Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava - as it happened: Unai Emery makes winning start in Europa League
All the action from Arsenal's opening Group E fixture
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal head into the Europa League in good hands under Unai Emery, who won the competition in three consecutive years as Sevilla manager. The Gunners will be hoping to improve on their performance in last year's competition, in which they were beaten in the semi-finals by Atletico Madrid.
Emery is expected to make several changes to his regular side, with Bernd Leno, Lucas Torreira, Mohamed Elneny and Stephan Lichtsteiner pushing for starts.
Their relatively unknown opponents, Vorskla Poltava, finished third in the Ukrainian top division last season and are competing in the Europa League group stage for the first time since 2011/12.
Follow live coverage below:
What time does it start?
The match kicks off at the Emirates at 8:00pm BST.
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport are showing live coverage on BT Sport 2 and on the BT Sport app to customers.
What are the odds?
Arsenal to win: 1/10
Vorskla Poltava to win: 33/1
Draw: 11/1
15 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla
Torreira is taking charge of Arsenal's attacking play, he switches the ball out wide to Monreal who tries to get the ball into the box but doesn't beat the first man.
18 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla
Arsenal look more comfortable on the ball now, but Vorskla are in possession, Chesnakov tries a long ball that goes out for a throw in. Arsenal bring it back into play but Vorskla press well, win it back and give it to Rebenok. He taps it forward and tries a 45-yard strike that Leno catches easily.
20 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla
Sharpar gets a yellow card for a tough challenge and the resulting free kick ends with Arsenal winning a corner. Torreira whips it into the box but its cleared away.
23 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla
Danny Welbeck does well to win the ball in Vorskla's half, he gives it to Mkhitaryan who tries to feed Welbeck into the box on the right but Artur is strong and wins a goal kick by kicking the ball off Welbeck
27 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla
Vorskla have good shape in their defence and Arsenal can't find a way through despite controlling the possession. Vorskla shut them out and prepare an attack of their own,Sharpar trying to find Kulach but losing the ball.
29 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla
Monreal runs down the left wing and gets the ball, he gives it to Iwobi who turns and fries a right footed at the goal. It's a little wide and a touch too high but otherwise that was good play from Arsenal
31 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla
Torreira is goes down and looks to have hurt his left ankle but he wants to continue, Arsenal in possession now, Elneny brings the ball into Vorskla's half but Arsenal seem content to pass it around the defenders
31 mins: GOAL! Arsenal 1 - 0 Vorskla - Aubameyang
Vorskla get the ball into Arsenal's half and get done on the counter attack. Mkhitaryan gets the ball on the edge of his own box and runs it forward before sending it to Iwobi on the left, he then switches it with a perfectly timed pass across the box and Aubameyang slots it home with a good finish
35 mins: Arsenal 1 - 0 Vorskla
That was Arsenal's first real attack, certainly the first one in which they've shown the pace that they have and it worked very well but the game has settled back into it's old rhythm
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments