Arsenal vs Vitoria LIVE result: Score, goals and latest updates from the Europa League
The Gunners extended their perfect start to the Europa League – just
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal's club-record signing Nicolas Pepe stepped off the bench to score two free-kicks and seal a Europa League comeback win over Vitoria and spare the blushes of under-fire head coach Unai Emery.
After losing at Sheffield United on Monday night, Emery launched an impassioned defence of his tenure as Gunners boss on the eve of the Group F clash - but what followed was as below-par performance rescued by the brilliance of his £72million man, who struck a fine brace to earn a 3-2 win.
Without a goal from their first two games and with no away win in Europe since 2005, Vitoria stunned the Emirates Stadium as former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards opened the scoring before Bruno Duarte restored the lead following Gabriel Martinelli's equaliser.
With more than one "Emery Out" banner displayed and the crowd singing for Mesut Ozil - again absent from the matchday squad - it was clear Emery's calls for patience from supporters had largely fallen on deaf ears but the stadium erupted as Pepe curled in two wonderful free-kicks in the final 10 minutes.
PA
Odds
Arsenal win 1/4
Draw 5/1
Vitoria win 11/1
Prediction
Arsenal should be able to beat a Vitoria team that has lost both of its Europa League games so far, though the Portuguese side are in better form domestically.
2-1 is our prediction
When is it?
Kick off at the Emirates Stadium is 8pm BST.
How can I watch it?
The game will be aired live on BT Sport 2, with coverage beginning at 8pm.
Subscribers to BT Sport can watch the game online via the BT Sport player, or on the BT Sport app.
35 min: Arsenal 1-1 Vitoria
Yellow card for Shkodran Mustafi after pulling back Almeida.
GOAL! Arsenal 1- 2 Vitoria (Duarte 36')
Sloppy from Ainsley Maitland-Niles. He concedes possession under no pressure and Davidson drives and hits the post.
The rebound falls to fellow Brazilian Duarte who unleashes a terrific strike to fire past Martinez.
All to do again for Arsenal.
39 min: Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
Martinelli looks to get Arsenal back on terms for the second time, but this time misses the target by dragging his shot wide after winning the ball high up.
43 min: Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
It's nearly three from the visitors, as Davidson sweeps an effort just wide from outside the area.
Half Time: Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
The boos were audible enough as the players walk off after the first 45 minutes.
Arsenal have been poor defensively once again and have not supported Unai Emery's claims that they have improved in that department.
Former Spurs academy player Marcus Edwards took advantage of the poor defending, and after Gabriel Martinelli had headed Arsenal level, Duarte restored Partizan's lead.
An extremely surprising scoreline, and one that Emery's men will need to turn around with his teamtalk in the next few minutes.
You knew the Mesut Ozil chat was going to continue, so here is some more...
A lot needs to change for this to happen going on tonight's first-half performance.
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