STEVIE G’S MORE THAN HAPPY

New boy saves Gunners with amazing double strike

UNAI EMERY had not been a happy bunny before kick off. Not happy at all – upset by criticism of his team, and his methods.

This will have cheered up the Spaniard, but done nothing for his nerves.

When it looked as though the Arsenal manager was about to be plunged into the depths of despair as twice Guimaraes led – up popped Nicolas Pepe, with two brilliant free-kicks, the second in injury time, that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Pepe had started on the bench, a reflection of his up-anddown season after his £72million arrival from Lille in the summer. But he truly arrived last night.

Guimaraes were supposed to arrive, roll over and provide a little light relief last night. But the evening nearly turned into a nightmare for Emery.

The visitors were lightning quick on the break and brilliantly organised, former Tottenham

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forward Marcus Edwards and Bruno Duarte leading their attack, and should have had more.

Gabriel Martinelli cancelled out the first Vitoria goal and then came Pepe to snatch it late on (right).

Guimaraes arrived having lost their opening two group games.

Mesut Ozil was once again absent for the Gunners, having cryptically tweeted the evening before: “You make me laugh”.

Was it a message to his manager? Whatever the case, Emery got an even more unwelcome message right from the start last night. The warning

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STEVEN GERRARD’S battlers held on valiantly to earn an impressive draw in the Estadio do Dragao after staging a comeback from 1-0 down.

An important double save from signs were there as Andre Almeida turned and forced a save from Emiliano Martinez. Arsenal did not heed them, and fast-raiding Guimaraes made them pay. Victor Garcia went galloping down the right again, and when his cross came in, Edwards turned Kieran Tierney inside out before burying his shot. The visitors were tearing the Gunners apart with their pace. There were several more narrow escapes – but then, out of nowhere, Arsenal were level. Tierney crossed from the left and Martinelli got above the defence to nod the ball past Miguel Silva. But the home side

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Allan McGregor near the end helped to keep Gers’ hopes alive as they finished the night in second spot in Group G behind Young Boys.

Gerrard’s side had slipped behind in the 36th minute when Luis Diaz were level for only five minutes. Once again their defence was caught on the hop, Ainsley Maitland-Niles dithering on the ball and being robbed by Davidson.

His drive came back off a post but to the unmarked Bruno Duarte, who rammed his shot back past the helpless Martinez.

It was truly shambolic, and Davidson nearly added a third.

On at half time went Matteo Guendouzi and Dani Ceballos, as Emery tried to rescue the game. Shkodran Mustafi headed wide and then, after a good run by Tierney, Emile Smith-Rowe drilled wastefully off target.

Frustration was growing and Alexander Lacazette, back in the side after recovering from ankle problems, fell theatrically when Garcia moved his head towards him.

Edwards saw his shot deflected wide as Guimaraes continued to look dangerous on the break, but Arsenal were making no inroads into the Portuguese club’s defence. found the top corner for the home side with a superb effort.

But Alfredo Morelos (left) struck back eight minutes later from Borna Barisic’s inch-perfect pass – and came close to nicking a winner.