HAPPY GILMOUR

Scotland starlet in debut as kids shine for Emery

SCOTLAND starlet Charlie Gilmour made his Arsenal debut as Unai Emery’s side clinched top spot in Group E against Vorskla Poltava.

The 19-year-old midfielder came on as a 76th-minute substitute for Matteo Guendouzi as the Gunners cruised to victory in Kiev.

Gilmour is the first Scot to play for Arsenal in 21 years — since defender Scott Marshall appeared in a Premiership match against Sheffield Wednesday in 1997.

He was born in Brighton but has a Scottish father and has represented England and Scotland at youth level, but committed his future to the Scots last year after appearing for the Under-19s.

Another two teenagers, Emile Smith Rowe and Joe Willock, were on the scoresheet to extend Arsenal’s unbeaten run to 18 games and Emery was full of praise for his young charges.

‘The spirit and quality was good,’ he said. ‘We have a responsibility with young players to show us if they can improve and stay with us. They need confidence playing matches.’

After all the chaos ahead of this Europa League encounter, it was Arsenal’s unfazed youngsters who finally put an end to the Poltava palaver once and for all.

Despite the drama that unfolded over the last week, including UEFA’s relocation of the match from Poltava 210 miles away to Kiev, this was as straightforward as victories come.

Emery named a number of kids in his squad with 12 of the 20 who travelled products of the academy. The starting line-up’s outfield players had only 389 Premier League appearances between them, and 247 of those belonged to Aaron Ramsey.

Within 11 minutes, Arsenal had their opener and it came from Smith Rowe, the 18-year-old who has yet to appear in the English top flight.

Ramsey and Eddie Nketiah worked their way into the box with back-to-back one-twos and the ball bobbled towards Smith Rowe.

With a gaping goal from 12 yards, he made no mistake.

It was 2-0 after 27 minutes when Smith Rowe fed Ramsey, who danced his way around two Vorskla defenders. Igor Perduta bundled him over and Polish referee Bartosz Frankowski pointed to the spot.

Ramsey took it himself, gave goalkeeper Bohdan Shust the eyes and found the right-hand corner.

Before half time, Arsenal finished off their goal haul.

A through-ball from Mohamed Elneny gave Willock something to chase. He had a man ahead of him, but the 19-year-old bent the ball around him from 18 yards.

The plan now for the Gunners will be to thaw out, then tackle Tottenham at the Emirates on Sunday.