Lethal 'Gunners' blow Qarabag away
Arsenal showed their ruthless streak in the match against Qarabag as they came out 3-0 winners, despite not creating a huge amount of chances.
Anyone predicting the score of this game before it kicked off would not have given Qarabag a chance, and the initial minutes of the match suggested that this would indeed be the case.
The away side managed to get ahead just four minutes in to the game, following a corner where Nacho Monreal rose highest at the back post.
With the effort going towards the diving Vagner in the Qarabag net, Sokratis popped up to direct it in to the other side of the net and get his team off to a fligher.
After the goal Arsenal continued to press for another but didn't create too many clear chances, except for a couple of efforts that fell to debutant Emile Smith-Rowe who should have done better in front of goal.
As the half progressed though, Qarabag showed a lot more attacking intent particularly through the work of winger Zoubir who floated in some probing crosses.
The Azerbaijani champions ended up having the better chances of the first period, with Bernd Leno having to pull off a string smart saves to deny the opposition, but suggested that it would not be long before they themselves got on the scoresheet.
The second half saw the home side spirtedly fight for a way back in to the match as before the break, but Arsenal managed to find a way to get a second.
Just eight minutes in to the second half, a long kick from Bernd Leno caught Qarabag caught off guard as the ball found itself to Alex Iwobi, who played in Emile Smith-Rowe to coollly slot the ball between the keeper's legs and get a goal on debut for his boyhood club.