Arsenal defeated FC Zurich 2-1 in Switzerland to extend their unbeaten run in UEFA Europa League group stage away fixtures to ten games (eight wins).FC Zurich were the first to go close as Matt Turner’s outward pass was intercepted, before Aiyegun Tosin went close from a tight angle, but Gabriel was on hand to turn it behind. The Gunners started to find their feet as the first half went on, and another chance came and went when Granit Xhaka’s cross fell to the feet of Marquinhos, but his first time shot flew over. However, Arsenal then took the lead from a devastating counter attack just a few moments later, as Fabio Vieira set Eddie Nketiah free and he squared the ball to Marquinhos and the nineteen year old debutant scored his first goal for Arsenal.Arsenal almost doubled their lead when Albert Sambi Lokonga sent through Vieira but his audacious lobbed effort cleared the crossbar. There was always a sense that Arsenal might pay dearly for failing to double their advantage, and Zurich duly equalised on the brink of half time when they were given a penalty as Nketiah was adjudged to have brought down Selnæs. Mirlind Kryeziu stepped up and sent Turner the wrong way and levelled the score.The Gunners came out for the second half full of energy and attacking intent, and Nketiah went close to righting his wrongs just after the break, as his curled effort from the edge of the area went narrowly over the bar. A second Arsenal goal looked inevitable, and they got it 15 minutes after the restart, as Marquinhos’ cross to the far post was headed in by Nketiah. Gabriel Jesus almost added a third for Arsenal late in the game, but Brecher kept his low drilled effort out with his feet.Zurich had a golden opportunity to equalise in injury time, as Ivan Santini rose highest in the box but his header was straight at Turner. There was ultimately much to admire about the way Arsenal bounced back from their 3-1 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend, with the Gunners deservedly going top of Group A. As for Zurich, they have much to ponder after a losing return to European action after a three year absence.The biggest surprise of the first round came from the southeast of Europe where Jose Mourinho’s Roma suffered an unexpected defeat. After a Europa League record of 18 straight matches without victory in the tournament proper, Ludogorets finally secured a victory in UEFA’s second-tier competition, shocking Europa Conference League holders Roma with a 2-1 victory.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUEThursdayFC Zürich – Arsenal 1-2 (1-1)/Kryeziu 44 pen – Marquinhos 17, Nketiah 62/PSV Eindhoven – Bodø/Glimt 1-1 (0-1)/Gakpo 63 – Gronbaek 44/AEK Larnaca – Stade Rennais 1-2 (1-1)/Oier 33 – Theate 29, Assignon 90+4/Fenerbahçe – Dynamo Kyiv 2-1 (1-0)/Gustavo Henrique 35, Batshuayi 90+3 – Tsygankov 64/HJK – Real Betis Balompié 0-2 (0-1)/Willian Jose 45+2, 64/Ludogorets Razgrad – Roma 2-1 (0-0)/Cauly 72, Nonato 88 – Shomurodov 86/FC Union Berlin – Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 0-1 (0-1)/Lynen 39/Malmö FF – Sporting Braga 0-2 (0-1)/Bruno Rodrigues 30, Horta 70 pen/22:00 Manchester United – Real Sociedad22:00 Omonia Nicosia – FC Sheriff Tiraspol22:00 Lazio – Feyenoord22:00 SK Sturm Graz – FC Midtjylland22:00 FC Nantes – Olympiacos22:00 SC Freiburg – Qarabağ FK22:00 FK Crvena zvezda – AS Monaco22:00 Ferencvárosi TC – Trabzonspor***odds are subject to change©FlashScore
