Arsenal faced Ukrainian side Vorskla on Thursday night looking to secure top spot in Europa League Group E, while Celtic travelled to Rosenborg as they attempted to keep their qualification hopes alive in Group B.
The Gunners took the lead in Kiev, 200 miles away from Vorskla’s home ground, through youngster Emile Smith-Rowe, who bagged his third Arsenal goal in just six appearances so far.
From there, Arsenal seized control of the game and eventually ran out as 3-0 winners, ensuring top spot in Group E.
Meanwhile, in Norway, Celtic fired an absolute barrage at the Rosenborg goal early on, with Andre Hanson being kept very busy between the sticks. The Hoops did eventually find the breakthrough, with Scott Sinclair heading home at the far post after 42 minutes, sending Celtic on their way to a very valuable three points.
Here are the five things we learned as Arsenal and Celtic both won away from home in the Europa League.
1. Martial law causes Europa League havoc
(Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Before Arsenal’s game against Vorskla even kicked off, things were plunged into doubt as the decision was made to move the game to the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, 200 miles away from Vorskla, due to the Ukrainian government declaring martial law.
The result was a 70,000 seater stadium with barely a fraction of that inside, with the travelling Arsenal fans and a small group of Vorskla supporters scrambling to the re-arranged venue. The atmosphere was barely better than the Croatia-England Uefa Nations League clash that was played behind closed doors recently.
The disruption certainly seemed to hinder Vorskla more than Arsenal, though, as the Gunners stormed into an early lead through 18-year-old Emile Smith-Rowe, proceeding to take control of the game from there, strolling to a 3-0 win.
2. Patience is a virtue
Celtic were absolutely fantastic in the first half against Rosenborg. Putting it bluntly, they treated the Norwegians with a reckless abandon, creating chance after chance and playing at a pace that Rosenborg simply couldn’t deal with.
(Photo credit should read OLE MARTIN WOLD/AFP/Getty Images)
The only problem for the Bhoys was that they had come up against an inspired goalkeeper in the form of Andre Hanson. It seemed to take an age to break Hanson’s resolve, but break it they did after 42 minutes and five shots on target, courtesy of a Scott Sinclair header after a great dribble and far post cross from James Forrest.
From there, Celtic held on to their one-goal lead, leaving them in a very commanding position in Group B.
3. The kids are alright
Given that they had already qualified for the knockout rounds and have a north London derby to contend with at the weekend, it is rather understandable that a very young Arsenal side was fielded by Unai Emery against Vorskla.
The changes did nothing to derail Arsenal’s momentum, however, as Emery’s kids tore Vorskla a proverbial new one. It took just 10 minutes for 18-year-old Emile Smith-Rowe to open the scoring for the Gunners as he put away his third goal in just six first-team games after some great work from Eddie Nketiah.
Emile Smith-Rowe’s Arsenal career so far:
6 appearances
⚽️ 3 goalsJust 18 years old. pic.twitter.com/AvDF1r0xR3
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 29, 2018
Elder statesman Aaron Ramsey won and scored a penalty in the 25th minute, before handing the torch back to the teenagers as 19-year-old Joe Willock got onto the end of a Matteo Guendouzi pass, teasing Ardin Dalku before placing a lovely finish inside the far post from just outside the box. In the BT Sport studio, Karen Carney was glowing about the goal, saying: “The way he’s opened up his hip and rolled it into the corner is something Thierry Henry would do.”
That ‘Henry-esque’ goal made it 3-0 and job done at halftime, with Arsenal simply seeing the game out in the second half.
4. The Bhoys are back in town
Despite missing a multitude of chances to put the game to bed, Celtic put in a brilliant performance against Rosenborg and their narrow 1-0 win leaves them in a very strong position in Group B.
(Photo credit should read OLE MARTIN WOLD/AFP/Getty Images)
The Red Bull derby in Salzburg produced a 1-0 victory for the home side, sending Celtic three points clear of RB Leipzig with just one game remaining.
That one game is against RB Salzburg, who have already qualified. Brendan Rodgers’ side only need a draw from that tie and a combination of the Parkhead atmosphere and Salzburg (hopefully) taking their foot off the gas may well be enough to see Celtic through to the knockout rounds of the Europa League.
5. Dazzling Joe Willock must get his first-team chance
“I’ve been really impressed with this young man and I think he’s demonstrating, above any other player on the pitch tonight, that he should be playing first-team football whether it be at Arsenal, or somewhere else. He’s now reached that stage where he’s going to have to be allowed to play football, he’s been outstanding.”
(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Those were the words of Martin Keown in the BT Sport studio when talking about the performance of Joe Willock against Vorskla.
Indeed, the 19-year-old was absolutely on fire, scoring with an impressive far-post finish after 40 minutes to put the Gunners 3-0 up. In the first half alone, Willock completed three dribbles, more than any other player on the pitch, and was a constant thorn in the side of the Vorskla defence as he switched from flank to flank throughout.
On the evidence of Thursday evening, Keown is right, Willock deserves consistent football soon.
The post Willock has earned a first-team shot: Five things learned Arsenal & Celtic UEL wins appeared first on Squawka News.
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