Standard Liege 2-2 Arsenal: Lacazette and Saka inspire fightback as Gunners win group

Alexandre Lacazette and Bukayo Saka helped Arsenal fight back to draw 2-2 with Standard Liege as they won Europa League Group F.

Published : Dec 13, 2019 10:04 IST

Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette in action.
Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette in action.
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Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette in action.

Arsenal finished as Europa League Group F winner after goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Bukayo Saka helped it fight back to claim a 2-2 draw with Standard Liege on Wednesday.

Samuel Bastien and Selim Amallah gave Standard a two-goal advantage as it chased a victory to qualify for the knockout phase.

However, those hopes were dashed when Lacazette and Saka scored in quick succession to settle Arsenal's nerves.

The Gunners progressed to the last 32 of the competition as group winners ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt after they lost 3-2 to Vitoria Guimaraes.

Arsenal had won all five of its previous European encounters with Standard but a youthful side picked by interim boss Freddie Ljungberg, featuring nine changes from the weekend win over West Ham, had to battle against a more motivated opponent.

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The Gunners enjoyed the best of the first half with the lively Saka twice testing Standard goalkeeper Amaud Bodart but the contest came alive after half-time.

Standard took the lead three minutes into the second half when Bastien's shot deflected off Sokratis Papastathopoulos and wrongfooted Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

The goal galvanised the home side while Arsenal retreated into its shell, and Standard scored again when Selim Amallah punished more sloppy defending to strike a shot – via a deflection off Konstantinos Mavropanos – past Martinez.

Ljungberg's side was jittery but managed to settle any nerves that Standard could overhaul its head-to-head record when Lacazette headed in a Saka cross with 12 minutes remaining.

Moments later the impressive Saka then got his name on the scoresheet with a fining curling effort to ensure Arsenal finished with a share of the points and top spot in the group.

 

What does it mean? Gunners seeded in draw

Arsenal, beaten finalist in last year's Europa League, will be seeded for next Monday's draw for the knockout phase of the competition after topping Group F.

It means it will avoid Inter and Ajax, who will both drop down from the Champions League.

Bold Bodart looks one for the future

At 21, this was a mature performance from Standard goalkeeper Bodart, and he could do little about the goals.

He was brave and decisive off his line and made a number of key saves. Standard might have found itself out the contest had Bodart not been such an imposing last line of defence.

Luiz looks shaky in Liege

On a sticky December pitch this was perhaps not the game to try to knock the ball about at the back but David Luiz did so anyway.

Arsenal supporters had their hearts in their mouths on more than one occasion after careless passes by the Brazilian. They were fortunate not to be punished further.

What's next?

Arsenal welcomes defending Premier League champion Manchester City to the Emirates on Sunday. Standard is in action on the same day in the Belgian Pro League when it hosts Vincent Kompany's Anderlecht.

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