A much-changed Arsenal side maintained their unbeaten record in the Europa League on Thursday night when they eased to a 3-0 win against Ukraine’s Vorskla.
Amid freezing conditions and a change of venue because of a declaration of martial law, Unai Emery’s second-string – 10 alterations were made to the XI – Gunners performed with minimal fuss. Teenage left winger Emile Smith Rowe was the standout, calmly playing into an open goal for the opener and then playing in Aaron Ramsey for a penalty that the contract rebel converted himself.
Youngster Joe Willock then stroked into the bottom corner to break his Arsenal duck and make it 3-0 by 41 minutes.
After that, the visitors went through the motions at Kiev’s Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex against now-eliminated opponents in Group E.
Here are the player ratings:
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1)
Petr Cech – 6: A quiet return to the XI for the usurped Czech Republic great. Made himself big on 70 minutes to snuff out the onrushing Igor Perduta’s shot, proved he hadn’t frozen up.
Stephan Lichsteiner – 6: Was put in the shade as the Gunners chose to attack down their right. Had little defending to do.
Carl Jenkinson – 6: The forgotten 26-year-old’s third run-out of the season was instantly forgettable. Stood up well to aerial threat of hulking substitute Nicolas Careca. Potentially used hand in second half to block midfielder Pavlo Rebenok’s shot.
Rob Holding – 6: The ex-England Under-21 international breezed through this contest in freezing Kiev.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 6: Showed nimble feet and punishing acceleration when in possession. Good understanding with the excellent Smith-Rowe on the left flank.
Mohamed Elneny – 6: Mixed bag for the Egypt international. Read the play well to send Willock on his way for the third, but wild reaction to Nketiah’s weak first-half pass almost put Vladyslav Kulach through after the playmaker’s block. Also was offside in build-up to Smith Rowe’s cancelled out second.
Matteo Guendouzi – 6: Is seven-years younger than partner Elnenty in the Gunners engine room, yet performed with greater nous. Pinged some purposeful passes from deep, in both halves.
Joe Willock – 7: The 19-year-old winger’s first senior Arsenal goal was delicately dispatched into the bottom corner. Was otherwise lively, without truly threatening.
Aaron Ramsey – 7: The contract rebel’s diminished status was shown in the fact he started this game. Quick feet and a perfect turn won the first-half penalty, that he effortlessly converted for just a second goal of the season.
Emile Smith Rowe – 8: Are we witnessing the emergence of Arsenal’s latest homegrown star? Took advantage of a defensive mishap to slot into an open goal, driving run helped spark Ramsey’s penalty and the linesman’s flag denied him a second-half second. But the real highlight was a scooped pass to Nketiah, that generated a wasteful screwed shot.
Eddie Nketiah – 5: With a congested fixture list to come, the 19-year-old striker was given a chance to press his case for more opportunities. But a first first-team start, in his 12th run-out in total, largely, passed him by. Went for power in first half, when a defter touch may have brought a third Arsenal goal from him.
6 - Since the re-branding of the competition in 2009/10, no Arsenal player has scored (5) or been directly involved (6) in more Europa League goals than Aaron Ramsey. Leading. pic.twitter.com/NNhKNt0OP1
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 29, 2018
SUBSTITUTES
Zech Medley – 6: Tall centre-back showed nice feet to burst out of danger.
Bukayo Saka – 6: Stung goalkeeper Bogdan Shust’s fingertips with a fierce near-post shot after a rapier step-over.
Charlie Gilmour – N/A: Midfielder didn’t have a great deal to do.
