Video Loading
Video Unavailable
Arsenal can take a big stride towards qualifying for the knockout stages of the Europa League with victory over Vitoria.
Vitoria took a shock lead after just eight minutes.
Former Tottenham midfielder Marcus Edwards showed excellent composure in the box, turning past a defender and firing through Emiliano Martinez’s legs.
Gabriel Martinelli drew Arsenal level after 32 minutes, heading home Kieran Tierney’s cross.
But the visitors regained the lead just four minutes later. Davidson’s left-footed shot came back off the post and Bruno Duarte smashed in the rebound.
Again without Mesut Ozil, can Arsenal respond?
Follow all the action from the Europa League Group F clash below …
Arsenal: Martinez; Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney; Torreira, Willock; Maitland-Niles, Smith Rowe, Martinelli; Lacazette.
Vitoria: Silva, Garcia, Venancio, Tapsoba, Hanin, Almeida, Agu , ***Ha, Edwards, Duarte, Davidson.
The match belonged to one man
Goodnight!
FULL TIME: Arsenal 3-2 Vitoria
Well, for all the critics of the Europa League, that was the competition at its very best.
It looked like Vitoria were going to spring a huge upset until the much maligned Nicolas Pepe came off the bench and saved his side with two wonderful free-kicks, the last one effectivel y the final kick of the game.
This could kick-start both his and Arsenal’s season.
Fantastic entertainment at the Emirates
KEY EVENT
FULL TIME! Arsenal 3-2 Vitoria
KEY EVENT
GOAL! ARSENAL 3-2 VITORIA (Pepe, 90 3)
Ohhhh my word ! Nicolas Pepe, take a bow! He has arrived!
He puts the ball straight in the top bins in the left hand corner.
It looked like a dreadful night for Arsenal, but Pepe has come off the bench and scored two belting free-kicks.
Fair play lad
Arsenal 2-2 Vitoria
90 1: Guendouzi’s quick feet drive him through the middle and he is fouled just inches outside the D as central as you like.
Only one contender to take it, surely. This could be the last chance of the game
Arsenal 2-2 Vitoria
90: THREE MINUTES injury time
Arsenal 2-2 Vitoria
89: I’ve often been his biggest critic, but Pepe has changed the match since coming on.
Encouraging signs for Arsenal fans from a player who has flattered to deceive so far
Arsenal 2-2 Vitoria
88: A Pepe cross is punched away by the keeper.
Just two minutes plus injury time to go
Arsenal 2-2 Vitoria
87: Another change for Vitoria, Rochinha on for Davidson, who has been very impressive indeed
Arsenal 2-2 Vitoria
85: This time Pepe lofts it in, it finds Holding, but the defender’s header is saved and held by the keeper
Arsenal 2-2 Vitoria
84: Pepe wins a free -kick after a clever turn in an almost identical position to where he scored from four minutes ago.
He couldn’t repeat the feat … could he?
Arsenal 2-2 Vitoria
83: Big chance! Mustafi plays in Bellerin, who cuts back to Martinelli, but his shot is straight at the keeper and behind for a corner
Arsenal 2-2 Vitoria
82: You would expect an Arsenal assault on the Vitoria goal now, with the Por tuguese team just looking to be tiring a bit.
The noise has gone up in the Emirates. Can they grab a winner?
KEY EVENT
GOAL! Arsenal 2-2 Vitoria (Pepe, 80)
Cometh the hour, cometh the man!
From that free-kick Pepe bends a shot across the goal which is swerving and moving all over the shop. The goalkeeper dives but can’t get a hand on it.
Both Pepe and Arsenal desperately needed that goal. Game on for the final ten minutes!
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
79: Torreira is tugged back by Rodgrigues Pepe and this is a great position for Arsenal just to the right of the D
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
78: Guendouzi is trying to drive his team on but doesn’t have any options on as he strides through the middle.
The clock is ticking, and a defeat would put huge pressure on Emery ahead of Arsenal’s game agai nst Crystal Palace this weekend
*************************************
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
74: Lacazette gets booked for protesting after he feels he is blocked off by a defender.
He’s been in a bad mood all night- and is pr omptly substituted, with that man Pepe coming on
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
72: Poor end product from Arsenal. Ceballos receives it from a corner, there are cries for him to shoot, but instead he squares to Lacazette, who puts it over.
Frustrated moans and groans from the Arsenal faithful
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
70: The goalscorer and ex-Spurs man Edwards is off for Vitoria, Pereira is on.
I sense Edwards, the Camden boy, will never forget that moment
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
70: 20 minutes for Arsenal to find an equaliser … and not get in any more shenanigans like these
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
68: Is it time for Pepe? The record signing for Arsenal hasn’t set the world alight so far, and was particularly poor in the loss against Sheffield United on Monday, but they could do with some pace and energy right now … It’s all going a bit flat
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
64: First sub for Vitoria sees Rodrigues Pepe come on for Almeida, who has had a good game.
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
62: Would Oz il have made a difference tonight? Perhaps. Arsenal are certainly lacking someone in the middle to unlock a stubborn Vitoria defense at the moment.
Almeida tries a shot from distance, which bounces off Holding for a corner
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
60: It’s getting a bit bad tempered, and Poha is booked for rashly taking down Guendouzi
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
58: All kicking off a bit as Garc ia fronts up to Lacazette, who goes down holding his face.
There was nothing in it at all, and Lacazette has embarrassed himself slightly there, and the referee does nothing more than give them both a good talking to
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
57: A deep corner almost catches out Martinez, who ends up diving and sprawling to his left, but the ball sails wide of the far post to spare his blushes
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
54: What a miss! Tierney puts a cross in, it rebounds to Smith-Rowe who has time to shoot from the six-yard box- and puts it well wide.
Really HAS to at least hit the target. That was poor
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
50: Vitoria could have gone further ahead! Every time they break they look dangerous, and on this occasion a drilled cross is poked goalwards by Poha, but Martinez is able to block
Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria
49: Mu stafi probably should have scored. A short corner ends up with Ceballos, he whips in a cross to the far post but Mustafi can only head weakly wide.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings