Arsenal

The brother of Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has criticised the club's pursuit of Manchester City assistant Mikel Arteta, suggesting his lack of experience makes him an ill fit for the job in north London.

The Gunners are 10th in the Premier League and managed by interim coach Freddie Ljungberg, who stepped up from his assistant role to temporarily take over after Unai Emery was sacked in November.

Willy Aubameyang—a former defender who was capped 15 times for Gabon—took to Instagram and commented on an Arsenal Fan TV post regarding Arteta's possible appointment: "Ljungberg Arteta is the same, no experiance (sic)."

City No. 2 Arteta has been in talks with former employers Arsenal this week, per BBC Sport, and Guardiola said he expected a decision imminently:

Pep says Mikel Arteta to Arsenal is imminent ⏳ pic.twitter.com/7xaXhfFY8b

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 17, 2019

Arteta, 37, was appointed as one of Guardiola's assistants one month after he retired at Arsenal in June 2016, helping the Citizens win back-to-back Premier League titles (2017-18, 2018-19) and a domestic treble last term.

Ljungberg brought an end to his side's nine-match winless run when they defeated West Ham United 3-1 away on December 9, his only win in five matches as interim boss.

BBC Sport's Simon Stone referred to Arsenal's previous interest in appointing Arteta when club legend Arsene Wenger left the Emirates Stadium in the summer of 2018, but Emery ultimately got the nod.

The former Everton playmaker has never held a senior management position, but his three-and-a-half-year stint working under Guardiola, one of the most accomplished managers in football, will yield some advantages.

The Catalan coach recently gave a glowing assessment of Arteta's capabilities as a tactician and said he's already an "incredible manager," via Hayters TV:

“He’s already an incredible manager!” 👏

Pep Guardiola expects @ManCity assistant Mikel Arteta to be a huge success as a NO.1 - with the Spaniard continuing @Arsenal talks 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1Y7Q9Mv3a6

— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) December 17, 2019

Aubameyang started this season in prolific form, netting seven times in his first seven Premier League appearances of the campaign. However, the goals have dried up since then, with the player scoring just four in his 10 top-flight outings since October 6.  

The Gabon star took over from Granit Xhaka as club captain just prior to Emery's dismissal, and he assisted one goal before scoring Arsenal's third against the Hammers at London Stadium:

That’s the feeling still this Morning #COYG pic.twitter.com/nE1UW2GLUX

— AUBA⚡️ (@Auba) December 10, 2019

Arteta could make his senior managerial debut against another of his old employers, with Arsenal set to travel to Everton on Saturday in Week 18 of the Premier League.

The north Londoners sit seven points off the top four and could drop into the bottom half if they fail to win at Goodison Park, where his experience (or lack thereof) stands to encounter a gruelling test if he's appointed.

Arsene Wenger has given his backing to Mikel Arteta but warned about his lack of experience amid strong rumours the Manchester City assistant coach is set to be appointed Arsenal manager. 

Wenger's successor, Unai Emery, was sacked as Gunners boss in November after 18 months in charge following a poor start to the 2019-20 season:

@Arsenal’s fewest points after 13 PL games

2019-20 18
1994-95 19
2012-13 20
2014-15 20
2006-07 22 pic.twitter.com/ylQhK2Hp9c

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) November 23, 2019

Interim manager Freddie Ljungberg has subsequently overseen a draw at Norwich City, a win at West Ham United and home losses to Brighton & Hove Albion and City to leave Arsenal sitting 10th in the Premier League table:

17/38 pic.twitter.com/lgJSxkOUdD

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 17, 2019

Arteta, who has been Pep Guardiola's assistant as City manager since hanging up his boots at Arsenal in 2016, has been widely touted as Emery's permanent replacement, and the deal looks all but done:

BREAKING: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola expects assistant Mikel Arteta to be appointed Arsenal head coach soon.

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 17, 2019

Per Sky Sports (h/t James Dutton of MailOnline), Wenger, 70, said he will support Arteta as Gunners manager if he is appointed:

"Look I am an Arsenal supporter—I said that in my last speech. At the moment I support the manager in charge, and the manager in charge is [Freddie] Ljungberg. When Arteta will be in charge, I will support Arteta.

"For the rest, of course Arsenal is going through a very difficult period, so it's better I don't comment too much on that, and I just suffer like every supporter. He will have to deal with the fact he has no experience at that level."

It will certainly be a gamble if Arsenal do opt to appoint Arteta, 37, given he only has three full seasons of coaching under his belt, and none of them as a head coach.

In that time, though, he has helped Guardiola mastermind record-breaking back-to-back title wins, as well as a domestic treble triumph last term.

He also knows Arsenal well having spent the last years of his playing career at the Emirates Stadium between 2011 and 2016. 

The Gunners are in dire need of some stability. They have had no new-manager bounce from the promotion of Ljungberg, unlike Everton have under Duncan Ferguson.

And they have crucial Premier League fixtures coming up between now and New Year's Day against Everton, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he's unsure whether his assistant, Mikel Arteta, would bring improvement at Arsenal amid rumours he's set to take over as manager at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are 10th in the Premier League after 17 matches and are currently led by interim coach Freddie Ljungberg and his assistant, fellow Arsenal alumnus Per Mertesacker. 

Guardiola, 48, spoke at a press conference and referred to the evolution Arsene Wenger brought about after he took charge of Arsenal in 1996, casting some doubt as to whether Arteta could have the same effect:

"I think Arsenal (are) always one of the best teams of the last 20 years. When Arsene (Wenger) took over the team, he raised the club to another level, and now they are struggling a little bit the last years.

"When the club takes a decision to replace the manager or buy players it's always to rise to be better. Whether it's going to happen or not, I don't know.

"You know my opinion about Mikel. He's a professional human being and a person, I don't have doubts about that." 

Guardiola described Arteta as an "incredible person" and said his assistant will be part of the squad that travels to Oxford United on Wednesday for their Carabao Cup quarter-final clash, via Reuters:

Soccer club Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said assistant coach Mikel Arteta will be part of his coaching staff for their League Cup quarter-final against Oxford United https://t.co/Wo1sFXFZKn pic.twitter.com/55qQ5sZAeu

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 18, 2019

Arteta, 37, retired at Arsenal in June 2016 and was appointed as one of Guardiola's assistants a month later.

City's chief suggested to reporters on Tuesday, however, that a parting of ways could be imminent:

Pep says Mikel Arteta to Arsenal is imminent ⏳ pic.twitter.com/7xaXhfFY8b

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 17, 2019

Guardiola continued to say Arteta "knows we (City) are delighted to work with him" and that the club would like to extend that partnership, but he also acknowledged his staff have their own dreams to pursue:

"I said many times, it's the same with the players, if they have other desires or wishes whatever, what can we do? We are not going to tell him, 'stay, stay stay,' if he doesn't want to stay.

"He knows exactly what we think about him, at the club, after that, we cannot do more. I think the club has done everything and we cannot do any more. If he stays I'd be happy, incredible, because we all work together really well. Hopefully he can feel the same as me or with us.

"If he decides to move I'll wish him all the best, for him, his family and for his professional future. I will beat him! That's a joke. The best of luck."

Arteta made 150 appearances for Arsenal before hanging up his boots. Speculation of a return intensified after Arsenal director Vinai Venkatesham was pictured leaving Arteta's Manchester home in the early hours of Monday morning after City won 3-0 away to the Gunners on Sunday, per the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel.

Wenger, 70, managed Arsenal for 22 years before he stepped down from the helm, and the Frenchman recently gave his view on Arteta's prospects in north London should his former player take over, via AP's Rob Harris:

Arsene Wenger had been talking in Qatar this morning about Mikel Arteta taking the Arsenal Manger’s job.

> “He will have to deal with the fact he has no experience at that level”
> “I just suffer like every other supporter” #afc

Video... pic.twitter.com/RMVyRykhHM

— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) December 18, 2019

Despite some scrutiny over the seemingly secret manner in which Arsenal approached their target, Guardiola added: "Mikel was clear with me and that's all. Perhaps there is a problem with the chairmen and the CEOs—they have to talk to each other.”

Wednesday's League Cup quarter-final at the Kassam Stadium could be Arteta's last game as part of City's coaching setup, while Arsenal's next fixture is a visit to Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Arsenal are reportedly set to name Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta as their new manager after holding positive talks with the 37-year-old.

The Spaniard is the club's top choice to replace Unai Emery and will meet Arsenal director Josh Kroenke "in the next couple of days to finalise his move," according to Jason Burt and Sam Dean at the Telegraph.

Arteta spent two hours discussing the job with Arsenal's chief negotiator, Huss Fahmy, and managing director Vinai Venkatesham on Sunday after their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, per Julien Laurens at ESPN FC.

Arteta knows Arsenal well, having spent five years at the club as a player under Arsene Wenger. The midfielder made 149 appearances between 2011 and 2016 and won the FA Cup twice with the Gunners.

The former Barcelona youth player moved on to a coaching role with Manchester City after hanging up his boots in 2016, working alongside manager Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola said on Sunday he is open to the idea of Arteta leaving the club:

Guardiola was asked about Arteta to Arsenal 🤔 pic.twitter.com/2zOw3o8l1W

— GOAL (@goal) December 15, 2019

Arteta lacks managerial experience but came close to being appointed Arsenal boss in 2018. However, the move was blocked by then-chief executive Ivan Gazidis, and Emery was appointed instead, per Neil Moxley at the Mirror.

Arsenal sacked Emery in November after 18 months in charge following a run of seven games without a win in all competitions. 

The Gunners have placed former midfielder Freddie Ljungberg in temporary charge, but results have barely improved. The team have won only one of five games under the Swede and continue to leak goals:

Arsenal have conceded 10 goals in five games under Freddie Ljungberg. The first task of any coach who comes in to a struggling side should be to find a way to stem the flow of goals conceded.

— Orbinho (@Orbinho) December 16, 2019

Per the Guardian's Nick Ames, Jacob Steinberg and David Hytner, Arsenal could have been willing to give Ljungberg until the end of the season to prove his worth.

However, recent results have left Arsenal just seven points above the relegation zone and suggest a decision needs to be made quickly. Ljungberg also called for clarity after Sunday's 3-0 home Premier League defeat to City, per Mark Mann-Bryans at the Evening Standard.

"I think, as I've said to the club, it's a great, great honour to do this," he said. "Of course, Per (Mertesacker) is the academy manager and he's doing two jobs in one go. I think it needs clearing up to make a decision so that everybody knows."

Appointing Arteta would represent a gamble for Arsenal given his lack of managerial experience but would not be a surprise given Manchester United have appointed former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Chelsea replaced Maurizio Sarri with Frank Lampard.

However, both Solskjaer and Lampard had worked as managers before taking on their new roles, unlike Arteta who has never taken charge of a first team in his career.

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has said Mikel Arteta is not the right man to succeed Unai Emery as the full-time Gunners coach. 

Arteta is currently part of Pep Guardiola's coaching staff at Manchester City and reportedly has been linked with the vacant manager's job at the Emirates Stadium.

However, in his Sky Sports column, Merson has expressed doubts about Arteta taking control in north London.

"This is a big, big gamble putting someone that has never managed before in charge of a club the size of Arsenal.

"It's all well and good saying he's worked under Pep Guardiola, but let's be honest, Guardiola would struggle managing this Arsenal team. Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp would struggle!

"You're only as good as your players at the end of the day and the idea of Arteta replicating Guardiola's style of football at the Emirates just falls apart when you look at the players he'll be working with."

According to Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol, Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and the club's lawyer Huss Fahmy were photographed leaving Arteta's home after Manchester City won 3-0 at the Gunners in the Premier League on Sunday. The Arsenal officials reportedly left in the early hours of Monday morning but were captured on camera.

The 37-year-old played for Arsenal from 2011 to 2016 and was a popular member of Arsene Wenger's squad after joining from Everton.

Arteta's reputation has rapidly grown at the Etihad Stadium, learning his trade under Guardiola after accepting an assistant coaching role in 2016.

City have won back-to-back Premier League titles under Guardiola, and Arteta has been visible on the sideline as one of the Catalan's trusted staff.

Merson added Arteta's credentials do not stack up, despite his recent achievements and history:

"One of the major factors with Arteta being linked with the job is that he's worked closely under Guardiola, and he used to play at Arsenal. Other than the fact he won't get lost on the way to training, I don't know what else he brings to the table.

"We've seen how out of his depth Freddie Ljungberg has been in recent weeks. What's the difference between Ljungberg and Arteta other than the fact Arteta has worked under Pep at Manchester City?"

Emery succeeded Wenger in 2018 when the legendary coach resigned, but the former Paris Saint-Germain boss failed to heal Arsenal's deficiencies.

However, Emery did have huge experience as a coach having taken charge at Valencia, Sevilla and Spartak Moscow. Despite this, his knowledge wasn't enough to improve Arsenal's recruitment and results.

Big Premier League sides have recently turned to former players to take charge, with Frank Lampard rejoining Chelsea and Manchester United appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager. A return to the capital for Arteta would mirror the current trend of two of England's biggest clubs.

Arteta was a thoughtful tactician on the pitch, and his playing experiences in England, Spain, France and Scotland should be a great benefit to him when he lands his first manager's role.

Interim Arsenal coach Freddie Ljungberg has said the club will deal with Mesut Ozil internally after the midfielder reacted poorly to being substituted and subsequently booed during Sunday's 3-0 defeat at home to Manchester City. 

Ozil, 31, looked upset as he was taken off for 19-year-old Emile Smith Rowe on the hour mark with his side 3-0 down, discarding his gloves and refusing consolation from interim assistant Per Mertesacker.

Ljungberg told reporters after the game: "I took Mesut off because I wanted some more energy in the team. How he reacts is up to him and we will deal with it later. I'm here on a day-to-day basis, but of course we want players in the right way."

The 42-year-old spoke at a press conference and said that as much as Arsenal like to have possession, he made the change because "we also need to run and tackle and try to win the ball back," via the Guardian:

Ozil has been criticised in the past for his lack of work rate off the ball. The German recently appeared to be back in good graces at Arsenal and started a seventh straight league fixture on Sunday.

The Gunners needed to show more fight across the field after Kevin De Bruyne scored twice and assisted a Raheem Sterling goal to go three up inside 40 minutes:

Henry Winter of The Times pointed to De Bruyne's performance as the standard for a balanced attacking-midfield display, stating Ozil could learn a few lessons from his City counterpart:

Somebody at #afc should give Ozil a video of De Bruyne's work in/out of possession, creating and scoring, pressing hungrily. Ozil, by contrast, seemed disinterested/showed dissent when deservedly subbed. Ozil blessed with special technique but his attitude stinks at times #ARSMCI

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) December 15, 2019

Ljungberg's sole win in five games as interim manager is a 3-1 triumph over West Ham United, with the Gunners sat ninth in the Premier League approaching the halfway point in the campaign. Crystal Palace host Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday when either team could overtake the north Londoners.

Ozil's substitution against City may have reminded fans of Granit Xhaka's petulant reaction to being taken off when Arsenal drew 2-2 at home to Palace in October after he too was booed by his own supporters:

The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner is yet to score in 11 games across all competitions this season; Ozil's only assist in eight Premier League appearances came during a 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton on December 5.

Football analyst Duncan Alexander attested to how minor a direct threat he has been in front of goal this term:

Between them Thibaut Courtois and Ben Foster have had as many shots on target as Mesut Ozil in league football this season.

— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) December 15, 2019

Ljungberg faces a dilemma in whether to drop Ozil when Arsenal travel to Everton on Saturday. The Toffees are unbeaten in two games under their own interim manager, Duncan Ferguson.

Interim Arsenal boss Freddie Ljungberg has said the club's managerial situation "needs to be cleared up" after the north Londoners lost 3-0 at home to Manchester City on Sunday.

The Gunners suffered their fourth defeat in eight matches and have lost their last three home matches, sat ninth in the Premier League approaching the midway point in the season.

Ljungberg, 42, spoke to reporters after the game and said: "It's a great honour to do this, but Per [Mertesacker] is doing two jobs. I've said it [the managerial situation] needs to be cleared up, and it would be good to make a decision regardless of what it is."

The former Arsenal midfielder took over as a temporary successor to Unai Emery after he was sacked in November—Ljungberg has won once, lost twice and drawn twice in five games at the helm.

Kevin De Bruyne scored two goals and assisted Raheem Sterling for another as the Citizens ran rampant during the first half at the Emirates Stadium.

Ljungberg—who made 326 appearances for Arsenal—previously worked as under-23s coach and moved into the first-team coaching setup this season.

Mertesacker, 35, retired in 2018 to become the new Arsenal academy manager and is now assistant in an interim capacity, but like Ljungberg, he boasts no senior managerial experience.

It's difficult to blame the temporary leaders at all for the club's recent poor patch, and Nicolas Pepe told RMC (h/t Get French Football News) it's up to the players to improve Arsenal's form:

Nicolas Pépé on RMC: “It is us, the players, who need to rectify this. With Freddie (Ljungberg) or someone else, it would be the same.”

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) December 15, 2019

Carlo Ancelotti is said to be a front-runner to take over at the Emirates after Napoli fired him, though Bordeaux manager Paulo Sousa is also a target, per Tony Mogan and George Flood of the Evening Standard.

Arsenal haven't kept a clean sheet since they beat Bournemouth 1-0 on October 6, and Ljungberg has inherited a defence lacking in confidence, via Soccer AM:

Freddie Ljungberg is every Arsenal fan watching their team defend 😱 pic.twitter.com/fusq3mNWwi

— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) December 15, 2019

It's clear someone with experience is needed to steady the ship in north London, though one must assume Arsenal's board are taking their time in an effort to make the right long-term appointment.

Ljungberg appears more desperate than that and is eager to see someone qualified take charge of the club he loves, with Arsenal's next test being a trip to face resurgent Everton on Saturday.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has said Unai Emery was sacked by Arsenal because of their poor run of results and not for his struggles in speaking English.

Arsenal, who host City on Sunday, sacked Emery on November 29 after a seven-match winless run.

Per the Mail on Sunday's Joe Bernstein, Guardiola said of his compatriot:

"I cannot deny that communication is important but if he won more games, the communication would be seen as perfect.

"It is not easy to speak in a different language. I did it Germany but there a lot of other weapons in how to communicate; the hands, the body, emotions, images.

"The capacity of Unai [to speak English] was not the reason he has left Arsenal, no doubt about that. It happened because he didn't win games. A manager is analysed differently depending on the result even though it is the same guy there."

Emery spoke English to the media and in the dressing room without a translator throughout his tenure at Arsenal despite having some difficulties with the language.

TalkSport's Natalie Sawyer took issue with the way criticism of his English often devolved into mocking:

"Emery is being ridiculed on social media for the way he speaks." 🗣️

"It's started to make me feel uncomfortable."

"It's getting a bit out of hand when people are constantly mocking him." @NatalieSawyer defends Unai Emery. 🔴 pic.twitter.com/apRsG5Y953

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 11, 2019

The extent to which his struggles with English contributed to his sacking has been widely discussed since he was relieved of his duties at the Emirates Stadium.

Jonathan Liew wrote in the Guardian that while his linguistic skills were not the reason he was fired, they became a problem in the dressing room when results took a turn and accelerated his departure.

Football writer Simon Curtis shared a similar opinion:

Emery's problems with English form a parallel with the fate of Big Phil Scolari at Chelsea. Could not communicate effectively enough with his squad, nor with his players and failed. Not the whole story by any means but an important part of it. https://t.co/tbIfI6Wrin

— Simon Curtis (@bifana_bifana) December 2, 2019

As Guardiola noted, though, the team's disappointing run of results were the cause of his exit. The Gunners missed out on UEFA Champions League football last season as they finished fifth in the Premier League and lost to Chelsea in the UEFA Europa League final.

Arsenal were eight points off the top four when Emery was sacked and—although it did not stop them reaching the knockout phase—had just lost 2-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.

OptaJoe provided further insight into their poor form:

7 - Arsenal have not won any of their last seven matches in all competitions (D5 L2) - they never went on as poor a run across 1235 games under Arsène Wenger, last waiting this long for a win in February 1992 under George Graham (8 games). Denouement. pic.twitter.com/Aqz016ODfn

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 28, 2019

Results haven't particularly improved under interim manager Freddie Ljungberg, either.

In his four games in charge, the team have beaten West Ham United but they've also lost to Brighton & Hove Albion and drawn with Norwich City and Standard Liege.

The Gunners can close the gap on fourth-place Chelsea to four points if they beat City on Sunday, but they have not won against the champions in the league since 2015.

Arsenal have confirmed Kieran Tierney will be out for three months after it was determined he requires surgery on a dislocated shoulder.

The Scotland international was injured on Monday against West Ham United in the 3-1 Premier League win at the London Stadium and will undergo an operation in the next week.

Tierney fell awkwardly in the 26th minute and was substituted shortly after with his arm in a makeshift sling.

The injury is yet another setback for the former Celtic player, who was one of Arsenal's major summer signings at a cost of just over £24 million.

Tierney tweeted his thanks to fans for their support after his latest injury:

Thank you so much for continued support through everything. Very grateful for it. I don’t take it for granted. God bless x pic.twitter.com/eAHZq3oi66

— Kieran Tierney (@kierantierney1) December 11, 2019

The 22-year-old has suffered a fragmented start to his Gunners career after spending pre-season rehabilitating from hernia and hip problems.

Tierney has made eight Premier League and UEFA Europa League appearances for his new team this season since returning to action in late September.

Interim manager Freddie Ljungberg could now give Sead Kolasinac an extended run at full-back. The Bosnian was first choice in Tierney's absence earlier in the season and replaced him in the victory over West Ham.

Kolasinac could face a tough test on Sunday when Arsenal welcome Manchester City to the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.

Arsenal came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Standard Liege on Thursday and secure their place in the knockout phase of the UEFA Europa League as group winners.

The Gunners made nine changes to their starting XI but still looked the most dangerous team in a goalless first half in Belgium.

Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka both saw shots saved by Arnaud Bodart, while Reiss Nelson put a tame header too close to the goalkeeper just before half-time.

Standard Liege took the lead straight after the break. Samuel Bastien's shot took a heavy deflection off Sokratis Papastathopoulos and beat Emiliano Martinez in the Arsenal goal.

The hosts doubled their lead through another deflected strike on 68 minutes. Selim Amallah produced a good turn and shot in the box, and the ball took a nick off Konstantinos Mavropanos on its way in.

Arsenal responded quickly with Alexandre Lacazette pulling one back from Saka's cross before the 18-year-old fired home the equaliser three minutes later.

Caretaker manager Freddie Ljungberg named a young side for Thursday's match, including Konstantinos Mavropanos, Joe Willock, Nelson, Smith Rowe and Saka in his starting XI.

James Olley at the Evening Standard shared the two teams:

Standard Liege v Arsenal teamsheet: pic.twitter.com/lijzNYZq99

— James Olley (@JamesOlley) December 12, 2019

Arsenal only needed to avoid defeat by five or more goals to qualify and looked the most likely side to score in a low-quality first half.

Smith Rowe was the first to test goalkeeper Bodart on 14 minutes. The 19-year-old fired a low shot across goal that the goalkeeper managed to divert wide by sticking out a boot.

The teenager was one of Arsenal's brightest players in the first half along with Saka. Bodart denied Saka at his near post and then watched as the 18-year-old blazed a shot over from the edge of the box.

The Standard Liege goalkeeper was then called into action once more as half-time approached, parrying a shot from Saka and then catching a header from Nelson on the follow up.

Arsenal were made to pay for wasting chances at the start of the second half when Bastien tried his luck with a shot from just outside the area and saw it beat Martinez courtesy of a big deflection off Sokratis:

Arsenal have conceded the opening goal in all four of their games under Freddie Ljungberg:

⚽️ vs. Norwich
⚽️ vs. Brighton
⚽️ vs. West Ham
⚽️ vs. Standard Liège

A huge deflection to blame for the latest strike. pic.twitter.com/h54yBMYODA

— Squawka (@Squawka) December 12, 2019

The hosts then doubled their lead in similar style. Some more casual defending allowed Amallah time to turn and shoot, with the ball just taking a slight touch on its way past Martinez and into the far corner.

Yet the second goal seemed to spark Arsenal into life and they found some quality to pull one back. Saka fired in a precise cross for Lacazette to power a header home from close range and give the Gunners hope of a comeback:

Alexandre Lacazette has scored four goals in his last four starts.

— Orbinho (@Orbinho) December 12, 2019

The teenager then rescued the draw three minutes later, playing a one-two with substitute Gabriel Martinelli and then curling his shot past the goalkeeper (UK video only):

He's made one, and now he's scored one! 🔥

Bukayo Saka with a lovely one-two before placing it into the bottom corner 👌

Lovely finish from the youngster... pic.twitter.com/vVoXpQdPnN

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 12, 2019

The point is enough to send Arsenal through and into Monday's draw as group winners, while Eintracht Frankfurt progress as runners-up despite defeat to Vitoria Guimaraes in the group's other game.

     

What's Next?

Both teams return to domestic action on Sunday. Arsenal host Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium, while Standard Liege take on Anderlecht.