After the debacle at Watford (shudder), Arsenal got their Europa League campaign off to the perfect start with a 3-0 win away
Goals from Joe Willock, Bukayo 'Lionel' Saka (yes, we'll be getting to him shortly) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang secured the victory
Still, the end result can't be sniffed at, with Arsenal having more than enough chances on the counter to negate that peppering, especially when you take into account their German form going into the encounter.
Courtesy of the great folks at Opta, this was the first time Arsenal
Sure, a lot of those were against Bayern Munich, but still, not to be sniffed at, as I said. This was the side that pushed Chelsea all the way to penalties last season, something the Gunners, well, couldn't do in Baku.
If going to see the Yellow Wall isn't on your bucket list, you're doing football wrong.
— 90min (@90min_Football) September 19, 2019
https://t.co/pCvgcicTzZ
And, in truth, Unai Emery's side had one man to thank for this quasi-smooth ride in Frankfurt, and that was, yes, Saka. Thierry Henry but English. You get the drift. Sure, there were other players who shone - Willock and Emiliano Martinez in particular - but this was Saka's moment.
This was the moment where, at 18, he became the youngest player to score for Arsenal in European competition since October 2008, when a certain Aaron Ramsey (17 years, 300 days) netted against Fenerbahce. And what a goal it was, too.
That was on top off assisting the first and third, don't forget. The kid was everywhere, and it would be malpractice if he isn't seen everywhere else this season.
18y 14d - Bukayo Saka is the youngest player to score for Arsenal in the Europa League/Champions League since October 2008, when Aaron Ramsey (17y 300d) netted against Fenerbahce. Emergence. #SGEARS pic.twitter.com/ejoeMNraGk
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 19, 2019
Let's not get too carried away, mind. This is, after all, the Europa League, a competition that Arsenal have - unfortunately - grown accustomed to. At least in the initial stages, they know how to get it done, having lost just one of their last 13 group stage games in the competition (10 wins, two draws).
This was also their sixth consecutive clean sheet in the group stage of the competition which, when David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi are careering around in tandem, is probably the greatest achievement of them all.
Source : 90min