Arsenal defeated Frankfurt 3-0 in Group F of the Europa League. They are currently top of the group on goal difference and should top the group by the end of the group stage matches.
The match was an evenly matched one. The scoreline does not represent the true match. Eintracht Frankfurt were on top for most parts of the game and should have score a goal or two if not for the wastefulness of their frontline. They had around 24 shots with 7 on targets. Andre Silva was guilty for missing some chances that could have given them the lead and maybe prevented an Arsenal win.
Arsenal got lucky with their first goal of the match as Willock shot was deflected past the helpless Trapp into the waiting net. Despite the goal, Arsenal couldn’t threaten them well as they resorted to long Xhaka balls to Aubameyang who then passes it to Saka, Willock, or Torreira. That was most of Arsenal game plan for longer period of times until Dominik Kohr was penalized for a foul on Bukayo Saka. He got his second yellow card followed by a red card and straight out of the pitch.
Arsenal took control from there and scored 2 important goals that kept the game out of reach for the Bundesliga team.
A swift counter attack saw Bukayo Saka score a beautiful shot from outside the box in the 85th minute. Arsenal looked for more and were duly rewarded with another from the boots of Aubameyang.
The win is a relief for Head coach Unai Emery who was criticized for his role in Arsenal second half collapse against Watford in the League. He will hope this win will calm fray nerves.
I still believe Arsenal need to work on their defense. 24 shots faced is not a good thing. You won’t be lucky every day. It is a game of if. What if Frankfurt had scored with two or one of those chances. This was exactly what happened against Watford. A clinical team would have wreaked havoc before the first half come to a close. It is believed that Unai Emery will work on Arsenal poor defense.
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