Arsenal Beat Frankfurt in Europa League Opener
Sports 19 September 2019 Arabia Day Newsdesk 0
Goals from academy gradates Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka helped Arsenal overcome a difficult test against Eintracht Frankfurt and begin their Europa League campaign with a victory.
Willock put the Gunners in front with a deflected shot in the first half before Saka smashed in a second in the 85th minute.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added a third two minutes later as Arsenal ended their three-game winless run.
The Gunners had created further chances but also relied on goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to come to the aid of their fragile defence.
The Argentine produced excellent low saves to deny Filip Kostic and Andre Silva in the first half.
The second period was frantic in front of a vociferous home crowd with Arsenal’s late goals only coming after Dominik Kohr was shown a second yellow card for a cynical foul.
Youngsters star in attack
Manager Unai Emery opted for a mix of youth and experience for the game in Germany, despite it arguably being Arsenal’s toughest test in Group F, and it was their young players who stood out.
Teenager Saka, playing for the first team for the first time this season and fifth time in total, was excellent on the left flank.
He set up Willock’s goal by beating his marker with fine skill in midfield and was the main threat for the Gunners in the first half.
The only criticism was he spurned a number of chances to increase Arsenal’s lead but he silenced those doubts with an emphatic finish from the edge of the area late on.
Willock played as the Gunners most advanced central midfielder and offered a goal threat but also linked play well, notably with a fine driving run in the second half which ended with Martin Hinteregger excellently blocking an Aubameyang shot.
The scoreline flattered Arsenal in the end but the game will be most memorable for the performance of their youngsters.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Frankfurt
- 1Trapp
- 19Abraham
- 20Hasebe
- 13HintereggerBooked at 12mins
- 24da CostaSubstituted forChandlerat 74′minutes
- 28KohrBooked at 79mins
- 8Sow
- 10Kostic
- 15KamadaBooked at 82mins
- 9DostSubstituted forMendes Paciênciaat 66′minutes
- 33André Silva
Substitutes
- 2Ndicka
- 3Falette
- 5Fernandes
- 7Joveljic
- 22Chandler
- 32Rönnow
- 39Mendes Paciência
Arsenal
- 26Martínez
- 21ChambersBooked at 83mins
- 20Mustafi
- 23David Luiz
- 31KolasinacBooked at 75minsSubstituted forMaitland-Nilesat 80′minutes
- 11Torreira
- 34Xhaka
- 32Smith RoweSubstituted forPépéat 60′minutes
- 28WillockBooked at 63minsSubstituted forCeballosat 72′minutes
- 77Saka
- 14Aubameyang
Substitutes
- 1Leno
- 8Ceballos
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 19Pépé
- 24Nelson
- 29Guendouzi
- 35Martinelli
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home24
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away6
- Corners
- Home11
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away12
Live Text
Match ends, Eintracht Frankfurt 0, Arsenal 3.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Eintracht Frankfurt 0, Arsenal 3.
André Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal).
Attempt missed. Lucas Torreira (Arsenal) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Attempt missed. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Bukayo Saka with a cross following a fast break.
Goal!
Goal! Eintracht Frankfurt 0, Arsenal 3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Bukayo Saka with a through ball.
Goal!
Goal! Eintracht Frankfurt 0, Arsenal 2. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Nicolas Pépé.
Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
Booking
Calum Chambers (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Filip Kostic (Eintracht Frankfurt) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Calum Chambers (Arsenal).
Attempt missed. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Calum Chambers following a set piece situation.
Booking
Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Dani Ceballos (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Ainsley Maitland-Niles replaces Sead Kolasinac.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Dominik Kohr (Eintracht Frankfurt) for a bad foul.
Foul by Dominik Kohr (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt blocked. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dani Ceballos.
Attempt missed. Filip Kostic (Eintracht Frankfurt) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Booking
Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Eintracht Frankfurt. Timothy Chandler replaces Danny da Costa.
Attempt missed. Danny da Costa (Eintracht Frankfurt) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
Corner, Eintracht Frankfurt. Conceded by Calum Chambers.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Dani Ceballos replaces Joe Willock.
Attempt saved. André Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Filip Kostic with a cross.
Corner, Eintracht Frankfurt. Conceded by Bukayo Saka.
Corner, Eintracht Frankfurt. Conceded by Sead Kolasinac.
Attempt saved. Gonçalo Paciência (Eintracht Frankfurt) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Danny da Costa.
Attempt missed. Filip Kostic (Eintracht Frankfurt) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Dominik Kohr.
Corner, Eintracht Frankfurt. Conceded by Calum Chambers.
Attempt blocked. André Silva (Eintracht Frankfurt) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Filip Kostic.
Attempt saved. Joe Willock (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bukayo Saka.
Foul by Gonçalo Paciência (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Eintracht Frankfurt. Gonçalo Paciência replaces Bas Dost.
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