Arsenal secured a 2-1 win at Swiss side FC Zürich in the 2022/23 Europa League opener thanks to a late header from Eddie Nketiah.
Brazil youngster Marquinhos marked his debut for the Gunners with a superb 17th-minute opener before Mirlind Kryezius’ penalty leveled the hosts’ level.
Despite resting a number of big names in Switzerland, Arsenal looked to up the tempo in the second half, with a cross from Marquinhos eventually nodding home from Nketiah.
Group A rivals PSV drew 1-1 at home to Bodo/Glimt on a busy Europa League opening night.
MORE: Arsenal Europa League group draw 2022/23: Fixtures, schedule, history and odds to advance
Final score FC Zurich vs. Arsenal
| 1H | 2H | final | |
| FC Zurich | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| arsenal | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Goals:
Marquinhos – ARS – 17′
Kryeziu – FCZ – 45 mins
Nketiah – FCZ – 63rd mins
FC Zurich vs. Arsenal how it happened
FULL-TIME: FC ZURICH 1 ARSENAL 2
Arsenal strike back to start the Europa League with a 2-1 away win at FC Zürich.
Marquinhos’ debut goal was canceled out by Kryezius’ penalty before the break, but Nketiah’s brave header sealed a crucial road victory for the Gunners.
90 minutes: Four minutes extra for a nervous arsenal
89 minutes: Heart to mouth for Arsenal as Rob Holding is penalized for fouling Ivan Santini but the flag is already offside.
86 minutes: Arsenal want a third goal to end this game as Saka is rejected twice by FCZ defence. Martinelli then flicks a pass back to Jesus in the box but Bercher does AGAIN denies the replacement!!
82 minutes: A chance for Jesus to secure victory for Arsenal as he charges into the box but Bercher rallies in his well-worn effort.
78 minutes: The competition seems to fizzle out in the closing stages when Gabriel Jesus comes on for Nketiah.
72 minutes: Another change for Arsenal as Oleksandr Zinchenko gets past Turner’s post for Tierney and Okita’s curling effort.
69 minutes: Triple substitution for FC Zürich in the last 20 minutes: Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka come on for Arsenal, with Marquinhos and Vieira making way.
67. Triple substitution at #FCZ:
Marchesano ???? Krasniqi
Conde ???? Dzemaili
Rohner ???? warrior
*1:2 | #FCZARS #cityclub #NeverUsenandGah
— FC Zurich (@fc_zuerich) September 8, 2022
63 minutes: NKKKKKETIAH!!! ARSENAL BACK FORWARD!!
Marquinhos retaliates for Nketiah as he slices inside and whips a ball at the back post to allow the England Under-21 international to go home!!
55 minutes: Nketiah slaloms through two FCZ duels in the penalty area, but Brecher saves his scouring shot.
50 minutes: Arsenal look determined to force their way back to the tie as Martinelli’s strike is deflected off the line and Brecher parries Tierney’s strike with his hand.
Zurich and Arsenal began the second half with a minute’s silence to pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen, who passed away today at the age of 96.
Arsenal also wear black bracelets. pic.twitter.com/del3P3av8f
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 8, 2022
46 minutes: At the beginning of the second period, a minute’s silence is held after the news Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral, aged 96.
The Queen died peacefully in Balmoral this afternoon.
The King and The Queen Consort will remain in Balmoral tonight and return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
HALFTIME: FC ZURICH 1 ARSENAL 1
FC Zurich scored the shock equalizer at half-time when Kryezius’ penalty equalized Marquinhos’ first goal in Switzerland.
Break in St.Gallen! Between FC Zurich and @Arsenal it is 1:1 after 45 minutes.
*1:1 | #FCZARS #fcz #cityclub #NeverUsenandGah pic.twitter.com/SNc3YxnXfY
— FC Zurich (@fc_zuerich) September 8, 2022
45 minutes: FC ZURICH EQUAL!!
Out of nowhere……..the hosts are the same!!
Nketiah clumsily catches Fidan Aliti in the box and Kryeziu sends Turner the wrong way from the penalty spot!!
*Video available in the US
FC Zurich equalizes with a penalty. ???? pic.twitter.com/Aig8lQeA8p
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 8, 2022
37 minutes: Some panic in defense for Arsenal when Jonathan Okita’s cross isn’t cleared properly but Kieran Tierney dives in to make an important block
33 minutes: Arsenal keep the pressure up with back-to-back corners before Brecher charges off his line to frustrate Nketiah.
27 minutes: Another chance for Arsenal as FCZ only half clear a corner but Granit Xhaka’s long-range ram is missed by Yanick Brecher.
21 minutes: Mirlind Kryeziu is booked for a cynical foul on Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira almost joins him with a debut goal when his cheeky chip lands just over the bar.
17 mins: 1-0 FOR THE ARSENAL
Arsenal have shifted up a gear and the visitors take their chance to take the lead… and it’s a debut goal for Marquinhos!!
⚡️ MARQUINS!!!
???? One-zero for The Arsenal.
⚪️ 0-1 ⚫️ (17) pic.twitter.com/MYtvv9T3Em
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 8, 2022
Eddie Nketiah shows his pace to get past the hosts’ defense and his deflected cross is smashed home by the Brazilian.
*Video available in UK
19-year-old Marquinhos gets Arsenal going in the Europa League this season ????
A goal on his senior debut for the club ⚽️ #UEL pic.twitter.com/hdJjgexKbv
– Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 8, 2022
*Video available in the US
MARQUIS!
BRAZILIAN YOUTH SCORES IN HIS ARSENAL DEBUT! ???????? pic.twitter.com/g5aswSN64V
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 8, 2022
14 mins: ARSENAL RESPONDS
The visitors immediately come to life on the back of that mix-up at the back as Gabriel Martinelli narrowly misses Marquinhos’ cross.
10 minutes: CHANCE FOR ZURICH
Aiyegun Tosin lunges for Matt Turner’s mistake but his effort is diverted to the post by Rob Holding…a LET GO for Arsenal
8 minutes: Pretty slow start here at Letzigrund as Arsenal are unable to do anything with two early free kicks and FC Zurich’s two quick corners are cleared.
RISE: WE ARE ON THE WAY IN ZURICH – FC ZURICH vs. ARSENAL
⏱ We are on the road in Switzerland…
???? @Europe League
???? 0-0 ⚫️ (0)
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 8, 2022
10 minutes to KO: Arteta aims to change Arsenal’s European record in 2023
Arteta spoke in his pre-match press conference yesterday about his ambitions to end Arsenal’s long wait for a European trophy since the 1994 Cup Winners Cup.
“It’s a long time and I want to be the first to break this negative record,” he said.
“But you have to start somewhere and that’s tomorrow, it’s time to play well and earn the right to win the game.
“This is a competition we want to take very seriously, against an opponent who will make life difficult for us, and we want to start the competition off right and keep our momentum going.”
30 minutes to KO: Marquinhos and Turner hope for a positive night in Switzerland
Read more about our team against FC Zurich ????
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 8, 2022
1 hour to KO: TEAMNEWS IS IN!!
Arsenal debut for USA international Matt Turner with three changes in defense as Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney are all in the starting XI.
Another Gunners debut – for Brazilian winger Marquinhos – with Fabio Vieira making his first club start and the returning Eddie Nketiah leading the line.
Five changes at host FC Zurich!
???? Team news against FC Zurich
???????? Gymnasts in goal
???????? Vieira in midfield
????ڠ delicious
???? Follow the match live with us on https://t.co/4KJlfKW7rt ???? pic.twitter.com/cYz7JkgBoM
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 8, 2022
1 hour and 30 minutes to KO: Arteta confirms absence of Emile Smith-Rowe
An update on @emilesmithrowe ????
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 7, 2022
Our starting eleven against @Arsenal! ????????????⚪️#FCZARS #fcz #cityclub #NeverUsenandGah pic.twitter.com/ycYLlmdwsP
— FC Zurich (@fc_zuerich) September 8, 2022
Lineup FC Zurich vs. Arsenal
Foda is without Ilan Sauter through injury and Bogdan Vyunnyk is only fit enough to be on the bench against the Gunners.
FC Zurich starting line-up (3-5-2): Crusher (GK) – Aliti, Kryeziu, Kamberi – Guerrero, Selnæs, Krasniqi, Džemaili, Boranijašević – Okita, Aiyegun.
Substitute FC Zurich (12): Kostadinovic (GK), Avdijaj, Hodza, Santini, Mets, Marchesano, Hornschuh, Omeragic, Rohner, Condé, De Nittii, Viunnyk.
Thomas Partey and Mo Elneny both miss the trip to Switzerland and Emile Smith-Rowe is also staying behind to continue rehabilitation while Arteta heralds the changes.
Arsenal starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Turner (GK) – Tierney, Holding, Gabriel, Tomiyasu – Lokonga, Xhaka – Martinelli, Vieira, Marquinhos – Nketiah.
Arsenal substitutions (11): Ramsdale (GK), Hein (GK), White, Saliba, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Saka, Surgeon, Smith, Cazier-Duberry, Jesus.
MORE: Don’t judge Arsenal’s top four credentials by Manchester United defeat, judge Arteta’s Gunners by what’s next