Standard Liege vs Arsenal LIVE result: Young Gunners fight back to knock out Standard and seal top spot
Follow all the action live from the Stade Maurice Dufrasne
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow all the reaction live as Arsenal‘s youngsters beat Standard Liege in the Europa League.
Freddie Ljungberg’s side only needed to avoid defeat to guarantee their qualification for the knockout stages and came into the fixture riding a wave of momentum after the interim head coach secured the first win of his tenure against West Ham last weekend.
Konstantinos Mavropanos, Joe Willock, Bukayo Saka, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe all started for the Gunners, who defeated the Belgian side 4-0 in the reverse fixture in October., as they drew 2-2 to finish top of the group. Follow all the reaction below:
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What time does it start?
Standard Liege vs Arsenal kicks off at 5.55pm on Thursday 12 December.
Can I stream it?
The game will be available to live stream via the BT Sport app on your laptop, smartphone or tablet. Subscribers will also be able to watch it on BT Sport 2. Coverage starts at 5.30pm.
Prediction
It looks like the Londoners may have stumbled upon a winning formula in the victory against West Ham, having lost their previous encounter against Brighton in an embarrassing 2-1 home defeat. There’s a lot of work to be done but on account of the attacking fluidity seen at the London Stadium on Monday night, there’s no reason to believe Arsenal can’t get the job done against Standard Liege. Confidence levels should be back on the up too. A tricky, hard-fought 90 minutes await, but I’m backing Arsenal to edge it.
Standard Liege 1-2 Arsenal
Odds
Standard Liege: 5/2
Draw: 14/5
Arsenal: 19/20
Standard Liege 2 - 0 Arsenal
75 mins: Carcela puts another ball into the box and the ball bounces up off Mavropanos and into the hands of Martinez. Arsenal may have given up hope of winning the game, they just don't want to concede again.
Lacazette wins a free kick just outside the box. David Luiz strikes it puts it over the bar.
Standard Liege 2 - 0 Arsenal
78 mins: Gavory gets forward for Liege down the left wing. He cuts the ball into the box and it comes to Fai who boots it over the crossbar.
Chambers comes on for Maitland-Niles.
Standard Liege 2 - 1 Arsenal - Lacazette
78 mins: GOAL! That ends all doubt. Arsenal will be going through. Saka puts a pin perfect cross into the six-yard box from the left wing. Lacazette gets free of his marker and heads the ball into the back of the net.
Standard Liege 2 - 2 Arsenal - Saka
81 mins: GOAL! Glorious from Saka. He receives the ball to the left side of the pitch. He brings it inside and holds off the defenders. A touch of space opens up for him to shoot and he does, curling the ball into the far bottom corner. Arsenal are level. From out of nowhere.
Standard Liege 2 - 2 Arsenal
84 mins: Amallah tries desperately to win the ball off Willock and fouls him in the process. The game has come alive in the closing stages. Smith-Rowe goes off with Aubameyang coming on.
Arsenal need another goal to top the group.
Standard Liege 2 - 2 Arsenal
87 mins: An Arsenal corner is sent into the box and Mavropanos attempts an overhead kick but misses the ball.
Vitória Guimarães have equalised at Frankfurt so Arsenal will top the group with a draw.
Standard Liege 2 - 2 Arsenal
90 mins: Vitoria have scored another goal. Liege will go through if they win this game now! Two minutes to play after the 90.
Standard Liege 2 - 2 Arsenal
90+2 mins: Arsenal hold onto the ball in the final third. They win a free kick and the home crowd gives out a collective sigh. Their hopes of qualifying are dwindling.
Nelson puts the free kick into the box but sends it straight out of play. The final whistle goes. Arsenal top the group, Standard Liege are out.
Job done for Freddie Ljungberg and Arsenal but they made it difficult for themselves. Man Utd host AZ Alkmaar next.
Here's a look at the teams:
Man Utd 0 - 0 AZ Alkmaar
Kick off: Sergio Romero plays his 50th game for Man Utd. The Red Devils are top of Group L and only need to avoid defeat tonight to stay there. Nemanja Matic makes his return to the team after 12 games out injured.
Can United keep up the momentum gained from their victory in the Manchester derby on Saturday?
Alkmaar start the match with Man Utd pressing high up the pitch.
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