Arsenal vs Cologne - as it happened: Alexis Sanchez and Hector Bellerin help Gunners come from behind to win

A re-cap of all the action as second-half substitutes Sead Kolasinac and Jack Wilshere make the difference following a night marred by crowd chaos

Alexis Sanchez puts Arsenal ahead with a delightful, curled strike from the edge of the box (AFP/Getty Images)

Arsenal get their Europa League campaign under way on Thursday night – a first for Arsene Wenger during his 21 years at the club – against Bundesliga side FC Koln.

The side will rest a host of first-team players as Wenger bids to make his return to the Champions League through the Premier League instead.

As a result, the likes of Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette have all been left out of the squad, though Alexis Sanchez features and Jack Wilshere is on the bench.

The fixture was delayed by an hour in the 'interest of crowd safety' following fan congestion around the Emirates.

Follow live updates below:

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What time does it start?

The game kicks off at 8.05pm (BST) on Thursday 14 September at the Emirates Stadium.

Where can I watch it?

The game will be broadcast on BT Sport 2 and is also available to live stream on the BT Sport app.

It’s a big game for?

Jack Wilshere. With Arsenal’s first-team players set to be rested for Thursday’s game, the likes of Jack Wilshere and Co now have the chance to shine. The Englishman in particular has a point to prove, having been recalled from Bournemouth only to find himself overlooked as he recovers from yet another injury. It’s game such as these where Wilshere can set about clawing his way back into the regular starting XI.

Wilshere has a point to prove (Arsenal FC)

Player to watch?

Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean has been used sparingly by Wenger after the transfer turmoil of the summer and as he bids to regain his match fitness for the Premier League. Sanchez can expect a proper run out on Thursday as he attempts to rediscover the sort of form which caught the attention of Manchester City in the first place.

Sanchez is yet to regain his match fitness (Getty)

Form

Arsenal: WLLW

FC Koln: LLLW

Odds

Arsenal to win: 2/5

Draw: 41/10

FC Koln to win: 15/2

[14 September 2017 21:38 · Evan Bartlett]

32 mins: Another sloppy forward ball by Arsenal and this time it's Walcott who's to blame. He tries to play it through to Bellerin but it has far too much pace - even for the Spaniard - and goes out for a goal kick, as a German rendition of "I love you baby" rings round the Emirates...

[14 September 2017 21:39 · Evan Bartlett]

34 mins: Sub for Koln. Hector limps off after that clash with with Ospina and is replaced by Jojic.

[14 September 2017 21:41 · Evan Bartlett]

  ↵

Here's the Koln opener...

[14 September 2017 21:43 · Evan Bartlett]

37 mins: Arsenal are lacking a bit of poise and creativity in the middle of the park. It's all a bit end-to-end at the moment and they have given the ball away far too easily. Maitland-Niles offering a prime example as he makes a nice run down the left but fires a cross straight into the nearest defender.

[14 September 2017 21:44 · Evan Bartlett]

39 mins: Chance! Iwobi shimmies and dances through the Koln defence, lays it onto Sanchez who curls one towards Giroud who leaps above his marker and really should do better with the header. It goes just wide.

[14 September 2017 21:45 · Evan Bartlett]

40 mins: Koln have been happy to sit deep and play on the counter. Bittencourt makes the latest attack down the left and wins a corner. 

[14 September 2017 21:47 · Evan Bartlett]

42 mins: It seems the Emirates groundkeepers have been watering the pitch with grease. Sanchez the latest to fizz a through ball into the touch line as Bellerin scrambles but doesn't have enough pace to get there.

[14 September 2017 21:49 · Evan Bartlett]

44 mins: Just a reminder that Koln are rock bottom of the Bundesliga having lost three from three so far this season. But they lead 1-0 at the Emirates with a minute or two to go until half-time.

[14 September 2017 21:50 · Evan Bartlett]

45 mins: John Hartson on commentary is waxing lyrical about Koln's back four. "Big, big men. Proper units. Proper defenders." 

[14 September 2017 21:53 · Evan Bartlett]

HALF-TIME: Arsenal 0-1 FC Koln

Well, it was inevitable really, wasn't it? After kick-off was delayed by an hour following crowd trouble, and half of Cologne had descended on north London, the visitors capitalised on the chaos and took an early lead through Jhon Cordoba. Arsenal, who are playing a much-changed side, have looked disjointed and sloppy. There were chances through Giroud and Walcott but neither man could get their attempts on target. Will Wenger call on Jack Wilshere as a second-half substitute?