Europa League: Group A

FC ZURICH 1 (Kryeziu 44 pen)
ARSENAL 2 (Marquinhos 16, Nketiah 62)

EDDIE Nketiah made amends for giving away a careless penalty by scoring the winner tonight (Thursday) as Arsenal kickstarted their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 victory against FC Zurich at the Kybunpark Stadium.

Both sets of players emerged for the second half and gathered around the centre circle to observe a minute’s silence to mark the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II, which was announced during half-time.

In the first half the Gunners had started slowly but took the lead on 16 minutes when Brazilian teenager Marquinhos marked his debut with a fine finish.

A rapid breakaway saw Fabio Vieira lose his man before releasing Nketiah down the left. Despite being tracked by a defender Nketiah managed to pick out Marquinhos in the middle, and the 19-year-old rippled the back of the net with a sublime first-time finish.

The Gunners were dominating proceedings, but Mikel Arteta’s side were given a scare when a rare Zurich breakaway almost led to an equaliser. Jonathan Okita whipped in a low cross that eventually found Ole Selnaes, whose goal-bound effort was superbly blocked by the energetic Kieran Tierney.

Arsenal, however, didn’t heed the warning, and on the stroke of half-time the hosts found themselves level. Nketiah made a clumsy attempt to clear the ball in his own penalty area, but instead fouled Fidan Aliti.

The referee, Mohammed Al-Hakim, pointed to the spot, and Mirlind Kryeziu calmly equalised for the Swiss champions – sending goalkeeper Matt Turner the wrong way.

Nketiah, through, was to have the final say. Just after the hour mark Marquinhos turned from goalscorer to provider as he sent a devilish cross to the far post for Nketiah to head home.

The 2-1 victory sees Arsenal take an early lead at the top of the table after the other game in Group A between PSV Eindhoven and FK Bodø/Glimt finished in a 1-1 draw.

The Gunners are due to meet PSV in their next Europa League match at the Emirates Stadium next Thursday, September 15.

FC Zurich: Brecher, Boranijasevic, Kamberi, Kryeziu, Aliti, Dzemaili (Conde, 67), Selnaes, Okita (Avdijaj, 80), Krasniqi (Marchesano, 67), Guerrero (Rohner, 67), Aiyegun (Santini, 80)
Substitutes not used: Kostadinovic, Omeragic, Hornschuh, Vyunnyk, Hodza, Mets, De Nitti

Arsenal: Turner, Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Holding, Tierney (Zinchenko, 69), Marquinhos (Saka, 69), Xhaka, Lokonga, Vieira (Odegaard, 69), Martinelli, Nketiah (Jesus, 78)
Substitutes not used: Ramsdale, Hein, White, Saliba, Cirjan, Smith, Cozier-Duberry