Arsenal young blood run riot at Frankfurt, United survive

FRANKFURT AM MAIN: Arsenal youngsters Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka claimed goals as a rotated Gunners side romped to a 3-0 win at 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday in the Europa League. Willock, 20, one of seven changes by Arsenal manager Unai Emery to the team which started Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Watford, gave the Gunners a first-half lead after a deflection off a Frankfurt player.

Eighteen-year-old Saka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed late goals as Frankfurt were reduced to 10 men for the final 11 minutes when midfielder Dominik Kohr was shown a second yellow card for fouling Saka.

“Everybody can be happy and continuing in this competition is important, so it was good to get a good win, especially away from home,” said Emery.

The Arsenal boss singled out Saka after the teenager showed confidence above his years by scoring and then setting up Aubameyang late on. “We wanted to give the young players a chance and they showed the confidence to take their chances,” said Emery. “He (Saka) showed his confidence with his finishing, he looked good and physically strong,” added Emery, who praised his side’s defending after shutting out Frankfurt despite facing 24 shots at goal.

MAN UNITED WIN

MANCHESTER: Teenager Mason Greenwood rescued a muchchanged Manchester United from an embarrassing start to their Europa League campaign with the only goal to beat Kazakh champions Astana 1-0 at Old Trafford on Thursday.

At just 17, Greenwood became the youngest goal-scorer for United in European competition with a composed finish under Nenad Eric 17 minutes from time. “We always know that in and around the box he is one of the best finishers we have got,” said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Greenwood’s composure. Victory justified Solskjaer’s decision to make nine changes from Saturday’s Premier League win over Leicester with a host of youngsters given their chance to impress.