Arsenal Brave Qarabag Storm For Baku Europa League Stroll

BAKU, Azerbijan- Emile Smith Rowe, Matteo Guendouzi and Sokratis each scored their first goals for Arsenal FC, as the Gunners returned from the Azerbaijan capital with an eighth consecutive win in a 3-0 victory over Carabag in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.

Unai Emery’s in form side took charge of Group E of the competition with six points from their opening two games on goal difference, ahead of Portugal giants Sporting Lisbon FC who scored stoppage-time goals to force a 2-1 win at Vorskla in Ukraine.

Emery named a strong squad for this 4,000-kilometre trip, but it was three players with fewer than 20 appearances between them who scored the goals to see off a spirited Qarabag side at a hostile Olympic Stadium in Baku.

Defender Sokratis got the ball rolling early on, and second-half goals from Smith Rowe and Guendouzi sealed an excellent victory to keep the Gunners top of Europa League Group E.

The score line was comfortable in the end, but Arsenal had to dig deep for large periods, despite getting off to the perfect start.

From a fourth-minute Mohamed Elneny corner, Monreal rose well to head goal wards, and his effort deflected off Sokratis' leg, wrong-footing Vagner in the Qarabag goal.

It was reward for a fast start. Arsenal monopolised possession and set about silencing the home fans in the Olympic Stadium.

A thrusting run from wing back Sead Kolasinac on the left flank had created the first chance in the second minute - Elneny saw his shot charged down when the ball fell to him just inside the area.

Back strongly

Qarabag came back strongly after conceding, as the locals found their voice again, but Emile Smith Rowe - on his first European start - nearly doubled the lead when sliding in to meet Kolasinac's low cross. He could only find the side netting however.

Bernd Leno had been quiet in the opening exchanges, but was alert enough to make a smart save low to his left after a jinking run from Mahir Madatov.

The atmosphere was heating up inside the stadium, and although Arsenal weren't being allowed to settle in possession, they looked dangerous whenever Iwobi and Kolasinac combined on the left.

The latter set up another chance for Smith Rowe in the box, but after he was crowded out, Guendouzi took over and saw his shot blocked.

The Gunners ended the half under pressure, and started the second period on the back foot too. In fact Qarabag had the ball in the net soon after the break, but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

Emery had started the game with a three-man defence, but reverted to a back four for the second half, replacing Nacho Monreal with Lucas Torreira.

Qarabag were beginning to get on top, so Rowe's first senior goal was particularly well-timed.

Academy product

Set up by fellow Hale End Academy product Alex Iwobi, he raced through on goal and neatly tucked the ball through Vagner's legs.

Arsenal had well and truly drawn the sting from the Azerbaijan champions, and Emery was able to bring on Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette in the second half to see the game out.

Iwobi was one of those replaced - he had another excellent game, and might just have done enough to keep his place at the weekend.

The game was well and truly killed off with another superbly-taken goal 10 minutes from time. Lacazette led a counter-attack, found Guendouzi on the edge of the area and the midfielder twisted and turned before placing his shot low into the corner.

Danny Welbeck blazed a late chance well over the bar, but it couldn't spoil an excellent evening for the Gunners.

Arsenal next play Fulham on Sunday in the English Premier League in a London derby seeking a fifth victory in row in that competition under the new head coach having out-gunned Watford FC 2-0 last weekend.

-Report by www.arsenal.com