The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Youth players star as Gunners impress
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 0 ARSENAL 3
Arsenal academy graduates Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka shone as the Gunners began their Europa League campaign with an impressive victory at 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt.
In what should prove to be their most difficult assignment in their attempts to qualify from Group F, head coach Unai Emery made seven alterations from the weekend’s disappointing draw at Watford and saw his team run out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Willock and Saka, as well as Emile Smile Rowe, were the youngsters given a chance to impress and the former opened the scoring in the first half.
Saka would then double the advantage with a fine finish before laying on a late third for PierreEmerick Aubameyang, with both second-half goals coming after Frankfurt midfielder Dominik Kohr had been sent off.
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 FC ASTANA 0
Mason Greenwood opened his Manchester United account in style as the 17-year-old secured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men an unconvincing win against Astana in their Europa League opener.
Back in the competition for the first time since lifting the trophy two years ago, the Reds’ gruelling road to Gdansk got off to a surprisingly uncomfortable start against the perennial Kazakhstan champions.
An embarrassing European result was looming large in front of an increasingly frustrated Old Trafford crowd, only for teenager Greenwood to produce a moment of magic and secure a 1-0 win.
Solskjaer will be relieved to have got Group L off to a winning start, although will surely be alarmed by the way his side’s performance dropped off after Fred hit the woodwork and Marcus Rashford saw early efforts denied.
Perhaps the disjointed display should not come as a surprise given teenagers Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes and Greenwood were all handed starting roles as United named their youngest European line-up since 2012.
WOLVES 0 SPORTING BRAGA 1
Ricardo Horta struck to earn Braga victory as Wolves’ European dream was given a wake-up call.
Forward Horta bagged his fifth goal of the season to snatch a 1-0 opening win in the Europa League Group K clash at Molineux.
Patrick Cutrone and Leander Dendoncker went close for the hosts – who dominated for long spells – but their season continues to stutter.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side won all their qualifying games to reach the group stage, including an impressive 5-3 aggregate victory over Torino, but are winless in the Premier League.
They go to Crystal Palace on Sunday with questions already being raised about their ability to cope in Europe and domestically.