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As it happenedended

Arsenal vs Vitoria LIVE result: Score, goals and latest updates from the Europa League

The Gunners extended their perfect start to the Europa League – just

Kishan Vaghela
Thursday 24 October 2019 16:57 EDT
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The Arsenal players mob hero Nicolas Pepe
The Arsenal players mob hero Nicolas Pepe (Getty Images)

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Arsenal's club-record signing Nicolas Pepe stepped off the bench to score two free-kicks and seal a Europa League comeback win over Vitoria and spare the blushes of under-fire head coach Unai Emery.

After losing at Sheffield United on Monday night, Emery launched an impassioned defence of his tenure as Gunners boss on the eve of the Group F clash - but what followed was as below-par performance rescued by the brilliance of his £72million man, who struck a fine brace to earn a 3-2 win.

Without a goal from their first two games and with no away win in Europe since 2005, Vitoria stunned the Emirates Stadium as former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards opened the scoring before Bruno Duarte restored the lead following Gabriel Martinelli's equaliser.

With more than one "Emery Out" banner displayed and the crowd singing for Mesut Ozil - again absent from the matchday squad - it was clear Emery's calls for patience from supporters had largely fallen on deaf ears but the stadium erupted as Pepe curled in two wonderful free-kicks in the final 10 minutes.

PA

Odds​

Arsenal win 1/4

Draw 5/1

Vitoria win 11/1

Prediction

Arsenal should be able to beat a Vitoria team that has lost both of its Europa League games so far, though the Portuguese side are in better form domestically.

2-1 is our prediction

When is it?

Kick off at the Emirates Stadium is 8pm BST.

How can I watch it?

The game will be aired live on BT Sport 2, with coverage beginning at 8pm.

Subscribers to BT Sport can watch the game online via the BT Sport player, or on the BT Sport app.

The battle of the unbeaten records.

Kishan Vaghela24 October 2019 17:41

Solskjaer has been speaking about the inclusion of James Garner in the Man Utd Xi ahead of tonight's game:

"He’s has been excellent and he’s been waiting for his chance,” Solskjaer told MUTV.

“Tonight with the experience he has around, it will be a good start for him. He’s got more or less 300 caps around him so don’t think he’s ever played with so much experience around him and he’s an exciting player.”

Kishan Vaghela24 October 2019 17:42

This might not be quite accurate

Kishan Vaghela24 October 2019 17:47

All set for kick off here in Belgrade with the teams out on the field.

Will we finally see a convincing United performance in the Europa League?

Kishan Vaghela24 October 2019 17:51

1 min: Partizan 0-0 Manchester United

Manchester United gets us underway.

Kishan Vaghela24 October 2019 17:56

3 min: Partizan 0-0 Manchester United

United have looked to start this game brightly and their first attack sees them attack down the right before it is snuffed out due to Wan Bissaka's slip.

Kishan Vaghela24 October 2019 17:58

5 min: Partizan 0-0 Manchester United

It's another slip and this one is lucky not to cost United something.

Sergio Romero comes out to clear the ball but just before doing so nearly lost his footing and therefore slices his clearance out for a throw in.

It seems United have some adjusting to do.

Kishan Vaghela24 October 2019 18:00

9 min: Partizan 0-0 Manchester United

Umar Sadiq is the real threat for Partizan tonight and he gives United a taster of his threat with a run which causes Maguire to give away a free-kick.

From it the Partizan striker heads over at the back post.

Kishan Vaghela24 October 2019 18:04

12 min: Partizan 0-0 Manchester United

A name that will be familiar with Arsenal fans, Takuma Asano is the next one to run at the United defence.

But just as he has done far too often in his career so far, he wastes the opportunity after good pressure from Wan Bissaka.

Kishan Vaghela24 October 2019 18:07

United fans in a packed stadium in Belgrade making their voices heard.

Kishan Vaghela24 October 2019 18:09

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