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    Zurich 1 Arsenal 2: Gunners pay emotional tribute to The Queen with minute’s silence at half-time of Europa League win

    ARSENAL and Zurich held a minute’s silence to mark the passing of her majesty The Queen.The players from both teams gathered around the centre circle before the second half of their Europa League tie kicked off after the sad news broke while the match was already underway.
    A minute’s silence was held for The Queen before the start of the second halfCredit: Getty
    The official announcement totally overshadowed the game, which saw Arsenal’s return to European action after failing to qualify for the first time in 25 years last season.
    Brazilian teenager Marquinhos marked his Arsenal debut with a goal and an assist to secure the victory that boss Mikel Arteta had been hoping for.
    Marquinhos, 19, only cost £3million when he arrived from Sao Paulo in the summer and already looks like a bargain.
    Arsenal were considering sending him out on loan to gain more first-team experience but decided to keep him once they had agreed to let record signing Nicolas Pepe spend the season at Nice.
    READ MORE ON THE QUEEN’S DEATH
    And the powerfully-built winger made an instant impact when he picked out Gabriel Martinelli for a free header which his Brazilian compatriot headed wastefully wide.
    Another promising chance came and went when Marquinhos fired over from Granit Xhaka’s cross as the visitors looked to turn the screw on the struggling Swiss champions.
    But none of that mattered when Fabio Vieira sent Eddie Nketiah galloping away on the counter attack before squaring into the path of Marquinhos arriving like an express train.
    And the impressive debutant made no mistake this time, belting his 16th-minute shot into the top corner to momentarily hush the raucous Zurich fans.
    Marquinhos scored on his Arsenal debutCredit: Getty
    Eddie Nketiah conceded a penalty but responded by putting Arsenal back into the lead
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    Nobody was getting it in the neck from the crowd more than Xhaka, wearing the Arsenal armband for the first time since his infamous Emirates meltdown almost three years ago.
    It is fully ten years since Xhaka last played for Zurich’s big rivals Basel, but their supporters are still not ready to forgive or forget.
    Not that Xhaka was worried. After all, he’s used to getting abuse and he very nearly had the last laugh with a ferocious long-range effort which demanded a sprawling 25th-minute save from keeper Yanick Brecher.
    But just when it was beginning to look as though Arsenal were in cruise control they were again forced to pay the price for a loss of defensive discipline.
    Nketiah’s 43rd-minute challenge on Fidan Aliti was both risky and unnecessary and Mirlind Kryeziu was nerveless as he sent Matt Turner the wrong way from the spot.
    Arsenal, though, have been making a habit of recovering from adversity this season and regained the lead their efforts deserved in the 61st minute when Marquinhos’ deep cross was headed in at the back post by Nketiah. More

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    Arsenal fans all saying the same thing as Brazilian wonderkid Marquinhos scores minutes into debut in Europa League

    ARSENAL signing Marquinhos took just 16 minutes to score on his debut for the club.The Gunners needed little more than a quarter of an hour to go in front against FC Zurich in their opening Europa League game of the season.
    SMarquinhos scored just 16 minutes into his Arsenal debutCredit: Getty

    The Brazilian celebrated passionately after netting the goalCredit: Getty
    His team-mates congratulated him after an emotional celebrationCredit: Getty
    And it was a lovely counter-attacking move which opened the scoring.
    Fabio Vieira began the swift transition from inside his own half, playing a long ball across the floor for Eddie Nketiah.
    Nketiah then composed himself before sliding a low cross to Marquinhos via a little deflection.
    And the Brazilian youngster made no mistake from close range as he coolly tucked away the finish.
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    He then celebrated by dropping to the floor in an emotional fashion as his team-mates revelled in the debut strike.
    And Arsenal fans were buzzing to see summer signing Marquinhos hit the ground running so quickly.
    Speaking about the 19-year-old, one supporter said: “Marquinhos giving me Martinelli vibes.”
    While another added: “Wow, what a player. Marquinhos is a gem 💎.”
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    And a third said: “Arsenal’s Brazilian sensation Marquinhos is going to smash it in the Europa League 🔥.”
    Marquinhos, who plays predominantly as a winger, scored four goals in 41 appearances for Sao Paulo before arriving in England.
    He did not featured in any of Arsenal’s opening six Premier League games, with the Gunners winning their first five before losing to United at the weekend.
    Next up for Mikel Arteta’s men is a home match against struggling Everton on Sunday.
    Marquinhos will be looking to push for a place in the first teamCredit: Getty More

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    ‘Great’ David Silva ready to haunt former rivals Man Utd again as ex-City legend heads to Old Trafford in Europa League

    DONNY VAN DE BEEK has warned his Manchester United team-mates over the threat of David Silva and Real Sociedad tonight.The Red Devils kick off their Europa League campaign against the LaLiga club at Old Trafford.
    Donny van de Beek is hoping to start for Man Utd against Real SociedadCredit: Getty
    Man City legend David Silva will be hoping to fire Sociedad to victoryCredit: Rex
    Erik ten Hag’s side go into the clash with their confidence sky high after a run of four consecutive victories in the Premier League.
    Marcus Rashford’s brace fired them to a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday and they will be hoping to kickstart to European glory against the Spaniards.
    Ten Hag is expected to make a number of changes to his side for the visit of Sociedad.
    That could see Dutch midfielder Van de Beek line up alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire.
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    But the former Ajax man knows all too well that he and his colleagues must be on the top of their game to stop their opponents – and particularly Man City legend Silva – even if they have just sold star striker Alexander Isak to Newcastle.
    Spanish star Silva, 36, moved to the Etihad from Valencia in 2010 and made 436 appearances and helped City win 14 trophies before departing to Sociedad in 2021.
    And despite his age, Van de Beek knows that the playmaker will still provide a huge threat.
    He said: “There are really good teams in La Liga. I saw Real Sociedad play a few times and they are technical and really good.
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    “They are all technically very good, like all Spanish teams. It’s a tough opponent, and we have to play good to get the result.
    “But we need to focus on ourselves to be in top shape and to be in good form. I saw their game against Barcelona recently – at the end they conceded a few goals – but, before that, they played good football.”
    Van de Beek added: “It will be a tough game and we have to give everything. David Silva, for example, is a really good player.
    “They lost [Alexander] Isak, who was a good striker. I played against him in the Netherlands before, when he played there [for Willem II]. But they have a few more other good players.” More

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    ‘You never know what’s coming’ – Arsenal boss Arteta in sombre mood ahead of Europa League after Tuchel’s Chelsea axe

    ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta has sympathised with Thomas Tuchel after he was sacked by Chelsea.The German coach, 49, was fired by the Blues on Wednesday morning after 20 months with the club.
    Tuchel was dismissed by Chelsea after a difficult start to the seasonCredit: EPA
    Arteta was in a downbeat mood while discussing Tuchel’s sackingCredit: Getty
    He guided them to Champions League glory and three domestic cup finals, while also securing back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League.
    But a poor start to the season saw him booted out after just seven matches.
    And Arteta feels for Tuchel – who has swiftly been replaced by Graham Potter.
    Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Europa League clash with FC Zurich, the Gunners manager said: “I was [surprised], yes. It was right before training when we got the news.
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    “It is always sad for any colleague in this profession to get fired.
    “Unfortunately, we know how this works. Wish him the best of luck.
    “It makes me realise that we have a profession that, in a big percent this is going to happen.
    “We have to prepare for it and we have to enjoy the journey and we have to enjoy every day because you never know what’s coming.”
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    Arteta was under huge pressure 12 months ago when his Arsenal team lost their opening three games of the campaign and sat bottom of the Premier League table.
    But he was able to turn things around as they eventually finished fifth.
    And he has since gone on to enjoy a superb start to the new season, with Arsenal top of the table thanks to five wins from six games.
    Arteta will celebrate three years at Arsenal in December, with only five current Prem managers having served for longer at their respective clubs. More

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    Zurich vs Arsenal LIVE: Stream, TV channel, team news as Marquinhos and Vieira START Europa tie

    ARSENAL make their return to European football TONIGHT – but with a tough opening group game against Swiss champs FC Zurich.The Gunners will be determined to put the disappointing 3-1 loss to Manchester United behind them.
    However, Zurich are having some problems of their own as they are still waiting on a their first league win this season.

    Kick-off: 5.45pm
    TV/live stream: BT Sport 2
    Zurich XI: Brecher, Kamberi, Kryeziu, Aliti, Boranijasevic, Dzemaili, Selnaes, Okita, Krasniqi, Guerrero, Aiyegun.
    Arsenal XI: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Lokonga, Xhaka, Vieira, Marquinhos, Martinelli, Nketiah

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    Arteta pre-match comments
    Mikel Arteta spoke yesterday on the test Zurich will pose his team and his strong selection for the travelling squad.
    “We don’t have that many players available, unfortunately, with injuries we’ve picked up in the last two weeks.
    “This is a competition that we want to take very seriously, against an opponent that is going to make life difficult for us.
    “We want to start the competition the right way and maintain our momentum.
    “The biggest danger is that, after the season they (Zurich) had last year, they haven’t got the results that they expected.
    “You can see how willing they are to win football matches.
    “This is a different competition, a different context and I expect a team that is going to be very ready tomorrow.” (Arsenal.com)
    FC ZURICH STARTING XI
    Brecher, Boranijasevic, Kamberi, Kryeziu, Aliti, Dzemaili, Selnaes, Okita, Krasniqi, Guerrero, Tosin
    Arsenal subs bench
    Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, White, Saliba, Zinchenko, Matt Smith, Odegaard, Cirjan, Cozier-Duberry, Saka, Jesus
    The low down on Zurich
    It will be the first time in their history the two sides have met, but Zurich could come with a few surprises too.
    They have bounced back from relegation in 2017 to claim their 13th Swiss league title by an incredible 14-point margin.
    Zurich beat Linfield and Hearts to book a spot in the Europa League after failing to beat Qarabag in Champions League qualifiers.
    However, under new manager Franco Foda they are yet to taste victory in the league despite coming off of a dominant season.
    ARSENAL STARTING XI
    Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Lokonga, Xhaka, Vieira, Marquinhos, Martinelli, Nketiah
    So seven changes from the last game.
    Arsenal team news
    Expect a partially rotated starting xi from the one that lost 3-1 to Manchester United on Sunday.
    Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny remain sidelined which means the midfield could remain the same.
    However, Mikel Arteta has been handed a fresh injury blow after Emile Smith Rowe pulled up during the warm-down at Old Trafford.
    Reiss Nelson is also out with a muscle injury.
    The likes of Eddie Nketiah and Fabio Vieira could come in to give Arsenal’s starters a rest ahead of their clash against Everton on Sunday.
    GOOD EVENING EVERYONE
    Welcome to SunSports coverage of Arsenal’s trip to FC Zurich.
    The Gunners are making a long-awaited return to European football after missing out entirely last season.
    Following a fifth-placed Premier League finish last season, this will be Arsenal’s fifth go at lifting the Europa League – a prize they were close to in 2019 as lost in the final.
    The last time Arsenal went to Switzerland saw them leave as 4-1 victors against FC Basel in 2016.
    However, while Arsenal are playing FC Zurich, the game will not be held there due to staging conflicts.
    Instead, the game will be held 54 miles away at St Gallen’s Kybunpark.
    We hope you stick with us and enjoy tonight’s coverage.
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    Cristiano Ronaldo set for first Europa League game for TWENTY YEARS.. and he’ll be hoping it’s not disappointment again

    CRISTIANO RONALDO is set to make his first appearance in the Europa League for 20 YEARS this evening.The 37-year-old has not turned out in Europe’s second-tier competition since way back in his Sporting Lisbon days.
    Cristiano Ronaldo has only ever played two games in the Europa LeagueCredit: Reuters
    Ronaldo has not played in the tournament for 20 yearsCredit: AFP
    Ronaldo had wanted to leave Manchester United this summer in order to continue playing in the Champions League.
    But after no offers came in he has been resigned to running out on Thursday night’s.
    The Red Devils host Real Sociedad at Old Trafford tonight on matchday one of the competition.
    And if CR7 plays this evening, it will be nearly 20 years since his last appearance in the competition.
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    That being when it was still called the UEFA Cup.
    Ronaldo played in the second leg of Sporting Lisbon’s first round clash with Serbian outfit Partizan Belgrade on October 10, 2002.

    He also came on as a substitute in the first leg on September 19.
    Sporting were beaten 3-1 at home in the first leg, before forcing extra-time in the return fixture after leading 3-1 at the end of 90 minutes.
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    But Partizan broke Sporting hearts with a dramatic extra-time victory, scoring in the 110th and 177th minute to send Ronaldo crashing out.
    Ronaldo has played in the Champions League in EVERY season since then – and is the competition’s record scorer.
    He has netted an incredible 140 times in the tournament, and won it FIVE times.
    Yet his pedigree in Europe’s elite competition has not saved him from dropping down to the Europa League.
    Ronaldo is poised to start tonight’s game against Real Sociedad with Erik ten Hag set to ring the changes amid a hectic run of fixtures. More

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    Mikel Arteta rules Arsenal ace Emile Smith Rowe out of Zurich clash after struggling with injury AFTER Man Utd defeat

    EMILE SMITH ROWE has been ruled out of Arsenal’s Europa League opener against FC Zurich following a knock he picked up on the pitch AFTER the defeat to Manchester United.The 22-year-old featured off the bench in the 3-1 loss at Old Trafford on Sunday, but picked up a minor injury during the warm-down.
    Emile Smith Rowe didn’t travel with the Arsenal squad for their Europa League clash against FC ZurichCredit: Getty
    Footage from Arsenal’s warm down at Old Trafford on Sunday as Emile Smith Rowe pulls up, the midfielder will miss their Europa League fixture tonight. 🔴⤵️ pic.twitter.com/YrR3sFqKQ1— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 8, 2022

    There was hope that the problem wouldn’t be too serious and that Smith Rowe would be fit to start his first match of the season on Thursday.
    The England international missed the Premier League opener with a groin injury, and has been on the bench playing second fiddle to Gabriel Martinelli since.
    But in a blow for the Gunners and Smith Rowe, he hasn’t travelled with the squad to Switzerland, having been left in England to recuperate.
    Boss Mikel Arteta has even stated that the former RB Leipzig loanee hasn’t trained this week.
    READ MORE ON ARSENAL
    And he has revealed that Smith Rowe has been suffering discomfort in recent weeks.
    The news will raise questions as to why the Spaniard decided to throw the youngster off the bench in four out of the last five games if he has been experiencing pain.
    Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta said: “He felt discomfort in an area that [he’s been dealing with] now for a few weeks.
    “He wasn’t comfortable after the game and he hasn’t trained in the last few days, so he’s out of the squad.”
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    Arteta then admitted it will be tricky handling Bukayo Saka’s fitness ahead of the World Cup.
    To which he remarked: “We will try – if the squad and performances allow us.
    “We’ll try our best to manage his load and get him on the field in the best possible condition.
    “After November we have something that we have never experienced before.” More

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    Mikel Arteta itching to snap Arsenal’s 28-YEAR European trophy drought but admits squad too thin for Europa League glory

    MIKEL ARTETA is on a mission to end Arsenal’s embarrassing Euro record — and prove the club still belong with the elite.It is now 28 years since the Gunners won their last European trophy, the defunct Cup Winners’ Cup.
    Mikel Arteta is aiming to become the first Arsenal manager in 28 years to win a European trophyCredit: Getty
    And Emirates chief Arteta has brought a full-strength squad to Zurich to ensure they get off to a flying start in the Europa League.
    He said: “Twenty-eight years is a long time and I would like to be the first one to break that negative record.
    “But we have to start somewhere and we want to begin this competition in the right way and maintain our momentum.
    “Unfortunately, we don’t have too many players available to rotate due to the injuries that we have picked up in the last two weeks.
    READ MORE ON ARSENAL
    “But this is a competition that we want to take very seriously against an opponent that is going to make life difficult for us.
    “So now it’s the time to play well and earn the right to win this match.”
    With Arsenal currently top of the Premier League after a flying start to the season, Arteta is eager to get qualification from the Europa League group stages wrapped up as quickly as possible.
    It is an approach that is welcomed by Granit Xhaka, who refuses to even contemplate what might have been after surrendering the final Champions League spot to Tottenham right at the death last season.
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    The Swiss midfielder said: “We don’t care about anybody else. We don’t look at what other teams are doing.
    “Of course we want to be in the Champions [League] but we have to accept that we’re not in it this year.
    “But it looks like the whole team is here in Zurich and we want to start well and take three points back to London.
    “Three years ago we reached the final of this competition and to lose that game was very disappointing.
    “We can only learn from that result and though we are still in the Europa League, we are here to win it for sure.”
    Arteta confirmed that Emile Smith Rowe has not travelled after aggravating a persistent groin injury in the warm down after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester United.
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    He said: “Emile felt some discomfort again in an area that’s been troubling him for a few weeks.
    “He wasn’t comfortable after the game and he hasn’t trained in the last few days, so he’s out of the squad.” More