RAPID WIEN VS ARSENAL Good evening and welcome to our live-text coverage of Rapid Wien vs Arsenal at the Allianz Stadion. That's right, the Europa League is officially underway and Arsenal, Spurs and Leicester spearhead English hopes of a winner. We'll bring you all the build-up, hype and highlights from Arsenal's opener tonight, so stay tuned ahead of kick-off at 17:55.
Europa League / Group Stage
Allianz Stadion / 22.10.2020
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- T. Fountas(52')
- David Luiz(71')
- P. Aubameyang(75')
Live
Live Updates
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Updated 22/10/2020 at 18:50 GMT
19'
Arsenal waste a few corners to the glee of the 3000 supporters inside the stadium.
But Arsenal get up and go again. They're just waiting patiently for that final ball but Rapid Vienna - to their credit - have stopped them creating anything of note so far.
16'
Ritzmaier - a deadline-day loan from Barnsley no less - has had a few touches down the left when Rapid Vienna do come forward.
Up the other end Arsenal are 3v3 and Pepe is on the ball, but Grahovac brings him down and picks up the world's most obvious booking.
CLOSE!
From the free-kick Luiz has a free header but Strebinger makes a good save.
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Yellow card
S. Grahovac
Rapid Wien
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14'
Nketiah again shows nimble footwork on the left and picks out Partey in the middle.
The midfielder has plenty of space to pick a pass and looks for Pepe down the right but he's crowded out well.
Rapid Vienna are keeping their shape well and refuse to be overwhelmed by these Arsenal attackers.
10'
Nketiah and Saka link up down the right for Arsenal's best moment of the match so far.
If anything Saka is too quick for his own feet and he overruns it. But what an electric pairing they look on the wings. Rapid.
9'
Partey looking sharp in midfield. He receives from the back, turns and gets his head up right away for the ball forward.
None of that sideways nonsense.
8'
Cedric gives away a foul as Greek international Fountas gets the better of him.
He's their main man up top and certainly looks a handful.
He's already megged Luiz.
5'
Okay I spoke to soon.
Rapid Vienna are getting the ball into wide areas and Arase puts a dangerous ball in. The Gunners do well to clear their lines though and they head back up the other end.
3'
Arsenal playing a 3-4-3 for anyone who wasn't sure.
They've gone for the ever-fashionable lump-it-forward from kick-off strategy and are on the front foot straight away.
You get the impression this going to be a pretty one-sided affair.
1st Half
1'
HERE WE GO
We actually have fans in the stadium. Not many, but fans all the same!
18:53
MUSIC TIME
The Europa League theme is actually a banger. Doesn't get enough attention in my opinion.
18:50
OZIL WATCHING ON
Despite the snub, Ozil watches on and predicted a 4-1 Gunners win.
So much for a clean sheet then.
18:47
HYPE
We're minutes away...
18:42
LAST SEASON
Last season, Arsenal topped their Europa League group before they were unceremoniously knocked out by Olympiakos in the roun of 32.
The season before, of course, they were runners up to London rivals Chelsea.
They've not quite managed to get their hands on the Europa League trophy despite becoming a mainstay in the competition in recent years.
Remember, A Europa League win would offer the Gunners a path back in the Champions League...
The stakes are real!
18:36
STAT
I wasn't even born then.
18:31
OZIL OUT
Of course, one player sitting out tonight will be Arsenal's highest earner, Mesut Ozil.
The German international has been omitted from both Arsenal's Europa League and Premier League squad.
On the one hand, no awkward trips to Austria on a Thursday night, on the other, no football until January at least...
18:25
ARSENAL CHANGES
Bukayo Saka also starts tonight alongside Lacazette and Nketiah up top.
Kolasinac, Cedric and Elneny also make rare starts.
18:19
THOMAS 'STARTEY'
Just thought I'd go with something different to the usual party puns,
RAPID VIENNA TEAM NEWS
Rapid Vienna XI: Strebinger, Stojkovic, Hofmann, Barac, Arase, Ljubicic, Grahovac, Ullmann, Kara, Ritzmaier, Fountas.
Subs: Unger, Gartler, Sonnleitner, Schick, Petrovic, Alar, Knasmullner, Greiml, Kitagawa, Sulzbacher, Ibrahimomoglu, Savic.
18:12
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Arsenal XI: Leno, Luiz, Gabriel, Kolasinac, Cedric, Partey, Elneny, Saka, Pepe, Lacazette, Nketiah.
Subs: Runarsson, Macey, Ballerin, Tierney, Aubameyang, Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Nelson, Willock, Xhaka.