GUNNERS CRUISE IT

ARSENAL qualified for the knockout stages despite dropping their first points of the campaign. Arsene Wenger’s side survived some nervous moments but a 5-2 win for Cologne over Bate Borisov meant they reached the last 32 of the Europa League with two games left.

ARSENAL got an early repayment from Cologne as they sealed a spot in the Europa League knockout stages.

The Gunners were left grateful to the Germans for beating BATE Borisov to ensure this bore draw against Red Star was enough to go through.

After the damage Cologne’s fans caused at the Emirates in September, which they have to pay Arsenal for after being charged by UEFA, giving the Londoners a helping hand was the least they could do.

And Arsene Wenger’s men needed assistance after failing to produce a display good enough to get the job done on their own and being booed off. The two keepers were a big reason for the stalemate. Red Star’s Milan Borjan twice frustrated the man who beat him late on in the first game between the sides, Olivier Giroud. He kicked a close-range effort from Giroud clear and then got the better of the France star in a one-on-one.

And Arsenal’s Matt Macey, on his European debut, matched Borjan’s efforts with a pair of full-stretch saves.

The 6ft 7in youngster stood tall to tip Slavoljub Srnic’s effort over before pushing Vujadin Savic’s header on to the bar.

Macey should have had no chance just before the break when Richmond Boakye bore down on goal, but the Red Star striker fluffed his lines.

Arsenal continued to toil after the break, but Jack Wilshere looked all set to end his day on a high note after his England snub when he wriggled into the box down the left.

But his clever effort, lifted casually over Borjan, was hooked off the line by Damien Le Tallec.

Boss Wenger then turned to new young hope Eddie Nketiah off the bench to try and find a winner.

But there was to be no repeat of the heroics he produced against Norwich a week ago.