Arsenal have recorded their second successive victory in this season’s Europa League courtesy of a 3-0 win over Qarabag.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Emile Smith-Rowe and Matteo Guendouzi all netted their first-ever goals for the Gunners as the Premier League outfit eased to the three points in Azerbaijan.
Arsenal – who have recorded eight wins in a row in all competitions – now sit on six points in Group E, with Sporting Lisbon level with the English club having fought back to defeat FC Vorskla in Ukraine.
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Unai Emery made wholesale changes to his Arsenal starting lineup, but the visitors started the game on the front foot with Danny Welbeck being denied from close range by a timely block from Vagner.
However, Arsenal were ahead a minute later when Nacho Monreal’s header from a corner was diverted into the bottom corner by Sokratis Papastathopoulos for his first goal in a Gunners shirt.
Emile Smith-Rowe had been given just his second start in an Arsenal shirt and the young Englishman should have gotten on the scoresheet in the 18th minute, but his sliding effort at the back post after meeting a low Sead Kolasinac cross was sent into the side-netting.
Smith-Rowe sent a scissor kick wide at the other end but shortly afterwards, Filip Ozobic was only prevented from finding the back of the net with a half-volley by an excellent save from Leno.
Arsenal doubled their advantage through 18-year-old Smith-Rowe who collected a pass from Alex Iwobi before sliding a shot under Vagner from 10 yards out.
Arsenal made sure of all three points with 11 minutes left when substitute Alexandre Lacazette teed up Guendouzi on the edge of the area, with the Frenchman proceeding to drill a low shot into the bottom corner.
