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Jack Wilkinson
Report as Arsenal’s young guns fire to seal opening-round Europa League win in Frankfurt
Last Updated: 19/09/19 8:22pm
Bukayo Saka scored one and set up two goals as Arsenal bounced back from their capitulation at Watford by kicking off their Europa League campaign with a commanding 3-0 victory over 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt.
Eighteen-year-old Saka laid on the opening goal for fellow academy graduate Joe Willock on 37 minutes, with the 20-year-old’s deflected effort looping over Kevin Trapp and in off the crossbar.
And, after an inspired goalkeeping performance from Emiliano Martinez, Saka settled a frantic game in Arsenal’s favour, curling a sumptuous effort into the bottom corner six minutes after Dominik Kohr was sent off for a second bookable offences.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang then got in on the act, slotting home after Saka released him through on to goal as Arsenal’s bid to go one better than their defeat in last season’s final got off to the perfect start.
Player ratings
Frankfurt: Trapp (7), Abraham (6), Hasebe (6), Hinteregger (7), Da Costa (6), Kamada (6), Kohr (5), Sow (6), Kostic (8), Silva (6), Dost (6).
Subs: Chandler (5), Paciencia (6).
Arsenal: Martinez (9), Chambers (6), Luiz (7), Mustafi (7), Kolasinac (6), Torreira (6), Xhaka (7), Willock (7), Smith Rowe (6), Saka (9), Aubameyang (7).
Subs: Maitland-Niles (6), Ceballos (5), Pepe (6).
Man of the Match: Bukayo Saka.
Full report to follow…
What’s next?
Arsenal host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday; kick-off 4.30pm. The Gunners resume their Europa League campaign against Standard Liege at the Emirates on October 3; kick-off 8pm. Eintracht, meanwhile, host Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Sunday; kick-off 5pm.
