Europa League: Arsenal pick round of 32 ticket

Arsenal has sealed their place in the last 32 of the Europa League despite being held to a goalless draw by Red Star Belgrade in their Group H clash at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday.
The Gunners, who went into the match with a 100 per cent record in this season’s competition, were unable to find the breakthrough against their Serbian visitors, who came closest to scoring when they hit the crossbar in the first half.
BATE Borisov’s 5-2 defeat to bottom club Koln means that a point is enough to guarantee Arsenal’s place in the knockout rounds, though, while also seeing Red Star moving into the qualifying positions with two matches left to play.
The first big chance of the contest fell to Olivier Giroud after 10 minutes following good work from Ainsley Maitland-Niles, but the France international – who scored the only goal of the reverse fixture a fortnight ago – was denied by Milan Borjan.
At the other end, Matt Macey was making only his second Arsenal start and the first European appearance of his career, and he was called into action shortly afterwards to turn a long-range drive from Slavoljub Srnic over the crossbar.
The resulting corner was played short to Nemanja Radonjic whose strike was deflected, but Arsenal failed to react to the looping rebound into the area and it took an athletic stop from Macey to turn Vujadin Savic’s subsequent header onto the crossbar as Red Star came inches away from breaking the deadlock.
The visitors created arguably an even better chance in the final minute of the first half when Richmond Boakye raced clean through on goal, only to fluff his lines and fire a poor finish wide with only the keeper to beat.
Olivier Giroud flashed another effort past the post moments later before Theo Walcott came close in the final 15 minutes, steering a header from Wilshere’s cross narrowly wide of the target.
Red Star continued to create chances of their own, though, and Boakye spurned another glorious opening with 10 minutes remaining when he powered an uncultured finish wide of the near post having been played through after Mathieu Debuchy had gone down off the ball.
There was to be no breakthrough for either side in the end, although that worked out well for both as Arsenal’s qualification was confirmed with two games to spare, while Red Star now sit in pole position to join them in the last 32 from Group H.