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As it happenedended

BATE Borisov vs Arsenal - as it happened: Gunners see out erratic Europa League victory in Belarus

Re-live all the action from the Borisov Arena

Samuel Lovett
Thursday 28 September 2017 13:53 BST
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Arsenal will be hoping to win their second successive Europa League game
Arsenal will be hoping to win their second successive Europa League game (Getty)

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Arsenal head to Belarus for the second game of their Europa League campaign where they face BATE Borisov.

In attendance will be Aleksandr Hleb, the former Arsenal midfielder who spent four separate spells with the Belarusian champions, who has been pictured exchanging niceties with Arsene Wenger this week.

Those who won’t be there include Laurent Koscielny, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette who are among a host of senior players to be left at home for this long trip east.

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Here’s everything you need to know about the game…

What time does it start?

The game kicks off at 6pm (BST) at the Borisov Arena on Thursday 28 September.

Where can I watch it?

BT Sport 2 will be broadcasting the game. Alternatively, return to this page for updates from our live blog.

It's a big game for...

Arsene Wenger was full of praise for the 20-year-old(Getty Images)
Arsene Wenger was full of praise for the 20-year-old(Getty Images)

Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Arsene Wenger was glowing in his praise of the young midfielder ahead of this game, hinting that he will be given a place in the starting line-up for a second Europa League game running. “He has great quality, he can steal the ball without making fouls,” the Frenchman said. “I’m convinced he is ready to play. He has to improve a little bit on the concentration front because the demands of top level football don’t tolerate some lapses of concentration.” Can he impress his boss even more tonight?

Player to watch…

Olivier Giroud is on 99 goals for Arsenal (Getty Images)
Olivier Giroud is on 99 goals for Arsenal (Getty Images) (Getty)

Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman has never fully convinced as a top quality forward since joining Arsenal in 2012. Now his position has been fully usurped by compatriot Alexandre Lacazette who already looks like a crowd favourite at the Emirates. But Giroud can still provide a top quality second option for the Gunners – and he has scored 99 goals for the club in his time there. A man with a point to prove, with a huge milestone in his sights against weak opposition… expect Giroud to be at the top of his game…

Form…

BATE Borisov: WWDWW

Arsenal: WWDWW

Odds…

BATE Borisov: 5/1

Draw: 16/5

Arsenal: 4/7

HALF TIME: BATE Borisov 1-3 Arsenal

Samuel Lovett28 September 2017 18:46

Samuel Lovett28 September 2017 18:50

45 min: ​Kick-off! The second half is under way!

Samuel Lovett28 September 2017 19:01

48 min: Penalty to Arsenal! The referee appears to have pulled up Dragun for pulling on Mustafi's shirt inside the box as free-kick ball was pumped into the BATE box.

Samuel Lovett28 September 2017 19:05

GOAL! BATE Borisov 1-4 Arsenal (Giroud pen, 49 min)

The Frenchman makes it look so easy. Calm and collected, he steps up to the spot to bury the ball in the bottom left-hand corner. 4-1. And that must be that.

Samuel Lovett28 September 2017 19:05

Samuel Lovett28 September 2017 19:07

54 min: Arsenal look for the route one option down the right and it's Willock who breaks in an attempt to meet it. There's a bit too much on it, though, and the ball rolls out for a BATE goal-kick.

Samuel Lovett28 September 2017 19:11

56 min: BATE free-kick to the left of Arsenal's box. It's swung in dangerously to the centre of the box, with Stasevich lurking ominously ready to meet it. The forward can't get enough on it, though, and although Ospina sees it late, he does enough to palm the cross away from his goal-line before Arsenal's defence deal with the aftermath.

Samuel Lovett28 September 2017 19:14

60 min: BATE are getting desperate as Stasevich becomes the latest to let loose with a wild shot from outside the Arsenal box that ends up in the crowd.

Samuel Lovett28 September 2017 19:16

64 min: Milunovic gets a yellow for holding back Walcott after the Arsenal player had spun clear of him. The free-kick is awarded on the edge of the BATE box and it's Wilshere who delivers. It's a poor effort though and fails to clear the first line of defence.

Samuel Lovett28 September 2017 19:21

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