Arsenal 2 FC Zurich 1

Arsenal began their Europa League campaign with victory over Zurich. Arsenal took the lead through debutant Marquinhos converting from Eddie Nketiah’s cutback after 16 minutes. But Zurich equalised before half-time courtesy of Mirlind Kryeziu’s penalty after Nketiah fouled Ola Selnaes. Nketiah restored Arsenal’s lead in the second half, heading in at the far post from Marquinho’s cross. Mikel Arteta’s side face PSV Eindhoven in their second Europa League game next Thursday.

Mikel Arteta says he would like to “be the first one” to end Arsenal’s wait for a European trophy. The Gunners last achieved European success with their Cup Winners Cup triumph in 1994. They started their Europa League campaign against FC Zurich and sit in a group that also contains PSV Eindhoven and Bodo/Glimt, who drew their match 0-0. Arsenal were without the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny, Reiss Nelson and Thomas Partey for the fixture in Switzerland due to injuries.

The Gunners lost at the semi-final stage of the Europa League in 2020-21 and were beaten in the final by Chelsea in 2019. Before that they made it all the way to the final of the now defunct Cup Winner’s Cup in 2000 against Galatasaray. Both clubs competed in the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League; with each team finishing in third place of the first group stage,

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