Arsenal may have matched on to the summit of the Premier League with 5 consecutive victories but after capitulating at the height of expectation when they lost 3-1 against Manchester United in the Premier League, the Gunners were undoubtedly eager to start their UEFA Europa League campaign on a winning note.
Arteta made seven changes to the team that started against the Red Devils with Matt Turner, Marquinhos, and Vieira all making it to the starting lineup for the first time this season when they took on Swiss Champions FC Zurich who they defeated 1-2 away.
Arsenal’s dominance in the game was evident from the on set, with the Gunners shifting into an attack with every chance they got, while their opponents on the other hand couldn’t quite get a foothold of the game with their only sight on Arsenal’s goal coming after Arsenal’s second choice keeper Matt Turner carelessly gave away possession as Zurich failed to make the most out of that opportunity.
The opener would eventually come in the 16th minute as Marquinhos finished a fast-flowing counter-attack clinically to score on his debut courtesy of an Eddie Nketiah assist.
Arteta’s men did not qualify for European football in the previous campaign while their opponents on the other made a cameo appearance for the first time in 11 years when they were eliminated in the group stages.
Arsenal’s supremacy continued as Martinelli’s improvised overhead kick could not bother Zurich’s number 1 while Fabio Vieira was put through on goal with only the keeper to beat but his attempt went wide.
With only less than 5 minutes of play left in the first half, Zurich were given an unexpected route back into the game as Nketiah needlessly brought down an attacker while the resulting penalty ended up in the goal as Mirlind Kryeziu sent the keeper the wrong way.
At half-time, the news broke of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and our players returned to the field wearing black armbands in respect, while a minute’s silence was held before play resumed.
Arsenal asserted their authority in the game as the wave of attacks continued and their constant pressure would eventually pay off when they restored parity in the 62nd minute after Marquinhos delivered a delicious ball into the box for Nketiah to head in from close range in what was a redemption for the number 14 who was responsible for the penalty conceded by the gunners.
Despite both teams making a series of substitutions, the score line stayed the same as FC Zurich’s last-minute attacks couldn’t quite yield anything tangible as Arteta’s men secured a much-deserved victory.
Meanwhile, Manchester United suffered a home defeat to Spanish La Liga side Real Sociedad following 0-1 scoreline in their gropup E opener.
In what was the first Europa League appearance ever for the Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo and Erick Ten Hag’s maiden European campaign at Old Trafford, United got off to a disappointing start in their Europa League after conceding a penalty in the 59th minute with Brais Mendez making no mistake when he shot to bottom right corner to beat De Gea and seal three points for the visitors.
