FC Basel 1 Arsenal 4: Lucas Perez hat-trick sees Gunners finish top of Group A ahead of Champions League rivals PSG

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Tom Doyle6 December 2016

Lucas Perez hit a superb Champions League hat-trick for Arsenal against FC Basel at St. Jakob-Park as the Gunners capitalised on PSG's 2-2 draw against Ludogorets to top Group A with a 4-1 victory.

With PSG above Arsenal by virtue of a superior head-to-head record heading into the final group game, Arsene Wenger's Gunners were hoping on a slip-up from the French champions on order to secure top spot and a potentially favourable draw in the last-16.

Things were going Arsenal's way early on as Lucas Perez put the visitors two goals up with 16 minutes, with Kieran Gibbs assisting the Spanish striker for both strikes.

Brothers Granit and Taulant Xhaka once again lined up against each other, but Basel and Taulant were no match for the Gunners' incisive movement as they toyed with their opponents - and Ludogorets duly played their part by taking a 1-0 lead against PSG through Virgil Misidjan.

David Ospina was alert to make a couple of fine saves to prove Wenger right in sticking with his decision to make the Colombian goalkeeper his No.1 in Europe, and Arsenal picked up where they left off after the break as Lucas completed his hat-trick two minutes after half-time.

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Alex Iwobi then smashed home a close-range volley via a Mesut Ozil assist 53 minutes in to put the result beyond any doubt, though PSG hit back at Parc des Princes through an Edinson Cavani bicycle kick.

But there was more drama in store at Parc des Princes as Wanderson struck a crisp volley to make it 2-1 and pile the pressure on PSG coach Unai Emery.

The Ligue 1 champions desperately attacked and found an injury-time equaliser through Angel Di Maria, but the game finished 2-2.

Arsenal - who saw out their result in relative comfort in Switzerland despite a late Seydou Doumbia consolation goal - now head into the knockout stages with the prospect of a favourable draw.

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