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Arsenal enjoy terrific international break as NINE Gunners score, Ozil assists, Fabregas misses a penalty and Van Persie scores own goal

Arsene Wenger will have been delighted this week

Wednesday 14 October 2015 09:55 BST

Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring for Chile (Getty Images)

The international break has been terrific for Arsenal.

Nine different Gunners players scored, Mesut Ozil made two assists for Germany, and ex-Gunners Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie both had matches to forget.

The prolific Alexis Sanchez (who else?) scored a total of three goals for Chile in their World up qualifiers, one in the 2-0 World Cup win over Brazil, and a double in the 4-3 victory over Peru.

Santi Cazorla scored twice for Spain, Olivier Giroud netted twice for France.

Aaron Ramsey finally rediscovered for goal-scoring touch, and was on target for Wales in the 2-0 win over Andorra last night. It was his first goal of the season for club or country.

Forgotten man Joel Campbell reminded Gunners manager Arsene Wenger that he still exists, scoring the winner for Costa Rica against USA.

For England, both Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored.

Lithuania vs England player ratings

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1/11Lithuania vs England player ratings

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Jack Butland: 7 out of 10

Hardly saw the ball in the first half, but reacted well when faced with Spalvis’ shot with the score 1-0 – making a fine one-handed save to deny the Lithuania striker – before dealing with Slivka’s chipped free-kick in the second half.

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Lithuania vs England player ratings

Kyle Walker: 6 out of 10

Had a couple of disappointing moments on the ball when defending and attacking, but combined well with Oxlade-Chamberlain in the second half to set up the Arsenal man for his goal.

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Lithuania vs England player ratings

Phil Jones: 6 out of 10

Was solid alongside Jagielka in the heart of England’s defence although the duo were never really tested.

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Lithuania vs England player ratings

Phil Jagielka: 6 out of 10

Performed well on his first outing as England captain, marshalling his back line well despite the lack of cutting edge from Lithuania’s forwards.

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Lithuania vs England player ratings

Kieran Gibbs: 6 out of 10

The left-back was never really threatened down his flank and regularly moved forwards to help England build their attacks, exemplified when he cut inside to set up Vardy on the stroke of half time.

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Jonjo Shelvey: 5 out of 10

The Swansea midfielder was involved in some of England’s attacks, but didn’t really have any trouble containing Lithuania’s midfielders in front of the defence.

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 8 out of 10

After a quiet first half, the Arsenal winger sprang into action in the second period after scoring England’s third of the night and nearly creating another with his fine pass to Kane minutes earlier.

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Lithuania vs England player ratings

Adam Lallana: 6 out of 10

Set up England’s second goal with his neat flick to Kane and linked up well several times with the England striker. Was replaced by Alli in the 66th minute but enjoyed a good game.

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Lithuania vs England player ratings

Ross Barkley: 8 out of 10

Started the game further back but proved the difference after scoring a superb goal in the 28th minute to give England the lead before testing Arlauskis with a fine header in the second half. Was replaced by Townsend with 20 minutes to go.

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Jamie Vardy: 5 out of 10

Endured a disappointing night in Vilnius after allowing Novikovas to get past him too easily to test Butland with a shot and – after being set up by Gibbs – opting to go for goal instead of finding a team-mate. Was shown a yellow card for encroachment with 10 minutes to go.

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Lithuania vs England player ratings

Harry Kane: 7 out of 10

Looked bright throughout the game and tested Arlauskis with several early chances before he set up Barkley for the opener. The striker’s good work on the ball ended in England taking a 2-0 lead - although his goal was officially given as an own goal – and should have made it 3-0 before being taken off. Still, a positive game for the Spurs star.

At youth level, Serge Gnabry, who is on loan at West Brom, scored for Germany Under 21's in their 6-0 win over the Faroe Islands, while Chuba Akpom, who is on loan at Hull City, scored for England Under-21s against Kazakhstan.

And there was even more for Arsenal supporters to celebrate - former Gunners captains Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie had weeks to forget.

Fabregas missed a penalty for Spain against Ukraine, under the watchful eye of his Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who was in the stands, while Van Persie's Netherlands failed qualify for Euro 2016 after losing 3-2 to Czech Republic, in a game in which Van Persie scored a bizarre own goal.

The Gunners are back in Premier League action on Saturday, as they travel to newly promoted Watford, buoyed on by the international break one assumes.

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