The Gunners headed to Italy on the back of their worst run of form in 16 years, losing each of their last four, but they produced a professional performance to come away victorious
Browsing: Aaron Ramsey
Though Mkhitaryan stole the show with a hat-trick of assists on his first appearance at the Emirates since joining from Manchester United, Iwobi was equally impressive, providing one of Aaron Ramsey’s three goals
The first of Arsenal’s four first-half goals arrived through their first attempt of note, as star attacking trio Mesut Ozil, Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan exchanged passes, before the latter teed up Ramsey to convert from close range
In his record-equalling 810th Premier League game, Wenger saw his side move to within a point of the top four with a 3-2 win at in-form Crystal Palace, and the Frenchman will be hoping for more of the free-flowing football on show at Selhurst Park as he moves past Sir Alex Ferguson’s games-managed record at The Hawthorns
The Gunners took an early lead through Alexandre Lacazette, but was lacklustre until the 68th minute when they netted another four goals in rapid succession
The opening stages of the game were dominated by the home side, with Ramsey seeing a shot well blocked by and Alexis Sanchez firing too close to former Gunners stopper Lukasz Fabianski
The Gunners trailed 3-2 heading into the final 10 minutes
The Gunners netted three times in the space of 12 first-half minutes and, despite seeing their opponents pull one back before the hour, were able to comfortably see things through
The Russians, who went into the match bottom of the group, looked lethargic from the off and came undone in the 10th minute when Ramsey latched onto a Joe Allen through-ball and lobbed the on-rushing Igor Akinfeev
Wenger said after the game that Ramsey was “very down” after realising the injury was “quite a tough one”, and the Gunners boss has now ruled the midfielder out until after the international break in mid-November
The Hammers began with intent and appeared eager to make their presence felt on the opposition, which led to early bookings for Mark Noble and Angelo Ogbonna
The home side threatened to open the scoring just a couple of minutes into the tie when Santi Cazorla was left with just Simon Mignolet to beat, but his low strike was punched clear by the Belgian
The Gunners smashed in three goals in the first half an hour to put themselves out of sight of their opponents with Aaron Ramsey with star of the show
For the second time in two matches, Danny Welbeck illustrated why his finishing is considered below par for a top forward by failing to convert a one-on-one with a goalkeeper
Ramsey has not played since the Boxing Day victory at West Ham United, in which he damaged a thigh muscle, and various attempts over recent weeks to step up his fitness work have ended in frustration
Ramsey had more than two years remaining on the deal he signed in December 2012 but it is a measure of how highly Arsène Wenger regards the 23-year-old midfielder that the Arsenal manager was keen to extend the player’s contract at the earliest opportunity as well as approve a significant wage increase