Lethal 'Gunners' blow Qarabag away

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.

 

October 4, 2018

That goal killed the game really, and Arsenal began to gain more and more control as the game went on, despite the efforts of Zoubi testing Leno on a few occasions from distance, who put in a very solid performance in net.

Qarabag seemed to have run out of ideas and steam, which was confirmed for the third and final goal of the evening.

Again, they were caught on the counter as the extra fitness of the Arsenal players showed as they drove down the pitch.

Alexandre Lacazette played the ball to his Fellow Frenchman Mateo Guendouzi, who feinted past a defender and drove the ball in to the bottom corner with great accuracy and confirmed that the point would be heading back to north London.

Qarabag should take great heart from their performance, especially in the first period where they caused the 'Gunners' a lot more problems than they perhaps would have expected.

However, Unai Emery will be thrilled with the way that his team killed the game off in such clinical style, to take their winning streak in all competitions to eight.

 

October 4, 2018