Arsenal 4-1 Rapid Wien: Lacazette, Mari, Nketiah on target

Pablo Mari-Arsenal

Arsenal FC produced a great performance on Thursday night as they welcome supports back into the stadium.

The Gunners returned to top form in time, with goals from Lacazette, Pablo Mari, Nketiah and Rowe able to secure the top spot in Group B for Arsenal.

The Gunners who have struggled in the League this season made it five wins in five games in Europe, with a display very different from what fans have been sud to in recent times.

Mikel Arteta made wholesale changes to the side that lost to Wolves in their last PL outing, with Alexandre Lacazette leading the line with support from Eddie Nketiah, Nicolas Pépé and Reiss Nelson.

The Gunners started the better of the two teams and were ahead by the 10th minute through a superb Lacazette strike. The Frenchman bent one into the top corner from range after the home side had lost possession from a throw-in.

By the 18th minute, they had doubled their lead, this time through a Pablo Mari flick following a corner by Reiss Nelson. Arteta’s side continued to attack and were unfortunate not to be three ahead in the 27th minute after a Lacazette shot came back off the post. Their dominance paid off though by the 44th minute as Eddie Nketiah added his name to the scoresheet after being picked up by Nelson.

The visitors pulled one back immediately after the breakthrough Kitagawa, but the hosts soon restored their three-goal cushion with Smith Rowe converting a Maitland-Niles cross to make it four.

The result means Arsenal seal top spot in their group. The Gunners will face Tottenham on Sunday while Rapid welcome Hartberg in the Austrian Bundesliga.