SM
Friday, November 8
Upcoming predictions and previews
Europa League | Group Stage
Nov 29, 2018 at 5.55pm UK
 
AL

0-3

 
FT(HT: 0-3)
Smith Rowe (11'), Ramsey (27' pen.), Willock (41')

Vorskla coach left fuming as his side lose relocated clash with Arsenal

:Headline: Vorskla coach left fuming as his side lose relocated clash with Arsenal: ID:342883: from db_amp
The Gunners ran out 3-0 winners in Kiev after decision was made to move game from Poltava.

Arsenal secured top-spot in their Europa League group as a much-changed side coasted to Europa League victory against Vorskla Poltava, whose manager then hit out at the decision to move the game to Kiev.

The Group E fixture was moved 185 miles east of Poltava to the capital's Olympic Stadium with parts of Ukraine under martial law as political tensions with Russia continue to rise.

The call to relocate the game was made on Tuesday evening, with Vorskla particularly unhappy with UEFA's decision and official confirmation that the match would take place at all not coming from the governing body until six hours before kick-off.

The inconvenience – as well as a technical issue with their plane and the team bus breaking down just outside the stadium – did little to knock Arsenal off their stride as youngsters Emile Smith Rowe and Joe Willock scored either side of an Aaron Ramsey penalty to seal a 3-0 win in temperatures which dipped to minus 10 degrees.

Vorskla, meanwhile, made some suggestion the game would still not take place – although an Instagram post from their account on Wednesday evening showed the squad boarding a coach bound for Kiev.

They started the game brightly, but were never likely to get back into it once Smith Rowe scored with only 11 minutes on the clock, with their coach Vasyl Sachko afterwards venting his frustration at the change of venue.

"I would like to say a lot about this," he said.

"A holiday was taken away from Poltava. This game was very important for our city. One of the most important games for 10 years.

"We were preparing very much and it was expected to be like a holiday. We spent a lot of our energy and we did everything we could to prepare the match.

"It influenced the mental condition of the players very much because only in 24 hours everything had changed.

Unai Emery was pleased with Arsenal's youngsters (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

"That was a big influence on the mentality on the team. The city lost a lot. A thousand supporters were going to come from other cities to support our team.

"The city really lost a holiday. If we played at home there would definitely be another result."

Arsenal have now sewn up first place in the group with a game to spare and, with more than an eye on Sunday's Premier League north London derby at home to Tottenham, Unai Emery made 10 changes.

Striker Eddie Nketiah was handed his first senior start as Zech Medley, Bukayo Sako and Charlie Gilmour all came off the bench for their debuts – with Arsenal finishing the game with six teenagers on the pitch.

The performance of Smith Rowe was particularly eye-catching, the 18-year-old scoring his third goal in his last four appearances – with Emery keen for Arsenal's other youngsters to use the England youth international as an example to follow.

"He's taken confidence and responsibility and steps with us," he said.

"Today his performance is very good. One good example for other young players. They have a lot of chances to help us today with this performance and also because we think they can help us.

"They need confidence playing matches, not only in training but also to take minutes in games like today.

"We have responsibility with the young players to show us if they can improve and stay with us."

amp_article__342883 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2018-11-30 09:07:58:
html db last update - 2018-11-30 09:07:58 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Vasyl Sachko

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .