Skip to content

Arsenal reaches next Europa League round despite insipid draw

Reuters / David Klein

A smattering of boos from the thinning throng at the Emirates accompanied the departing Arsenal players after a scoreless 90 minutes against Red Star Belgrade - even though the Gunners secured a place among the last 32 in the Europa League.

Koln's win over BATE Borisov in the coinciding Group H matchup meant Arsenal needed just a point to qualify for the Round of 32. The home side walked away with the bare minimum from a match that produced little excitement.

Most of the stadium had emptied out by the time the referee blew the final whistle. Those who stayed behind expressed their disgust.

Despite the performance - and the fact manager Arsene Wenger played what was effectively his Under-23 side - it was an odd reaction for a team that had just advanced to the next round.

Arsenal, after all, has progressed past the group stage of a European competition for the 15th season running.

The focus will immediately shift to the weekend, with Sunday's trip to Manchester City fast approaching.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox