Europa League: Arsenal extend unbeaten run to 22, Chelsea struggle against Vidi

laca.
laca.

Twenty-two games and counting for Arsenal. Unai Emery's men weren't overly convincing against Qarabag - they didn't need to be.

Alexandre Lacazette's first half strike was enough to secure victory for Arsenal in their final Europa League group game.

The win over the Azerbaijanis matched Arsenal's 22-game unbeaten run at the start of the 1986/87 campaign - George Graham's first in charge of the club.

If Emery can replicate Graham's success at Arsenal, then he'll be a happy man.

They're still quite a way off the club's all-time record of 28 games unbeaten - but the way Arsenal are motoring along you wouldn't bet against them.

In front of a half-empty Emirates Stadium, Emery played it relatively safe with his starting XI - fielding a largely understrength team.

There were starts, however, for Laurent Koscielny - making his first senior appearance since May after recovering from a ruptured achilles tendon and Mesut Ozil, who returned after two weeks out with a back injury.

On his return to action after seven months out, club captain Koscielny said: 'It was very important for me, now I start a new chapter in my career and I think I'm better in my head and physically.

'You have some difficult moments, this was my first big injury but you learn a lot about yourself and people around you.

'With a smile can I restart the story now.'

Arsenal's vital breakthrough arrived in the 16th minute; Ozil was the orchestrator, though Simeon Slavchev's slip left Qarabag horribly exposed.

The finish when it arrived was unerring, Lacazette slipping past Rashad Sadygov and Badavi Huseynov to fire fiercely past Vagner.

In the other match played yesterday, Chelsea settled for a two all draw with Mol Vidi.

-Dailymail