Özil given free ride by rusting hulks of Russian football past | Nick Ames


CSKA’s back three, with a combined age of 108, were unable to cope with Arsenal’s attacking verve, particularly in the absence of any kind of defensive midfield cover

Victor Goncharenko was halfway through a candid assessment of his team’s hammering by Arsenal when, unprompted, he produced one of the more statesmanlike interventions in contemporary Anglo-Russian relations. “We still welcome you in Russia for the World Cup,” the CSKA Moscow manager said. “We can assure you there will be great stadiums. Ask us questions and please come to Russia.”

Related: Aaron Ramsey scores wonder goal in Arsenal’s easy defeat of CSKA Moscow

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