Arsenal 3-0 BATE Borisov ranking players like Mesut Ozil fails to impress

Unai Emery has watched Arsenal sail safely in the last 16 games of the Europa League.

It was easy against second-tier opponents in the UAE as Arsenal overcame their first-leg deficit with a comfortable victory.

Surprisingly, the result was positive: the 58,812 spectators present included about 45,000 subscriptions, even for a quick send-off from UEFA's second-tier competition.

But the animation was hardly captivating, because sometimes it felt like it was more of a workout, because BATE Borisov was such a weak opponent that one wonders how he won this week.

Friday's draw will surely serve Arsenal to tougher opponents next time, but Emery proved to be a former master of the competition, having won three years in a row with an old-fashioned Sevilla team.

Frankly, Arsenal will need another miracle from Emery, as the team is not in a good place at the moment. They lack direction, intensity and excitement. Football and excitement are just not what they were.

But they did the job and Emery even offered an olive branch to Mesut Ozil while he was starting the midfield at £ 350,000 for a week for the second time since Boxing Day.

Even Ozil did not really manage to cheer up because you could often hear a lapel pin, which seems to be thousands of miles away from the big nights of the Champions League in recent seasons.

Arsenal started off pretty brilliantly and scored the crucial goal after four minutes tied – even though it took a goal to put him on the scoresheet.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made a superb descent on the right. His low center then provoked panic among the visiting defenders and Zakhar Volkov created his own net.

Arsenal made the score 2-0 after 39 minutes when Granit Xhaka's Corner gave Shkodran Mustafi a good kick in the middle, shooting up the bar.

You still did not think the game was safe enough because of Arsenal's often unconvincing and indecisive defense.

But he was finally put to bed in the 60th minute. Greek defender Sokratis, replaced by injured Calf injured Laurent Koscielny, propelled another Xhaka corner. Xhaka was not great, but two assists earned him the game's most effective player status.

Emery is still a passionate manager on the sidelines and proudly celebrated the goals, hitting the air with delight.

If only Emery could get his message across so clearly with his words that nine months after his appointment, his English is still so poor that it's hard to understand it.

It's not only frustrating after Arsene Wenger's back-to-back medal, but it's also hard for Arsenal fans to connect and feel an affinity with a manager who is clearly determined and thirsty. of success.

Maybe a trophy will help the audience warm up because the fans can not feel like they know him and his pidgin English has to be hard to understand in the locker room to motivate the players.

Arsenal made his late home debut at Denis Suarez. The Barcelona delegation played in the 78th minute for a great reception.

ARSENAL EVALUATIONS

Petr Cech – 6 – Widely quiet, in fact largely a spectator except a Skavysh backup. His wonderful career deserves a better swan song.

Stephan Lichtsteiner – 6 – Arsenal misses so much the pace and energy of Bellerin. Lichtsteiner is solid but pedestrian and compared.

Shkodran Mustafi – 6 – Who could doubt him? The Arsenal defender, ridiculed at the fingertips, shook his head. Keep it away from its own box.

Laurent Koscielny – 6 – He suffered a calf injury, which will be a source of major concern, as Arsenal's defense problems continue to grow.

Nacho Monreal – 5 – Defend sloppy, messy and undecided Monreal. After being one of Arsenal's best players in the last two or three years, he's on the sidelines.

Matteo Guendouzi – 7 – He stood out as he always wanted, he always showed up for and was trying to get things done. A lot to admire.

Xhaka granite – 7 – MotM. He played a lot, provided two assists for Mustafi and Sokratis, but also wasted a lot of passes and shots.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 5 – A player so frustrating. Clearly talented but not yet found his place or even his role in this team.

Mesut Ozil – 5 – The least spotted Ozil finally got his chance – and did not really take it. Some good little moments, not much else.

Alex Iwobi – 7 – Bottom left, we do not know if it is Arsenal quality, but you can not in any way blame his work pace.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang His pace and his races threatened him so much that BATE could not bear it. Perhaps the only player Arsenal can get you out of your seat.

replacements

Sokratis , for Koscielny, 56 minutes, 6 minutes

Torreira , for Guandouzi, 63 minutes, 6 minutes

Suarez for Mkhitaryan, 78 minutes, 6

BATE Borisov 6 : Scherbitski 6; Rios 6, Volkov 5, Filipenko 6, Filipovic 6; Baga 5 (Hleb, 58, 5), Dragun 6, Simovic 6, Milic 5, Skavysh 5; Stasevich 5