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EUROPA LEAGUE: Bukayo Saka helped Arsenal punish host Frankfurt with 3-0

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In the Commerzbank-Arena,18-year-old Bukayo Saka placed 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt to the sword as Arsenal started their Europa League campaign with a 3-0 win.

Bukayo Saka on the second appearance opened his account for the club in the 85th minute and helped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang two minutes later.

Dominik Kohr was shown a second yellow card for a trip on Saka, with Joe Willock having opened the scoring, before Saka provided another assist, in an open encounter in Germany.

What would have been Arsenal’s toughest test in Group F which also includes Standard Liege and Vitoria SC, turned an impressive display as they return to London with maximum points.

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Lucas Torreira would have given the gunners a lead in fifth minute when he blazed over a half-volley from eight yards after Emiliano Martinez kept out Filip Kostic at the other end.

However, Emery’s men drew first blood when Bukayo Saka released Willock on the counter-attack and the midfielder cut inside from the left before seeing a shot deflect off David Abraham and loop in off the underside of the bar.

Granit Xhaka struck the crossbar with an in-swinging free-kick from wide on the right that had beaten Kevin Trapp, but Eintracht’s hopes of equalising ended when Kohr tripped Saka for his second bookable offence.

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Arsenal made the most of their numerical advantage and winger Saka whipped home a brilliant shot from 18 yards with five minutes remaining.

Martinez launched another late counter-attack as Eintracht continued to push, with Saka releasing Aubameyang – who earlier missed an open goal – for a cool finish that capped an important opening victory.

Xhaka said the Gunners were “scared” in the second half of their 2-2 draw against Watford and will no doubt be pleased they did not cower in the face of a boisterous atmosphere this time around.

They showed the character that was absent at Vicarage Road by riding out the storm in an open second period against Adi Hutter’s side, before making sure there was no late comeback with a pair of goals.

He may have looked a little nervy in the opening stages, but Saka grew in confidence as the game went on and had a hand in all three Arsenal goals. He created five chances across the match and hit the target with both his efforts on goal.

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Eintracht sold Luka Jovic, Ante Rebic and Sebastian Haller after their run to last season’s semi-finals and on his first start Bas Dost struggled to match the performances they delivered. The former Sporting CP striker was unable to test Martinez with any of his three efforts before being replaced by Goncalo Paciencia.

Up next, Unai Emery’s side will look to end a three-game winless run in the Premier League when they entertain Aston Villa on Sunday, while Eintracht host Borussia Dortmund on the same day.

The post EUROPA LEAGUE: Bukayo Saka helped Arsenal Punish Host Frankfurt with 3-0 appeared first on YawaNews.ng.



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EUROPA LEAGUE: Bukayo Saka helped Arsenal punish host Frankfurt with 3-0

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