Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
POISE 3 NOISE 1
Gunners stay calm to silence Germans
A NIGHT to forget for so many reasons but one to be remembered for Alexis Sanchez’s wonder goal.
It was a match marred by shameful scenes as Cologne fans went on the rampage, inside and outside the Emirates, and by the interval seemed to be going so wrong for Arsenal.
But the second-half fightback and Sanchez’s goal completely changed the mood and at least spared Arsenal the embarrassment of losing the first game of a competition they do not really want to be in.
The Europa League has become almost a nuisance for Arsene Wenger and just another game, another hurdle to trip up the team, another stick for the fans to beat him with.
Sure enough, the Gunners started badly, went behind and were booed off at half time.
But the comeback showed there is some spirit within a team which too often looks in danger of drifting towards mediocrity.
However, they do at least have world-class quality in Sanchez and when Sead Kolasinac came on he transformed the game with his heart and determination, putting Arsenal level. Hector Bellerin sealed the win.
There probably is not much pride to be taken from a night ruined by the visiting supporters and no one should excuse their behaviour by dressing it up as passion and a great advert for German football. It was not.
Cologne are also, at best, a pretty average team playing their first European game for 25 years and that just about sums up the changing of the guard in North London.
Tottenham beat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, 24 hours later Arsenal fall behind to Cologne in the Europa League. Sadly for
Arsenal, they have fallen a long way.
And a bad night threatened to get even worse when Cologne went ahead. The opening goal came after another howler from David Ospina as Arsenal’s No.2 keeper has made a habit of dropping clangers in Europe.
His latest shocker came on nine minutes when he rushed out of his box, made a poor clearance, the ball fell to Leonardo Bittercourt who controlled it before Jhon Cordoba smashed a dipping shot from 45 yards.
Poor old Ospina was caught rushing back to his goalline when the ball sailed over him and Cologne fans – dotted all over the stadium – celebrated.
Arsenal struggled to get back into the game, they looked disjointed and a real mess. On top of that, poor Rob Holding was struggling badly in defence as Bittercourt had the beating of him down Arsenal’s right. Not surprisingly, Arsenal were booed off at half time and Wenger responded by substituting Holding for Kolasinac.
The Bosnian defender went to left-back, Arsenal switched to a flat back four and the tide began to turn.
Theo Walcott chased down a ball in the 50th minute, his cross was deflected off Lukas Klunter and the ball fell to Kolasinac who smashed a brilliant left foot volley into the corner.
If only Arsenal had 11 Kolasinacs in the team then they would not lack heart. But at least it fired them up for an impressive fight back. Arsenal went ahead after 67 minutes when Sanchez scored with a goal of the highest quality. Alex Iwobi’s long ball forward left Sanchez with a lot to do, he chased it down and then turned Cologne defender Jorge Mere inside out.
Sanchez then cut inside and curled a stunning 20yard shot into the far corner. A world-class goal.
That got a wonderful reception and shortly afterwards Jack Wilshere came on as a 68th minute substitute to a fantastic ovation, making his first appearance at the Emirates since May 2016.
Arsenal completed the turnaround after 82 minutes when Walcott’s shot was charged down and Bellerin then slid home the rebound.