LONDON • Arsene Wenger warned his Arsenal stars not to get carried away after they gave another demonstration of their sky-high confidence with a 6-0 demolition of Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League.
The Gunners are in peak form and Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets were powerless to prevent their hot streak extending to seven straight victories in all competitions.
Alexis Sanchez scored a sublime opener and Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were also on the scoresheet at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday before Mesut Ozil hit a second-half hat-trick.
It was uncharted territory for the German playmaker, who had never managed to score three times in a senior game, though his celebrations were rather sheepish given the lack of resistance he encountered.
"It looks like he has the taste for goals," Wenger said.
"We wanted him to be a provider and a scorer but, before, he only liked to provide. He's slowly moving towards that better balance."
With Arsenal top of their Champions League Group A after three matches and sitting pretty in the Premier League, where they are behind leaders Manchester City on goal difference, Wenger and company are finally feeling good about themselves after a troubled time last term.
But the Frenchman knows overconfidence could be fatal to Arsenal's chances of winning major silverware and he urged his players to stay humble.
"Let's not be too quick on the verdict. We have a strong squad and a strong spirit, but you have to take care of it and keep your feet on the ground," he said.
"Maybe the confidence is high, we have a good balance at the moment in the team. In this game a lot is linked with confidence.
"I feel that at the moment because we win game after game, maybe we get through dodgy periods with less psychological damage.
"The only way to win something big is to focus on the next one and work on humility."
Key to Arsenal's hopes of winning the Premier League and thriving in Europe will be maintaining the current purple patches of Sanchez and Ozil.
Both of them are seeking improved contracts and made persuasive cases for bumper deals with their latest dominant displays.
Wenger also added that Sanchez would be fit to face Middlesbrough in the Premier League tomorrow after the former Barcelona star came off in the 73rd minute.
"I just wanted to give him a breather but physically he is fine," he said.
In another Group A match, Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed a 3-0 win over Basel but coach Unai Emery acknowledged that his team are not yet up to the standard expected of serious contenders.
Goals from Angel di Maria, Lucas and Edinson Cavani gave PSG a victory that keeps them on course to qualify for the last 16. They are second in the group behind Arsenal, but only on goal difference.
However, Emery knows they must improve upon what was a patchy performance against unlucky opponents who were denied three times by the woodwork at the Parc des Princes.
"The first half was not good. That's true. We were saved by the posts but we scored, and at 1-0 the match opened up for us and we had chances," the Spaniard said.
"It is an important three points but I am not as happy as I'd like to be."
THE GUARDIAN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
