Welbeck Strike Downs Sporting, Lifts Arsenal To 11th Straight Win

LISBON, Portugal- Danny Welbeck scored the only goal as Arsenal FC extended their winning run to 11 games in all competitions and took command of Group E of the UEFA Europa League with a 1-0 win in the process.

The Gunners came into this match knowing that a win would put Unai Emery’s side in pole position to seal top spot early, and the head coach named a strong side here in Lisbon.

 But perhaps owing to the early kick-off time, the atmosphere inside the ground at the start of this game was somewhat muted – and that translated to the action on the pitch.

Neither side were able to take control during a low-key first half, with Nani going closest for the hosts with a curling strike from the edge of the area, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Granit Xhaka had our most notable efforts at goal.

The game needed to come to life after the interval, and within three minutes Aubameyang had stung Renan Ribeiro’s hands with a firm effort from inside the area.

 Moments later who was put through up the left channel by Matteo Guendouzi, but Ribeiro was off his line to close the angle and block his shot.

Goal disallowed

This was more like it, and in the 53rd minute Arsenal came close to breaking the deadlock as Guendouzi rode a challenge in the area and picked out Danny Welbeck, whose shot was deflected just wide.

 Welbeck had a goal disallowed for a push as the Gunners continued to push for the opening goal, while Lucas Torreira tested Ribeiro with a firm free kick.

Finally, with 13 minutes remaining Welbeck pounced on a slip by Sebastian Coates and raced through on goal, making no mistake with a fierce drive into the bottom corner.

 It was no more than Arsenal’s second-half showing deserved, and in truth Sporting never truly threatened again as we eased to yet another win, one which sees us take a big step towards the knockout stages.

Elsewhere adds AFP, Gennaro Gattuso's Milan dropped their first points in Group F as goals from Antonio Sanabria and Giovani Lo Celso, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, earned Betis a famous 2-1 win in Italy.

Patrick Cutrone grabbed a consolation for Milan who finished the game with 10 men after Samuel Castillejo saw red for the hosts in injury time.

Olympiakos beat Dudelange of Luxembourg 2-0 in the group's other fixture, while there was more misery for Brendan Rodgers and Scottish champions Celtic in Germany.

Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha and Portugal winger Bruma, who scored against Scotland in a friendly this month, were both on target in the first half as RB Leipzig won 2-0.

Salzburg picked up a third successive victory to stay top of Group B as Munas Dabbur netted twice in a 3-0 defeat of bottom side Rosenborg.

-Report by www.arsenalfc.com

Collated UEFA Europa League results

Group A

At Zurich, Switzerland

FC Zurich (SUI) 3 (Marchesano 44, Domgjoni 59, Odey 78) Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 2 (Bellarabi 50, 53)

At Nicosia

AEK Larnaca (CYP) 1 (Larena 25-pen) Ludogorets (BUL) 1 (Lukoki 7)

Group B

At Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg (AUT) 3 (Dabbur 34, 59-pen, Wolf 53) Rosenborg (NOR) 0

At Leipzig, Germany

RB Leipzig (GER) 2 (Cunha 31, Bruma 35) Celtic (SCO) 0

Group C

At St Petersburg, Russia

Zenit St Petersburg (RUS) 2 (Dzyuba 41, Kuzyaev 85) Bordeaux (FRA) 1 (Briand 26)

At Copenhagen

FC Copenhagen (DEN) 0 Slavia Prague (CZE) 1 (Matousek 46)

Group D

At Brussels

Anderlecht (BEL) 2 (Bakkali 35, 50) Fenerbahce (TUR) 2 (Frey 53, Kaldirim 57)

At Trnava, Slovakia

Spartak Trnava (SVK) 1 (Ghorbani 32) Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 2 (Gavranovic 64, Orsic 77)

Group E

At Baku

Qarabag (AZE) 0 Vorskla Poltava (UKR) 1 (Kulach 48)

At Lisbon

Sporting Lisbon (POR) 0 Arsenal (ENG) 1 (Welbeck 78)

Group F

At Milan, Italy

AC Milan (ITA) 1 (Cutrone 83) Real Betis (ESP) 2 (Sanabria 30, Lo Celso 54)

At Luxembourg

Dudelange (LUX) 0 Olympiakos (GRE) 2 (Torosidis 66, Jordanov 81-og)