Europa League: Defenders Best Form Of Attack As Arsenal Ease Into Last 16 By Sweeping BATE Borisov Aside (Photos & Highlight)

Alan Duffy

21st, February 2019

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Arsenal booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League courtesy of a 3-0 victory over BATE Borisov at the Emirates, a result which saw the Gunners turnaround the dismal 1-0 defeat they suffered in the first leg.

Europa League specialist Unai Emery handed Mesut Ozil a start and the German produced a decent display against the Belarusian side.

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The Gunners took the lead after just four minutes, when defender Zakhar Volkov turned a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang centre into his own goal.

Despite going ahead early, Arsenal found themselves under threat, with Stephan Lichtsteiner forced into a goal-line clearance from a Stanislav Dragun header and Maksim Skavysh also going close.

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At the other end, Alex Iwobi, Granit Xhaka and Aubameyang all had good chances before Shkodran Mustafi finally put the Gunners ahead in the tie, with the German defender heading home from a Xhaka corner.

In the second period, Arsenal were comfortable, with sub Sokratis Papastathopoulos, on for Laurent Koscielny, connecting with another Xhaka corner to put the Premier League side in the driving seat.

That goal came just after veteran ex-Arsenal winger, Aleksandr Hleb, came on as a sub.

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The game would also see Mesut Ozil complete the full 90 minutes for only the seventh time this season, as the Gunners ultimately wafted to a win which sees them move into the last 16 of the competition.

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The draw for the next round of the Europa League takes place on Friday, February 22nd.