Smith-Rowe scores again as Arsenal brush past Vorskla

Arsenal have brushed aside Vorskla Poltava 3-0 in Kiev to secure top spot in their Europa League group with a game to spare.

It was Arsenal’s youngsters who delivered the club’s first ever win in Ukraine at the sixth time of asking, as Emil Smith-Rowe and Joe Willock scored either side of an Aaron Ramsey penalty.

There were genuine concerns in the lead up that the match may not go even go ahead following Uefa’s decision to move the match to Kiev, more than 200 miles away from Vorskla’s home ground, on the eve of the match.

AS IT HAPPENED: Vorskla 0 Arsenal 3

READ MORE: Vorskla coach livid after Uefa decision to move Arsenal game

But in freezing conditions – at one point the referee’s pitch spray froze – the Gunners recorded an easy victory in a match that resembled a gentle stroll against opponents who spent most of the match being comprehensively outplayed.

With the Gunners already secure in qualifying from Group E and the north London derby looming on Sunday, manager Unai Emery took the opportunity to make 10 changes from Saturday’s win over Bournemouth.

Played in freezing -12 degree temperatures, in front of the vast and mostly empty Olympic Stadium, it was Emery’s men adapted to the conditions quickest and took the lead after just 10 minutes through Emil Smith-Rowe’s third goal this season.

The teenager was on hand to sweep home into an empty net after a strong run from fellow youngster Eddie Nketiah caused chaos in the Vorskla defence. The Ukrainians couldn’t clear their lines, and when a stabbed clearance found its way to Smith-Rowe he made no mistake.

Arsenal then put the game to bed when Aaron Ramsey doubled their lead from the penalty spot.

The Arsenal midfielder went down in the box after a coming together with Igor Perduta, before picking himself up and confidently slotting home the spot kick.

READ MORE: Arsenal travel chaos in Ukraine an avoidable farce

The match was now resembling a training match for Emery’s young Gunners and they duly scored a third just before the break.

Mohamed Elneny easily intercepted the ball on the halfway line. A simple pass to Joe Willock had the Vorskla defence backpedalling and the young midfielder curled his shot into the bottom corner to put Arsenal up 3-0.

Arsenal weren’t content to just sit on their lead in the second half, however.

First Rob Holding flicked a corner just over the bar, before Nketiah almost scored a goal for himself but he slightly miscued his shot, allowing goalkeeper Bogdan Shust to save.

Smith-Rowe thought he had scored his second, and Arsenal’s fourth, when he tapped in at the back post but the goal was eventually ruled out for an offside in the build up.

The ease of at which Arsenal were dealing with proceedings even allowed Emery to bring on three new debutants as Zech Medley, Bukayo Saka, and Charlie Gilmour all came on for the first time for Arsenal.

Petr Cech was then finally called into action when he made a fine save to deny Perduta and preserve his cleansheet.

That was the best it got for Vorskla however, as the Gunners saw out the match with a minimum of fuss and Emery can now turn his attention to Sunday’s titanic clash against Tottenham at the Emirates.