It’s not often that Arsenal fans get to enjoy a straight-forward, comfortable win against European opposition.
BATE Borisov v Arsenal was basically a competition to see who could defend the worst.
Arsenal started passing the ball confidently from the get-go, with Reiss Nelson and Jack Wilshere involving themselves heavily during the opening exchanges.
Reiss Nelson. Not a wing back. As evidenced by that neat bit of play in the middle.
— Stephen Bradley (@bradley08) September 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/gunnerpunner/status/913450218036846592
Minutes after kick-off, Theo Walcott had the first chance of the game and was denied.
Great pass from Wilshere though
— Harry Shotta (@HarryShotta) September 28, 2017
Ahhh, so close, Theo.
— Terje (@ArsenalTerje) September 28, 2017
However, it didn’t take long for him to have another go when some lovely build-up play between him and Jack Wilshere resulted in the forward getting a close-range header. He made no mistake and followed it into the back of the net.
Walcott gives Arsenal the lead against BATE. Lovely move pic.twitter.com/JdUZ8ydCjc
— Terje (@xArsenalTerje) September 28, 2017
Lovely. Lovely. Lovely.
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) September 28, 2017
What a move between Walcott and Wilshere. They should play for their national team together or something.
— 7amkickoff (@7amkickoff) September 28, 2017
Theo Walcott has now scored 19 goals in European competition for Arsenal; his first in the Europa League.
Finishing off a classy move. pic.twitter.com/jTqubqclsF
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 28, 2017
The Gunners continued to tap the ball around sharply, looking far more confident that I admittedly expected they would surrounded by the atmosphere of the Borisov Arena.
Little more than 10 minutes after Theo’s opening goal, the 28-year-old and Wilshere linked up again with Theo knocking a tantilising cross in front of the midfielder but this time, when Wilshere put the ball in the back of the net, it was offside.
What a goal that would have been! Is Wilshere ever involved in a move that isn't pure Wengerball?
— Craig Randall (@crandall87) September 28, 2017
It looks like Wenger has kept Wilshere, Walcott, and Giroud in a locked room and forced them to play together. They are on some wavelength.
— 7amkickoff (@7amkickoff) September 28, 2017
General feelings on Wilshere aside, him and Theo have always had a really good connection. Bodes well for these B/C-games
— et tu, Lupoli? (@Bloatyheader) September 28, 2017
BATE Borisov didn’t have their first chance until the 20th minute when they – surprise surprise – attacked at pace and Arsenal couldn’t really deal with it. Fortunately, when BATE came to get a shot away, the player kicked it into the floor so it bounced wide.
Less than two minutes later, Theo scored his second of the night when the BATE goalkeeper kindly decided to pass him the ball. The forward slide it low and hard under the shot-stopper.
Walcott capitalises on a horrible pass by the keeper. 2-0 pic.twitter.com/mQNGpX3Jfs
— Terje (@xArsenalTerje) September 28, 2017
Honestly their keeper has picked Theo out so well there. Could teach Coquelin a thing or two
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) September 28, 2017
All it took was another two minutes on the clock for the Gunners to almost score their third but Olivier Giroud kicked it over the bar, which resulted in a corner.
It was Rob Holding to score Arsenal’s third from said corner kick.
Rob Holding scores his first Arsenal goal. 3-0 pic.twitter.com/iXrjKXkFkv
— Terje (@xArsenalTerje) September 28, 2017
— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) September 28, 2017
Arsenal being Arsenal though (I feel I say that every week), despite being dominant in every single way, conceded shortly after through an Ivanic header.
Be good if Ospina would actually stick his hands out and save the fucking ball. What a clown.
— FK (@fkhanage) September 28, 2017
The Gunners almost conceded again not long after, since Shkondran Mustafi can’t appear to defend at all. However, David Ospina actually managed to pull off a brilliant save and it would have been offside anyway.
At this point, the game was end-to-end with neither team looking particularly competent at the back.
https://twitter.com/NinoRodriguez95/status/913453292612710400
Just before half-time, play was halted after a BATE player very elbowed Joe Willock in the face with his outstretched arm. Looked nasty; nothing given.
How was that not a red card??!
— Lucy (@Lucygooner) September 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheGoonerette/status/913458822785781761
A minute later, Theo almost scored his third before Holding almost netted his second.
BATE 1-3 Arsenal HT:
Shots: 5-11
Pass accuracy: 74%-87%
Chances created: 4-5
Possession: 39%-61%All happening in 30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/SJLuwOmqUX
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 28, 2017
The second half got off to a weird start as Arsenal were awarded a penalty and no one was quite sure why. It seems if was because a BATE player was manhandling Mustafi in the box since he was given a yellow card. However, it was harsh and seemed as if the referee had just had a sneaky look at the elbow to Willock’s face at half time.
Giroud hit it home for this 100th goal.
Giroud scores his 100th Arsenal goal from the spot. 4-1 pic.twitter.com/HYwCPE4gMs
— Terje (@xArsenalTerje) September 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/Bloatyheader/status/913464970137997312
This match is so weird
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) September 28, 2017
Joe Willock with 96% pass completion rate – the highest of any Arsenal player on the pitch
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) September 28, 2017
Just like in the first half, despite Arsenal’s strength, BATE warmed back into the game around to 60-minute mark and had one or two okay chances.
However, the Gunners’ passing remained slick and, at 4-1 down, it didn’t really feel as if BATE were going to offer a huge amount to the remainder of the game, which obviously means that they had to score another through Ivanic.
They almost scored a third but they didn’t out of sheer luck.
By this point, the youngsters, like Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were dead on their feet.
McGuane makes his debut for Arsenal, comes on instead of Reiss Messi Nelson
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) September 28, 2017
Arsenal sub:
Nketiah on, Willock off.#afc— afcstuff (@afcstuff) September 28, 2017
With Arsenal’s Young Guns tiring, BATE continued to press and attack during the closing minutes but couldn’t find the back of the net again.
A good win. Not as straight-forward as we’d like but straight-forward enough.