BATE Borisov 1-4 Arsenal: Europa League LIVE scores, news and results

BATE Borisov v Arsenal: Express Sport brings you LIVE Europa League scores, news, updates and results

74: This is the kind of match Tony Pulis would be watching from behind the sofa. Neither defence looks capable of doing their jobs and attackers are winning every battle.

71: It’s concentration time for Arsenal now. At 4-1 they were sailing to victory, but Gordeichuk’s goal has really put the cat amongst the pigeons.

Nelson loses his footing at the crucial moment to allow Gordeichuk to drill a cross into the box, but Volodjko’s effort flies over the bar. Should have scored.

BATE BORISOV 2-4 ARSENAL – GORDEICHUK

69: Where’s that come from?!

BATE have pulled another one back after some pretty abysmal goalkeeping from David Ospina.

Rob Holding lost his footing to allow a speculative cross into the six-yard box, where Ivanic produced the tamest of headers that Ospina palms straight to Gordeichuk to convert.

68: Volodko, who’s seen about 19 infringements unpunished, finally goes in the book for pulling down Theo Walcott. Wilshere takes it but fails to beat the first man.

65: Nothing much to report here folks. Arsenal are seeing this out with ease. That should leave Arsene Wenger’s side in complete control of Group H. Red Star Belgrade are winning 1-0 against Cologne in the other game.

61: Olivier Giroud survives a slight scare after being taken out near the centre-circle. Don’t worry folks, I think he’ll live.

58: Mustafi sticks to his task and ushers Gordeichuk out of play for a corner, which promptly turns into a corner after Nelson is penalised for blocking with his arms. The set-pieces is whipped in and David Ospina makes a fine save to palm it away to safety.  Signevich got a slight touch. He was unsighted until the very last moment.

55: Olivier Giroud is the 12th fastest player to reach 100 goals for Arsenal; one game quicker than Robin van Persie.

53: Jack Wilshere is annoyed with Theo Walcott for going for goal instead of pulling it back to him for a simple finish. Bit greedy that, but I wouldn’t expect any less with a hat-trick in sight.

BATE BORISOV 1-4 ARSENAL – GIROUD

50: Is that a penalty? What’s going on?! OK, it’s the most innocuous incident ever seen, but referee Daniel Stefanski has seen fit to award Arsenal a spot-kick.

Nobody knew what the hell was going on there.

Anyway, it looks like Dragun was holding Mustafi’s shirt (in the loosest way possible) and Olivier Giroud steps up to slam the penalty home. He’s now scored 100 goals for Arsenal, only the 19th player to do so.

48: John Hartson says the next goal is imperative. I’ve grown to love his expert punditry… Nothing much has happened in the early stages, and Arsenal will want to keep it that way.

45: We’re back underway folks. No changes for Arsene Wenger’s side at the break. I think the Frenchman will want one more to banish any prospect of a nervy finish.

Analysis from our reporter Matt Dunn, at the Borisov Arena.

HT: Breath-taking first half in which Theo Walcott should already been on his way to his second hat-trick but, if it had not been for David Ospina, the Premier League side might have been holding on more than they are.

The moment Jack Wilshere was told he would be playing further forward than most anticipated his chest puffed out and with his head darting back and forth looking for opportunities every time he gets the ball, he looks like a Trafalgar Square pigeon down there on the immaculate grass.

Provided Arsenal do not concede early they should look to kill this game off – while the start was exhilarating, to wobble from three-up could be damaging to so many dynamic young egos.

HT: We’ve got Everton is action after this one folks. I’ll be bringing all the thrills, spills and bellyaches from Goodison Park at 8pm. No Oumar Niasse though. Ronald Koeman might be regretting his decision to leave him out of his Europa League squad.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Grimma: What a 45 minutes from Jack Wilshere. Please Lord give him a few injury free seasons, what an unbelievable player he could be!

Matt: Jack Wilshere is ruling playing on the No.10 role. His first half performance was fantastic. Mastermind.

Matthew: I’m expecting to see the likes of Chuba Akpom and Edward Nketiah in this second half at some point. Would think Arsene Wenger would wait for a fourth goal though.

HT: And that’s the break folks. BATE are somehow still just about in this match thanks to Ivanic’s header, but you would expect Arsenal to see this one out comfortably. Jack Wilshere has been superb.

46: I can’t believe it’s not 4-1! Theo Walcott sees his near-post effort tipped around the post by Scherbitski. It would have been his hat-trick. Rob Holding (who’s turned into a goal machine here apparently) then pounces on a loose ball and slams it against the outside of the post.

45: BATE Borisov have kept four clean sheets in their last five games. They clearly haven’t bumped into anyone like Theo Walcott recently…. There’s slight alarm for Arsenal as Joe Willock goes down after taking an elbow to the face. John Hartson thinks it’s worthy of a red. I’m not so sure.

43: Arsenal are doing a good job of slowing things down. Plenty of passing around the back three to take the sting out of BATE. It’s working a treat.

40: Maitland-Niles whips in a cross from the left flank but goalkeeper Scherbitski denies Giroud with a smart stop.

39: The handbrake is well and truly off now. BATE are showing caution to the wind and that’s leaving plenty of space for Arsenal. Expect more goals folks.

36: This game has really opened up now. It’s mayhem. Jack Wilshere goes close after a one-two with Olivier Giroud but was penalised for a push. Ivanic then tests Ospina again with his 5000th shot of the match, but the stopper was equal to it.

32: Amazing what a goal can do. BATE Borisov have really upped their game and almost make it 3-2 with a diving header that David Ospina incredibly tips wide. Offside flag was up, as you were.

BATE BORISOV 1-3 ARSENAL – IVANIC

27: Apparently we can’t…

The home side hit back with a wonderful header from Ivanic, who’s already seen about three speculative efforts sent wide.

The cross is teed up at the near post from Aleksei Rios, and Ivanic nods into the top corner.

26: Can we please have more than 60 seconds without a goal please?

BATE BORISOV 0-3 ARSENAL – HOLDING

25: What a capitulation. Absolutely disastrous start for BATE Borisov.

A routine corner is whipped into the area with per Mertesacker glancing it into the path of Rob Holding, whose outstretched right boot directs it into the bottom corner.

This could be a cricket score.

BATE BORISOV 0-2 ARSENAL – WALCOTT

22: That’s an absolute shocker! Arsenal fan and Borisov goalkeeper Scherbitski has gifted the visitors their second of the match.

He looks to play it out from the back, but passes it straight to Theo Walcott, who converts from about eight-yards out.

Theo on for a hat-trick, and we’ve only played 23 minutes!

21: Did you know that Mustafi has actually played against BATE in the Europa League before? Back in 2009 with Everton apparently… Bit of pub ammunition for you there.

Back to the important stuff. Ivanic, who’s not scared of a long-distance strike, half-volleys from 20-yards but it whistles past the left post. Arsenal were a bit sloppy in losing possession there.

17: Disallowed goal! Jack Wilshere has the ball in the Borisov net but it’s been disallowed for offside. Wilshere, the architect again, finds Theo Walcott in an offside position on the right flank before tapping home the cross. Looks like the linesman’s got that wrong. Should be 2-0 here.

16: I remember watching Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles during Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Australia. They were great then, and they’re even better tonight. Fearless play.

13: Ouch! Joe Willock takes a rake down the back of his ankle, but after some treatment (magic water from Space Jam) he’s fine to continue.

BATE BORISOV 0-1 ARSENAL – WALCOTT

10: Theo Walcott didn’t take long to make amends…

It’s the perfect start for Arsenal as Jack Wilshere and Walcott combine to break the deadlock inside ten minutes.

Wilshere plays a quick one-two with Giroud before drifting a pin-point cross over to Wilshere, who nods beyond the outstretched Borisov keeper.

8: Woodwork! Theo Walcott can’t get closer without scoring. Some absolutely gorgeous one-touch interplay between Nelson, Maitland-Niles and Wilshere sees the latter thread Walcott through, but the winger’s effort strikes the post.

6: Maitland-Niles looks for a Hollywood cross-field pass, but it rolls straight out of play. I’m reliably informed the Arsenal players will return to Luton airport in the early hours of Friday morning. Not the greatest way to prepare for a Premier League match with Brighton…

5: Not too much to speak about so far. Ivanic decided shooting from 40-yards would be a good idea. It wasn’t a good idea. Miles wide. Decent enough atmosphere inside the stadium as Arsenal look to settling into their rhythm.

Analysis from our reporter Matt Dunn, at the Borisov Arena.

2: From the outside, the Borisov Arena, completed in 2014, looks like it has landed from outer space in the heart of the Belarus forest. Inside, its compact but stylish structure captures the noise and although it contains just 13,000 voices, the atmosphere is intense.

Indeed, three teams have won here ever in European competition, Barcelona, Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk.

A difficult enough stage on which to make your debut, not least when you are an 18-year-old with next-to-no experience even at under-21 level. A lot of eyes on Joe Willock tonight.

BATE BORISOV 0-0 ARSENAL

1: We’re underway in Belarus folks. I’m going for a hard-fought 2-0 win for the Gunners. Says the man who hasn’t won a bet since 1984…

17:58: Quick reminder of those starting XI’s.

BATE XI: Scherbitski, Rios, Gajduchik, Milunovic, Polyakov, Aleksandr Volodjko, Dragun, Gordeichuk, Ivanic, Stasevich, Rodionov.

Subs: Veremko, Yablonskiy, Berezkin, Signevich, Tuominem, Baha, Maksim Volodjko.

Arsenal XI: Ospina; Mustafi, Mertesacker, Holding; Nelson, Willock, Elneny, Wilshere, Maitland-Niles; Walcott, Giroud.

Subs: Macey, DaSilva, Gilmour, McGuane, Dragomir, Akpom, Nketiah.

17:55: Tell you what, the BATE Borisov arena is pretty damn cool. So Futuristic it hurts.

Arsenal are the first Premier League team to play at the ground which was only built in 2014, but I could have sworn I saw it on Grand Designs last week…

17:50: Jack, Jack, Jack…

The talented-yet-injury-prone midfielder has impressed on his two appearances so far this season, and is certainly going be a regular starter in cup competitions.

It is in central midfield where Arsenal have greater competition for selection than any other position, so with the 25-year-old’s contract due to expire at the end of the season, it is on occasions like these he must excel.

17:45: I certainly hope the travelling Arsenal fans have been enjoying their trip to Belarus. It looks like they have.

It’s a colossal 11 degrees and cloudy in the city of Barysaw, where TripAdvisor informs me there’s plenty to do.

The Holy Resurrection Cathedral, a monument to Prince Boris (no idea either) and a large water tower are all in the list of things to do there. #TouristWatch…

17:40: Can the young guns impress? Arsene Wenger certainly thinks so, and has called on his young stars to show their worth.

“This is the kind of job: you do not get 10 opportunities to play for Arsenal. Even if they only get 20 minutes, you have to convince people you have the qualities to do it and the courage to play and show your qualities,” Wenger said.

“We see in training that the player has quality. He is here because he has the qualities. After, to show it during competition is something different, and you only discover that during the competition.

“I said on Monday night that I would play an experienced team with a young bench. We have a very tight schedule and it is an important game, and that’s why there is only one or two young players who will start.”

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Sam: Be interesting to see if Mustafi stays on his feet when alongside the BFG. Must be the first time they’ve actually played together for Arsenal…

James: Limited experience in the midfield and on bench. I’m all for Arsenal blooding youngsters but this is drastic.

Alex: That Arsenal subs bench is the left over letters of a scrabble game. Where’s the real bench guys?

17:30: I’m afraid my knowledge of BATE’s starting XI isn’t exactly comprehensive, but I can tell you a little about their recent form.

It’s very similar to Arsenal’s. Like their visitors they remain undefeated in September, with Saturday’s 6-0 home win against FC Slutsk (don’t laugh) their fifth victory from their past six unbeaten matches.

From 31 fixtures this season they have recorded 20 victories, six draws and five defeats.

Tonight’s match is BATE’s 32nd of the season. Their first came on April 1, meaning they have been involved in regular competition for the past six months compared to Arsenal’s two.

17:25: OK, let’s have a look at Arsene Wenger’s selection.

He’s made nine changes to the side who beat West Brom 2-0 at the Emirates on Monday. Mohamed Elneny and Shkodran Mustafi are the only survivors.

David Ospina replaces Petr Cech between the sticks with Mustafi, Per Mertesacker and Rob Holding the chosen trio protect him.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Reiss Nelson will bomb forward from the full-back positions with Joe Willock and Elneny the sitting midfield partnership.

Jack Wilshere is playing in a more advanced position alongside Theo Walcott, while Olivier Giroud will look to make an impression in the lone attacking role.

17:20: Here’s the line-ups for tonight folks. I see a certain Jack Wilshere is back in action.

BATE XI: Scherbitski, Rios, Gajduchik, Milunovic, Polyakov, Aleksandr Volodjko, Dragun, Gordeichuk, Ivanic, Stasevich, Rodionov.

Subs: Veremko, Yablonskiy, Berezkin, Signevich, Tuominem, Baha, Maksim Volodjko.

Arsenal XI: Ospina; Mustafi, Mertesacker, Holding; Nelson, Willock, Elneny, Wilshere, Maitland-Niles; Walcott, Giroud.

Subs: Macey, DaSilva, Gilmour, McGuane, Dragomir, Akpom, Nketiah.

Referee: Daniel Stefanski.

17:15: Good evening folks, welcome to our LIVE coverage of BATE Borisov vs Arsenal in the Europa League.

The Gunners kicked off their European campaign with a 3-1 victory over Cologne, but you might remember the occasion more for 17,000 ticketless Cologne supporters causing mayhem inside the Emirates.

I don’t think we’ll have any such problems tonight, unless 20,000 Arsenal supporters fancy a spontaneous 1,400-mile journey to Belarus on a Thursday evening…

Didn’t think so.

Arsenal have fielded a weakened team for tonight’s encounter, but can they do it on a cold Thursday night in Belarus? We’re about to find out!

PREVIEW

Arsenal are set to field a weakened team for tonight’s Europa League fixture at BATE Borisov as they balance the competition against the demands of the Premier League.

They are understood to have travelled to Belarus without Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka, Alexandre Lacazette, Sead Kolasinac, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal.

Injury has also deprived them of Alex Iwobi, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck, meaning Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Reiss Nelson are expected to start.

Arsenal provisional squad: Ospina, Cech, Macey, Mertesacker, Holding, Mustafi, Wilshere, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Walcott, Giroud, Nelson, Willock, McGuane, Dasilva, Akpom, Gilmour, Debuchy.