Arsenal got their Europa League campaign off to a winning start with a 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany on Thursday.
Joe Willock’s deflected strike looped over a stranded Kevin Trapp in the first half before late goals from Bukayo Saka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang handed the Gunners all three points in their first game of this season’s competition.
Dominik Kohr was sent off in the 79th minute for a second yellow card after he caught the lively Saka’s heels, giving Arsenal the advantage in Group F.
The first half was an open affair, with Saka – one of a number of youngsters starting the game – playing Lucas Torreira into the box inside the first five minutes, but the Uruguayan blazed over the bar when he should have scored.
Saka played the central midfielder in down the left and he charged into the box before cutting inside and seeing his shot loop over Trapp and go in off the crossbar.
Granit Xhaka also rattled the bar early in the second half when his cross from a free-kick on the right sailed over everyone and pinged back off the woodwork.
Frankfurt midfielder Kohr picked up a second booking in the 79th minute for a tired challenge on Saka, who had drifted past him, and the hosts collapsed after going down to 10 men.
Aubameyang produced a glaring miss in the 83rd minute, somehow diverting Chambers’ low cross wide at the back post with the goal gaping, but it would not matter.
Emiliano Martinez, making his first appearance of the season, was a reliable presence in goal throughout and set Saka on his way to score the Gunners’ second goal of the night, curled beautifully into the corner from outside the box after a pass from substitute Nicolas Pepe.
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