Football news - Arsenal secure top spot as youngsters shine in Ukraine
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ByEurosport
Updated 29/11/2018 at 20:39 GMT
Europa League Group E, Olimpiyskyi - Vorskla Poltava 0 Arsenal 3 (Smith Rowe 10', Ramsey P 27', Willock 41')
Arsenal's players celebrate after scoring during the UEFA Europa League Group E football match between Vorskla and Arsenal at the Olympiyski Stadium, in Kiev, on November 29, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
Emile Smith-Rowe and Joe Willock were on the score-sheet as a young and experimental Arsenal team brushed Vorskla Poltava aside 3-0 in Kiev to clinch top spot in Group E.
Four homegrown players started for Arsenal, and it was 18-year-old talent Smith-Rowe who opened the scoring with his third goal in just six appearances on 10 minutes, when he was left with a simple tap-in after some slack defending from the Ukrainians.
With the North London Derby against Tottenham on Sunday in mind, Unai Emery made a total of 10 changes and out-of-favour Aaron Ramsey made the most of a rare opportunity when he won and then scored a penalty.
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Arsenal Aaron Ramsey scores during UEFA Europa League, Group E, football match Vorskla FC vs Arsenal FC at the Olympiyski Stadium in Kiev on November 29, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
UEFA had decided to move this contest 200 miles to the Olympic Stadium in Kiev due to escalating political tensions in Ukraine, and there were only 10,000 supporters in attendance to see Willock score his first goal for the club and Arsenal's third before the half-time break with a fine solo strike.
The Gunners introduced youngsters Charlie Gilmour, Zechariah Medley and Bukayo Saka in the second-period, and they should have had a fourth to celebrate when the excellent Smith-Rowe had what appeared to be a legitimate goal ruled out for offside.
The result means that Arsenal - now unbeaten in 18 matches - are guaranteed top spot in the group regardless of the results on the final matchday.
TALKING POINT
Arsenal's young guns impress. With the late re-scheduling headache, the arctic weather conditions and the fact Arsenal had never won in the Ukrainian capital, this had the makings of a tricky evening for the Gunners' second-string.
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Group Stage - Group E - FC Vorskla Poltava v Arsenal - NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine - November 29, 2018 Arsenal's Joe Willock celebrates scoring their third goal
Image credit: Reuters
The visitors had the game wrapped up by the half-hour mark, however, with the youngsters putting in a really impressive and dominant display.
Smith-Rowe impressed most with another eye-catching display, but the performance of Willock will also have pleased Emery, while substitute Saka was useful at wing-back.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Emile Smith-Rowe (Arsenal) How long before the 18-year-old attacker is given a chance in the Premier League? Making just his sixth appearance, Smith-Rowe scored his third goal for the club - and his second in the Europa League this campaign. His pace and intelligent movement caused problems for the Ukrainians, especially in the first-half.
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Group Stage - Group E - FC Vorskla Poltava v Arsenal - NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine - November 29, 2018 Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe celebrates scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Vorskla Poltava: Shust 7, Perduta 5, Dallku 5, Chesnakov 4, Artur 4, Sapai 4, Skliar 5, Sharpar 5. Rebenok 5, Kulach 5, Kolomoets 5. Subs: Careca 5, Sakiv N/A, Kane 5.
Arsenal: Cech 6, Lichsteiner 6, Jenkinson 7, Holding 7, Maitland-Niles 7, Guendouzi 8, Elheny 8, Willock 8, Ramsey 8, Smith-Rowe 9, Nketiah 7. Subs: Medley 6, Gilmour 6, Saka 7.
KEY MOMENTS
10' - GOAL! Vorskla 0-1 Arsenal: The youngster Smith-Rowe bags his second goal of the Europa League campaign and his third of his Gunners career! The hosts are the makers of their own undoing. Ramsey slips through Nketiah, he tries to round the goalkeeper but Artur gets a toe in. However, he can only poke it straight to Smith-Rowe who is left with a simple tap-in.
26' - PENALTY TO ARSENAL! Perduta hauls down Ramsey inside the box and the referee has no choice other than to point to the spot.
27' - GOAL! Vorksla 0-2 Arsenal: The Gunners are cruising. Ramsey steps up confidently and slots the ball into the left corner, beyond the reach of Shust. The home side are complaining the Welshman stopped in his run up, but the replays tell a different story.
41' - GOAL! Vorskla 0-3 Arsenal: Willock scores his first goal for the club! Guendouzi pounces on a misplaced pass in midfield and threads a through-pass for the youngster to run onto. He doesn't have many options but he creates space for a shot and guides the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
66' - GOAL RULED OUT! Smith-Rowe has the ball in the back of the net after yet more shocking defending from the hosts. Lichsteiner crosses, goalkeeper Shust and his defender Dallku leave the ball for each other, it rolls through for Smith-Rowe who looks rather embarrassed to hammer it in at the far post. After an age, however, the linesman finally decides he was in an offside position.
KEY STATS
- This was just the fifth time that Arsenal had been ahead at half time in a game this season (20th game in all competitions), - they have now gone on to win each of the previous five.
- Since the re-branding of the competition in 2009/10, no Arsenal player has scored (five) or been directly involved (six) in more Europa League goals than Aaron Ramsey.
- Emile Smith-Rowe has scored in three of his last four appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, with two of those coming in the Europa League.
- After six attempts, this was the first time Arsenal have won an away game against Ukrainian opponents.
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