Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Arsenal eased to a comfortable victory against Vorskla in Arsenal opening game of the Europa League group stage. Source by www.arsenal.com
The big news prior to kick off was the inclusion of Bernd Leno for his debut and Lucas Torreira named in the team for his first start, and much intrigue surrounded that pair.
In truth, the German goalkeeper didn’t have much to do in the first half but always looked comfortable in possession – and one scooped pass over Vorskla attacker Vladyslav Kulach spoke of his confidence.
Torreira, meanwhile, was at the heart of the action, buzzing around and harrying the visitors every time they touched the ball. The Uruguayan was also tasked with the set-pieces and his delivery was impressive – particularly a free kick that he whipped around the wall but into the side netting, and a corner than Sokratis headed wide.
But the opening 45 minutes took some time to get going, but when it did, it was worth the wait as we took the lead with a thrilling counter-attack led by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The Armenian international fed Alex Iwobi and his ball across the face of the Vorskla defence to the onrushing Aubameyang was well-weighted for the striker to hit it first time into the far corner.
Iwobi and Mkhitaryan were increasingly influential, and they combined nicely before the half was out as the latter struck a stinging shot that Vorskla goalkeeper Bohdan Shust palmed over the bar.
Aubameyang also hit the post before the interval, but it didn’t take long to extend ourt advantage after the restart as Welbeck headed in from a Mkhitaryan cross.
Welbeck would go so close to adding another moments later after good work from Aubameyang, before the Gabon international volleyed over the bar as we continued to turn the screw.
But Aubameyang was not to be denied and, moments before he was substituted, he combined well with the excellent Mkhitaryan and curled the ball beyond Shust and into the bottom corner.
Mesut Ozil, off the bench to replace Auba, added a fourth after reacting quickest to poke home Stephan Lichsteiner’s ball to the far post, and while the visitors pulled a couple of goals back near the end, they were nothing more than consolations.
QUOTES
Auba - We played well, but still must improve
Rob Kelly 20 Sep 2018
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was frustrated last season to be cup-tied for the Europa League after joining us from Dortmund - but he started this year’s campaign with a bang.
The Gabon international struck twice as we beat Vorskla 4-2 on Thursday night and this is what he told the media after the game:
on the performance…
I think we played well in the first half and at the beginning of the second as well and we scored four goals, but we need to improve and fight to not concede goals like we did in the last few minutes.
on their ambitions for the Europa League…
Of course [we want to win it], especially for me because I didn’t play in the Europa League last year and I am really happy to be back in this competition. We want to go to the final of course, it is an objective and hopefully we will do well in our next games.
on the demands of the Europa League compared to the Premier League…
We know that the Premier League is long, there are a lot of games, but these ones we need to win straight away, we have to perform quickly so it is good to start with a win and the next game will be important for us also.
Copyright 2018 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
QUOTES
Mkhitaryan - We're here to win this competition
Rob Kelly 20 Sep 2018
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has already won the Europa League once in his career, and he's keen to repeat the feat with us this season.
The Armenian midfielder was in fine form during our opening-day victory against Vorskla - and this is what he told the media after the match:
on the team’s performance…
It was an important victory and it was a bit tough in the first half but thankfully we scored before we went to the dressing room at the end. In the second half it was easier because they started to play football, started to have the ball and started to attack, so we had more spaces in behind their defensive lines. We could have created more chances.
on facing some familiar faces…
I have some friends [in their team], but I forget about it during the game. But now we can sit with together and talk with each other.
on Emery’s pedigree in the Europa League…
He’s won this competition three times and it’s very important for us, for Arsenal, because we’re playing in this competition to win. We’re not just playing to participate. It’s very important because if you win then you can get a spot for the Champions League, so we’re trying to win every game and we will see where we get.
on our fluidity in attack…
I think everyone enjoys the way we’re playing now. It’s not still the best, but we will keep working and game after game we will show better than that.
Copyright 2018 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
PRESS CONFERENCE
How did Unai rate Leno and Torreira’s displays?
Rob Kelly 20 Sep 2018
Bernd Leno and Lucas Torreira made their first starts for us in the 4-2 win against Vorskla on Thursday night - but what did Unai Emery make of their performances?
The Arsenal head coach faced the media after the match and this is what he said:
on Torreira and Leno starting…
Well, Lucas is playing with his progress on the team and on our ideas, our performance with a passion and with a performance. Each minute he is playing, he is doing very well. And for Leno it’s the first match also. I think that we conceded two goals but not for a mistake [from him]. For him, it takes minutes for the game and confidence for continuing also because he will be continuing to play matches in the next week.
on whether Lucas Torreira is okay or if he has a knock on his knee…
Each match we play, I am responsible for the group and for Torreira also, today I think it is better [for Lucas] to leave the match. I hope that tomorrow and Saturday, he will be okay for Sunday.
Copyright 2018 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
PRESS CONFERENCE
'The first 60 minutes were very good tonight'
Rob Kelly 20 Sep 2018
Unai Emery was a satisfied man after we chalked up our fourth win on the spin with a 4-2 victory against Vorskla on Thursday night.
But our head coach felt we needed to tighten up in the closing stages when we conceded twice on the counter.
This is what Emery told the media:
on how satisfied he is with the performance tonight…
We are happy because the first match here with our supporters is first important to win. At the beginning of this competition, it’s important to take confidence and take the first victory. I think the first 60 minutes were good with imposing our ideas against them and also, little by little in the match, winning battles on the pitch to be near to scoring. With the four goals, I think we are in a good moment. But we want to be competitive for 90 minutes and I think the last 20 minutes, we conceded chances and we need to improve. Our disappointment today is that there were two goals conceded. But I am going to think that the first 60 minutes were very good and that we are going to continue impressing with those ideas.
on Auba’s two goals…
Our mind today is to take confidence for the players and also take minutes in the game to give them these chances to play and also, we need because we are going to play a lot of matches in the next week. With this confidence we want to score, we want them to take this confidence, like Aubameyang and Welbeck and also Mesut. I think there are a lot of positive things today in the game and for continue impressing and improving.
on no clean sheets…
It’s one thing. We are speaking before each match to take a mentality of ‘don’t concede chances easily’. I think today is a good opportunity for not accepting goals, but the last 30 minutes, we needed to be better on this competitive aspect.
on the crowd…
We are starting and we need in this competition, we need to show them, our supporters, that we are excited for this competition and we want to do a great way in the Europa League. But I think it’s step by step. I am sure they are going to come, little by little, more supporters here with us. But also, it’s our work to bring them here.
on what he made of the two goals Vorskla scored…
It’s our disappointment today. But I also, with confidence, little by little we are conceding a few chances to the opposition, the same like in Newcastle. But we need to continue to improve on this because in the last minute in Newcastle and again today in the last 20 minutes, we conceded two goals. Our challenge is to be competitive for 90 minutes of each match and this is one thing to improve.
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