#NigezieXtreme: ARSENAL Secures A Safe Spot At EUROPA LEAGUE As They Beat VORSKLA POLTAVA
A young Arsenal side cruised to victory against Vorskla Poltava in Kiev and secure top spot in the Europa League Group E.
The match had initially been in doubt because of security concerns in Poltava, but Uefa intervened and moved the tie to the Ukraine capital.
Teenage forward Emile Smith Rowe scored his second goal in as many European starts, before Aaron Ramsey converted his first penalty for the club.
Nineteen-year-old Joe Willock claimed his first senior goal for the club four minutes from half-time in below freezing conditions.
With qualification already certain before kick-off, Unai Emery’s men knew three points would clinch top spot because of a better head-to-head record with second-placed Sporting Lisbon.
Arsenal will now avoid the four best teams dropping down from the Champions League in the last 32.
Arsenal took the lead in the 10th minute when the ball fell kindly to Smith Rowe inside the area following a deflection from a Vorskla defender.
The talented forward showed poise and composure to tuck the ball into the net, before Ramsey – in his final season for the club – dusted himself off after being bundled over inside the area to roll the ball past Bohdan Shust from the spot.
The Londoners continued to dominate the match, enjoying just under 60% of possession and limiting the hosts to only two shots on target – Petr Cech’s only real involvement in the bitter cold.
Willock added the gloss to an impressive first-half performance minutes before the interval with a finish of which club great legend Thierry Henry would have been proud.
