Sanchez Curler Helps Arsenal Beat FC Koln

Alexis Sanchez scored his first goal of season to help Arsenal jump-start their Europa League campaign with a victory against German outfit FC Koln.
Sead Kolasinac equalised shortly after the break while Sanchez and Hector Bellerin shaped the final 3-1.

Some 20,000 enthusiastic Cologne fans had travelled to London on the night, delaying the game by an hour due to chaos outside the Emirates.

Backed by the numbers and passion of their supporters, the Cologne players started the game with urgency and assertiveness. The built-up energy became too much to bear for David Ospina who misplaced a clearance in the ninth minute, and the ball fell to Cordoba whose long-range effort broke the deadlock, 1-0 for the visitors.

As the game progressed, Wenger’s choice of back three looked increasingly shaky with veteran Per Mertesacker on the receiving end of frequent dashing runs. Things looked similar up front with Theo Walcott and Hector Bellerin impotently aiming balls at Olivier Giroud’s head from the sides.

The half-time whistle came with the shock of the visitors leading at the Emirates subsiding to the sense of acceptance for the fairness of the result.
Undoubtedly, Wenger had taken notice of his back three’s struggles to contain the speedy runs because he opted to add another body at the back for the second half.

Results followed soon after. With less than five minutes gone, Sead Kolasinac volleyed a rebound past the Cologne keeper Timo Horn to equalise the game.
By then, the visitors’ initial charge had still not worn off, but as the game progressed, it became apparent that Wenger’s tactical changes were taking effect. Cologne’s time on the ball decreased while Arsenal found it easier to exploit the open spaces.

Within this frame, Sanchez, who had been quiet on the night thus far, received the ball on the left, cut inside and executed a stunning curler to complete the comeback, 2-1.

The beauty of the goal must have sapped all the remaining energy out of Stoger’s men because the Gunners sailed to a third and final goal through Bellerin eight minutes from time.

At the final whistle, the Arsenal supporters had all the reasons to congratulate their club’s players for a well-deserved comeback, and perhaps the third of them, those who didn’t go home before the end, did.

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