Arsenal II – Bate Borisov : 6-0 with Jack the boss

By Walter Broeckx

The starting line up for Arsenal was Ospina, Debuchy, Holding, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Coquelin, Elneny, Wilshere, Walcott, Welbeck, Giroud.  Lots of youngsters on the beach.

A first dangerous attack with a cross from Debuchy to Walcott who heads it to Giroud who lays it off to Elneny and his left footed shot hits the goal post and then goes out for a goal kick. Bate with a first shot from distance but very wide over the goal. Walcott with a hard shot but right in the face of a Bate defender who goes down groggy.  A long ball goes to Walcott then who heads it back but a Bate defender just with a touch on the ball and Walcott (looked a penalty to me for handball) and the loose ball falls for Debuchy who takes a cracking shot that finds the back of the net. GOAL 1-0 to The Arsenal after 11 minutes. A real fine shot from the French right back.

Maitland-Niles with a cross from the left but the header goes over for a corner according to the ref. Arsenal can’t capitalise from the corner as the ball isn’t easily cleared by Bate but in the end they get it away. Arsenal dominating in the opening 15 minutes.

Debuchy at the end of a wild tackle and the offender goes in the book. But Debuchy can carry on after some short treatment. Welbeck going down just outside the penalty area but the ref gives no foul. Can’t be sure if the defender really caught him there. Wilshere with a brilliant pass to send Welbeck away but the keeper came well out of his area and blocked the effort from Welbeck and then headed the ball out. But great vision from Jack. Jack again with a dangerous ball to Giroud but the defender can head it first and forces a great save from his own goalkeeper who has to give away a corner. Arsenal keep attacking and Giroud heads it down to Walcott but the keeper with an astonishing save on the effort from Walcott for another corner. That really was amazing. In the next attack Wilshere is fouled just outside the penalty area but the free kick from Walcott goes just wide. Arsenal attack again and Wilshere goes down holding his head and the attack ends in the hands of the keeper. A defender smacked his arm against the throat of Wilshere but the ref missed that foul. Well there are only 6 of them. Arsenal all over Bate but no second goal so far after 30 minutes.

Coquelin in some pain after a mid-air collision with a Bate player but he can get up again. He fell hard on the ground there. Walcott being penalised for being strong by the ref. Arsenal keep on the attack and when Welbeck was send away by a great ball from Coquelin and found himself in some space but he seemed to overdone his trick a bit but a defender helped the ball to Walcott who struck it home comfortably.  GOAL 2-0 To The Arsenal after 37 minutes.  A low shot from close distance.

Another great attack on the left flank with Wilshere (what a first half he is having) and his low cross finds Walcott who takes a shot that beats the keeper but was saved on the line by a defender. Wilshere then with a great shot from distance but the keeper can push it over the crossbar. Walcott and Welbeck swopping wings and Theo gives the ball to Wilshere who dribbles a defender and then takes a hard shot. GOAL! 3-0 To The Arsenal after 43 minutes. Fully deserved for Jack who was pulling the strings in midfield and bossing the match. A Tony lookalike celebrating the goal in the stands and the Bate supporters look deflated. Arsenal go in at half time leading 3-0 and that could have been even more.

A nice move on the right flank between Walcott and Giroud but alas the cross from Debuchy goes wide. Arsenal looking a bit too relaxed maybe in the opening minutes but this ends when Wilshere (who else) opens the ball to Walcott who sends a low cross to Welbeck but the defender wants to take the honours and he fires it in to his own net. GOAL! 4-0 To The Arsenal after 51 minutes.

A next attack just not finding an end product and Bate can clear their lines. Giroud winning the ball and having a shot but the ball takes a deflection for a corner. Welbeck send away on the right flank, a great cut back, a goal bound shot …but what a save from the keeper to deny the striker his goal…. with his head! Giroud the next to take a shot but well over. Still 4-0 after 60 minutes.

Walcott send away by Welbeck and he is tripped in the penalty area by the defender and as this is the Europa League we get a penalty. Giroud behind the ball and…. scores but the ref calls him back and he has to do it again. 1 Arsenal attacker in the penalty area and 4 defenders. But Giroud again and…. he scores. GOAL! 5-0 To The Arsenal after 63 minutes.

Time to bring some youngsters as Nelson is preparing himself. A bit of sloppy defending from Arsenal even brings a chance to shoot for Bate but the ball ends up in the arms of Ospina after a deflection. And a second shot for Bate and this time Ospina even really has to make a stop. Arsenal have taken their foot of the pedal after this 5th goal.

After 70 minutes Theo who had an excellent game goes off and Nelson takes his place. He immediately wins a corner after been send away by Wilshere, who was the captain now. Ospina has to rush from his line to avoid a Bate goal and is first on the ball. Arsenal going forward again and Nelson and Giroud give the ball to Wilshere who plays it to Elneny who curls the ball in the top corner. GOAL! 6-0 To The Arsenal. Jack had taken a short breather but now in full swing again and Arsenal really dominating again. After 76 minutes Elneny and Welbeck go off and Willock and Nketiah enter the field.

Wilshere picks out Nelson but his shot is blocked. Nketiah almost gets away after a 1-2 with Wilshere but a defender just beats the young forward. But you can feel that Arsenal is no longer really searching for more goals. You can say they done enough today. Giroud looking the hungriest player from Arsenal to score more. Ospina doesn’t want to see his clean sheet taken away and being very attentive for any possible threat from Bate. And even making a good stop in the final minutes. So he also earned his money today. Giroud with a last chance but his shot is blocked.

Arsenal win with 6-0 against Bate Borisov and that was the just result of what I have seen today.