20/12 7:30 PM
21/12 2:30 PM
21/12 2:30 PM
21/12 2:30 PM
21/12 2:30 PM
21/12 2:30 PM
21/12 5:30 PM
22/12 2:30 PM
22/12 4:30 PM
Daichi Kamada (r.) was the hero as Eintracht Frankfurt came from behind to beat Arsenal in UEFA Europa League Group F.
Daichi Kamada (r.) was the hero as Eintracht Frankfurt came from behind to beat Arsenal in UEFA Europa League Group F. - © Jan Huebner/Voigt via www.imago-images.de/imago images/Jan Huebner
Daichi Kamada (r.) was the hero as Eintracht Frankfurt came from behind to beat Arsenal in UEFA Europa League Group F. - © Jan Huebner/Voigt via www.imago-images.de/imago images/Jan Huebner
bundesliga

Daichi Kamada magic sees Eintracht Frankfurt down Arsenal and boost UEFA Europa League last 32 hopes

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

Daichi Kamada scored twice as Eintracht Frankfurt recovered from a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal down to claim a superb win at English Premier League club Arsenal and move closer to the UEFA Europa League round of 32.

Advertisement

Arsenal 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Aubameyang (45'+1), 1-1 Kamada (55'), 1-2 Kamada (63')

Frankfurt had the first sniff of goal at the Emirates Stadium as Danny da Costa sent a header from Kamada wide. Frederik Rönnow made a string of huge saves from Gabriel Martinelli, former Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka, before Goncalo Paciencia had his pockets picked when bearing down on goal at the other end. Rönnow blocked another Saka effort, but the Danish custodian’s resistance was broken in first-half added time when ex-Dortmund striker Aubameyang converted Martinelli’s right-wing cross.

Arsenal’s Xhaka missed a golden opening to double the Londoners’ lead with virtually the last kick of the first period, and was made to pay soon after the rest as Kamada rifled in a fine equaliser from 18 yards. Filip Kostic twice tested the reflexes of Emiliano Martinez, before Kamada doubled his tally to put Eintracht in front, steering home right-footed from the edge of the area following a corner. Former Dortmund defender Sokratis Papadopoulos prevented Mijat Gacinovic from adding a third, but Frankfurt crossed the line with their lead intact and will progress if they match Standard Liege’s result in their final Group F game at home to already eliminated Vitoria.

Match stats

  • Frankfurt ended a three-game winless run in all competitions.
  • Kamada scored his second and third goals for Eintracht Frankfurt, having netted just once in 27 appearances for the club prior to the Arsenal game. His previous effort came in the first round of this season’s DFB Cup against third-tier Waldhof Mannheim.
  • Frankfurt will progress as Group F winners if they beat Portugal’s Vitoria, and current leaders Arsenal fail to win away to a Liege side that must take three points on Matchday 6 to have any chance of going through.
  • Hütter's men are gunning for a place in the knockout stages for the second straight season. Last term they reached the semi-finals after winning all six group games and eliminating Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter Milan and Benfica.
  • Paciencia is the only Frankfurt player to have featured in all 25(!) of their games so far this season. The Portuguese striker is also their leading scorer with nine in all competitions.
  • The Eagles claimed their third win in 11 meetings with English opposition, and their very first on English soil.

Line-ups

Arsenal: Martinez – Mustafi (Torreira 76'), David Luiz (Guendouzi 31'), Sokratis - Chambers, Xhaka, Willock, Tierney - Martinelli (Özil 60'), Aubameyang (c), Saka
Unused subs: Leno, Lacazette, Pepe, Nelson
Out: Ceballos (hamstring), Kolasinac (hamstring), Smith-Rowe (calf)
Coach: Unai Emery

Frankfurt: Rönnow - Abraham (c), Hasebe, Hinteregger - da Costa, Kamada, Fernandes (Kohr 46'), Sow, Kostic - Paciencia, Silva (Gacinovic 46')
Subs: Zimmermann, N'Dicka, Joveljic, Toure, Chandler
Out: De Guzman, Torro, Wiedwald (not eligible), Dost (muscle), Rode (muscle), Russ (Achilles tendon), Trapp (shoulder)
Coach: Adi Hütter

As it happened

FULL-TIME!

A brilliant win for Adi Hütter's Eintracht Frankfurt! They've snapped a three-game winless streak and taken a big step towards the last 32 of the Europa League. Daichi Kamada was the hero, with his two goals in the second half enough to secure victory for the Eagles.

90'+3 THIRTY SECONDS...

Kamada wins a free-kick just outside his own penalty area. That should be that.

90'+2 PACIENCIA!

A great chance to add a third! But he puts it wide from close range.

90'+1 THREE MINUTES

... of time added on. Can Frankfurt hold on?

90' KAMADA HELPING OUT

A dangerous ball into the box for Arsenal, and there's the Frankfurt goalscorer to head behind for a corner. It's kitchen sink time for the hosts.

89' ARSENAL WANT A PENALTY

But the referee says no! It's the right call, Kostic got there ahead of Saka.

84' FRANKFURT APPLYING PRESSURE

The visitors are trying to put this one to bed with a third goal, if they can. They certainly look more like scoring than Arsenal at the moment. If they do win this, then top spot is still a real possibility for Adi Hütter's men.

82' AS YOU WERE

Not much to report in the past six or seven minutes, Frankfurt are doing a good job of shutting up shop. A counter-attack with Kostic breaks down when he slightly overhits his cut-back. The Eagles 10 minutes away from a big win.

75' ARSENAL LOOKING FOR A WAY BACK

Frankfurt are happy enough to sit a bit deeper now and defend their lead, because they still look dangerous on the counter. Arsenal with most of the possession at the moment but little to show for it.

69' GREAT CHANCE FOR 3-1!

Sow plays a brilliant ball through the middle for Gacinovic, who's in acres of space on the left. He drives forward but takes a little too long to pull the trigger, and former BVB man Sokratis blocks the ball behind for a corner.

68' FRANKFURT IN FRONT

It was already quiet at the Emirates, and now it's VERY quiet. If things stay like this, Frankfurt will move onto nine points - two clear of Standard Liege, who are still drawing in Portugal.

63' KAMADA AGAIN!

It's 2-1! What a turnaround! From that corner, the ball is flicked to the Japan international on the edge of the box. He has time to take a touch a steer a right-footed strike into the bottom corner. Arsenal are stunned!

63' KOSTIC AGAIN

Frankfurt swing the ball from right to left with Sow feeding Kostic, and the Serbian's powerful low drive is tipped behind for a corner.

62' FRANKFURT ON A CHARGE

The visitors are a different prospect since getting that goal, with Kostic in particularly looking dangerous down the left. A little bit of panic setting in for Arsenal too perhaps - they were cruising up until the goal.

58' KOSTIC!

The Frankfurt man has a go with a fizzing free-kick effort from distance, but Martinez holds it. Mesut Özil is about to make an entrance for Arsenal.

55' GOAL! ARSENAL 1-1 FRANKFURT (Kamada)

What a hit! I was just writing something about Frankfurt looking to find a foothold in the game, and lo and behold Kamada fires in the equaliser. The Japanese midfield turns brilliantly on the edge of the area and rifles past Martinez and into the far corner for 1-1. His first goal in the Europa League this season.

50' MEANWHILE, IN PORTUGAL...

Vitoria and Standard Liege are drawing 1-1, with the hosts' Pereira cancelling out a Lestienne penalty on the stroke of half-time. A win for Vitoria would suit Frankfurt very nicely.

47' RÖNNOW > WILLOCK

A great chance for Arsenal to double their lead as Martinelli slips through to Willock, but he's caught in two minds between a shot and a cross and Rönnow makes yet another save. About 30 seconds later, Chambers fires well over from a clever cut-back. We've pretty much picked up where we left off...

46' HERE WE GO AGAIN

We're back underway in London. Two changes for Frankfurt, with Gacinovic coming on for Silva and Kohr replacing Fernandes. Can they add a bit of creative spark for the visitors?

HALF-TIME

Frankfurt can't have too many complaints really. They've been second best at the Emirates tonight, failing to get Paciencia or Silva into the game and not creating any real chances. Rönnow made a series of great saves before finally being beaten by Aubameyang in stoppage time. A big team talk coming up for Adi Hütter - don't be surprised to see a change or two at the start of the second half.

45'+5 CLOSE!

Yikes. Frankfurt have a chance to come forward with Kostic, but when he loses the ball Arsenal break at pace. Willock does well down the right flank before crossing for Xhaka - who didn't go off in the end - but the Switzerland international drags his effort wide. That's half-time!

45'+1 GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 FRANKFURT (Aubameyang)

Rönnow is finally beaten! Martinelli picks up the ball on the right side of the area and crosses for Saka - who completely misses the ball - but it runs through nicely to Aubameyang, and the ex-BVB marksman makes no mistake.

45' XHAKA LIMPS OFF

To applause from the Arsenal crowd, it must be said. It looks like he's going to be replaced. Five minutes of time added on.

43' XHAKA DOWN NOW

A few players have been in the wars tonight. The former Gladbach man is receiving treatment after a collision with Fernandes.

41' AND RÖNNOW AGAIN

After some fine interplay down the left between Willock and Saka, the former picks out the latter in the penalty area, but his low shot is well blocked by Rönnow. The Frankfurt keeper is doing his best impression of a wall so far.

38' THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!

After a brilliant pass up the middle from Hinteregger for Sow, Frankfurt manage to work the ball out right to da Costa, whose cross is headed out for a corner. It comes to nothing, but that's more encouraging from the Eagles.

34' PACIENCIA... NEARLY

A loose Arsenal pass in midfield gives Paciencia a rare run on goal, but he is dispossessed on the edge of the area. I wonder if Hütter could be tempted to switch to a flat back four to try to find a bit more balance?

31' DAVID LUIZ OFF FOR GUENDOUZI

The Brazilian doesn't look too happy about it.

29' RÖNNOW MAKES IT THREE

The Danish keeper is having a stormer. Aubameyang heads into the path of Saka, but Rönnow comes charging off his line to clear the danger. The Frankfurt keeper briefly needs a bit of treatment on his knee, but shakes it off.

25' ARSENAL STILL ON TOP

Martinelli slips a tidy ball through to Chambers, but luckily his touch is poor and the ball rolls out for a goal kick. Frankfurt struggling to break into the Arsenal half at the moment.

21' RÖNNOW AGAIN

A teasing free-kick delivery in from Xhaka, the ball glances off Hinteregger's head but Rönnow anticipates brilliantly, flying in with a big hand to clear the danger. Arsenal beginning to take control of proceedings, but Frankfurt can still hurt them on the counter.

16' WHAT A SAVE!

Rönnow spares da Costa's blushes in a big way. From a corner, the Frankfurt right-back inadvertently heads straight into the path of Martinelli, but his goalkeeper makes a brilliant point-blank save to keep the scoreline at 0-0. Martinelli then has an effort headed off the line by Fernandes.

14' LUIZ RECEIVING TREATMENT

I'm not entirely sure what happened to Luiz there, but he seems to have recovered OK and is now back on the pitch.

11' BIG CHANCE FOR ARSENAL!

A cross comes in from the left but Aubameyang and Willock get in each other's way and the ball sails wide. Meanwhile David Luiz is down and looks in serious pain here after a collision with Silva.

10' STRANGE ATMOSPHERE

There's hardly any crowd noise here at the Emirates which is making for a rather odd atmosphere in these early exchanges. You wouldn't think you were watching last year's finalists and semi-finalists going head-to-head.

7' WARDROBE MALFUNCTION FOR EMERY

The Arsenal boss has had to change out of his black coat because it was confusing the referee - Frankfurt are also playing in black. One of his assistants has brought him a snazzy grey number instead.

6' FIRST SNIFF FOR FRANKFURT

A first sight of goal for Frankfurt as Kamada whips in a corner for da Costa, who can't steer his header on target. A minute or so later Gernandes tries to pick out Paciencia but Arsenal get the danger clear. The men in black pressing high at the moment.

4' FRANKFURT IN SHAPE

Arsenal have had more of the ball in the first few minutes, but Frankfurt are looking well-organised with their traditional three-man backline. A thumbs-up from Adi Hütter on the sidelines.

1' KICK-OFF!

The Eagles get us underway. There are large swathes of empty seats at the Emirates tonight, which may give Frankfurt a bit of a boost. You wouldn't catch this sort of thing happening at the Commerzbank-Arena...

PLAYERS IN THE TUNNEL

A couple of high-fives between players from both sides as they prepare to head out on to the pitch. Kick-off is just a few minutes away!

A PRETTY GOOD WEEK SO FAR...

Speaking of Bayern, they had a good day at the office on Tuesday, thrashing Red Star Belgrade thanks to a 16-minute, four-goal salvo from that man Robert Lewandowski - the fastest in UEFA Champions League history. And last night, RB Leipzig reached the last 16 of the competition for the first time in their history as Emil Forsberg struck twice in injury time against Benfica. Hopefully Frankfurt can keep the Bundesliga hot streak going tonight.

EAGLES LOOKING TO FLY AGAIN

Since their 5-1 thrashing of Bayern Munich, Frankfurt have lost successive games against Standard Liege, Freiburg and Wolfsburg. Can they find that winning formula again tonight?

TEAM NEWS - ARSENAL

Xhaka makes his first start for the Gunners since October, and I'm guessing he won't be in the for the warmest of receptions after the bust-up with fans that led to him being stripped of the captaincy. The Arsenal frontline is made up of former BVB star Aubameyang and youngsters Martinelli and Saka.

TEAM NEWS - FRANKFURT

Hütter has made no fewer than six changes from the weekend's surprise home defeat to Wolfsburg, Frankfurt's first of the season. Out go Wiedwald, N'Dicka, Durm, Rode, Gacinovic and Dost, and in come Rönnow, Abraham, da Costa, Kamada, Fernandes and Silva. Rode and Dost haven't travelled to London because of minor muscle strains.

CURRENT GROUP F STANDINGS

Arsenal 10pts
Standard Liege 6pts
Frankfurt 6pts
Vitoria 1pt

As well as looking to get a win tonight, Frankfurt will be hoping Vitoria can do them a favour at home to Standard Liege.

WELCOME ALONG!

Good evening all and thanks for joining us for tonight's Europa League clash between Arsenal and Frankfurt. Adi Hütter has named a strong line-up in London (see below) as the Eagles look to boost their last-32 hopes in Group F. The Gunners haven't won in six outings but only need a draw to progress.