Eintracht Frankfurt fell to defeat in their first game of the UEFA Europa League group stages, despite dominating the game before losing Dominik Kohr to a red card late in the second half.

As it happened

Eintracht Frankfurt 0-3 Arsenal
Goals: 0-1 Willock (38'), 0-2 Saka (85'), 0-3 Aubameyang (88')
Red card: Kohr (79')

FULL TIME

A very disappointing night for Frankfurt made more so by the club's dominant performance for the majority of the game. Too many chances to have not found the net at least once, but they will push on to qualify with five games still to play.

90' - ADDED TIME

We'll have three minutes of added time here in Frankfurt.

88' - AUBAMEYANG GETS A THIRD

A disappointing night for Frankfurt made worse here. Too much space in the Frankfurt defence with a man missing, Aubameyang is found and places the ball past Trapp.

85' - SAKA SEALS IT

Once again Arsenal make the most of the counter-attack, and this time with a man advantage. Xhaka brings the ball forward and finds Pepe on the right. He plays the ball inside for Saka, who goes onto his left foot and curls one home past Trapp.

83' - AUBA PUTS ONE WIDE

A chance for Arsenal to seal the win, surely, but Aubameyang puts the ball wide with the goal gaping after Pepe's cross to the back post. Now Frankfurt have a second wind and are pushing once again.

81' - ARSENAL SUB

Maitland-Niles is on in place of Sead Kolasinac.

79' - RED CARD (KOHR)

Dominik Kohr has been shown a second yellow card and has been sent off as a result. It came after bringing down Saka on the counter-attack.

74' - FRANKFURT SUB

Danny da Costa is replaced by Timothy Chandler. The USMNT full-back looking to get an assist, as he did against RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Matchday 3.

72' - ARSENAL SUB

Joe Willock is replaced by Dani Ceballos.

68' - KOSTIC SO CLOSE AGAIN

Kostic and Kohr doing the business here, until it comes to finding the net. The midfield pair link up and Kostic has space on the left for a thunderous low cross into the box. No one can get on the end of it, though. Frankfurt pushing and pushing for a goal.

66' - FRANKFURT SUB

Bas Dost is replaced by Goncalo Paciencia. A change of personnel in the attack with two Portugues forwards now on, can they make the difference?

59' - ARSENAL SUB

Nicolas Pepe is on in place of Emile Smith Rowe.

54' - OFF THE BAR

A free-kick intended to find a man in the middle from Xhaka floats over everyone, including Trapp, and hits the Frankfurt crossbar. Both teams look capable of scoring here.

51' - BIG TACKLE FROM HINTEREGGER

A fantastic counter-attack with a long run forward from Willock. He finds Aubameyang making a run in behind, but Hinteregger matches it and times his challenge to perfection to block the shot.

49' - SILVA'S TURN

Perfect run from Silva and the pass to match it from Kohr. The striker goes for a lob over Martinez but gets too much on it, sending it over the crossbar.

47' - DOST SO CLOSE

Hinteregger swings in a lovely cross from the left and Dost rises highest to meet it, but he can't angle his effort at goal. More frustration for Frankfurt, but they are starting the second half as the first half went on.

46' - KICK-OFF!

Back underway here in Frankfurt with the second half beginning. No changes at the break.

HALF-TIME!

That was a massively frustrating first half for Frankfurt with double the attempts on goal as Arsenal - 14 to 7 - but the scoreline reads 1-0 for Arsenal. The chances just weren't put away by Kostic, Silva or Dost. If the game continues as it's going, the Eagles will almost certainly find the net eventually.

45' - SILVA'S SHOT SAVED

How many chances will it take before Frankfurt score? This time Silva is in after a nice pass from Kohr. He shoots first-time on an angle, but Martinez is down well to palm the ball away.

38' - WILLOCK'S DEFLECTION FINDS THE NET

Arsenal break and it's Willock leading it. He cuts past a defender on the edge of the box and goes for goal but a deflection gives the ball an odd bounce. It goes over Trapp and in off the crossbar. Frankfurt so unlucky to be behind.

37' - ANOTHER HUGE FRANKFURT CHANCE

Dost has a free header in the box from a corner, but he can't get it on target. The home side will be kicking themselves if they don't find the first goal here as they have dominated the opening half in terms of chances.

33' - BIG SAVE FROM TRAPP

Sow loses the ball in midfield to Xhaka and the former Gladbach midfielder plays Smith Rowe in behind. He goes for goal, but Trapp stays big and saves the shot on goal with his right foot. Arsenal coming into this game now and creating chances.

30' - WILLOCK WITHIN INCHES FOR ARSENAL

Aubameyang does well to keep the ball on the left flank and find a cross into the box. It isn't blocked by the Frankfurt defence and Willock meets it, but sends his shot wide of the target.

25' - KAMADA NOW...

The Japanese attacking midfielder is the next Frankfurt player to have a go at goal. He's at a tight angle from the right side of the box, and Martinez is well-placed to deal with it at his near post.

23' - KOSTIC AGAIN!

The Serbian is everywhere and has another shot on goal as he breaks through the Arsenal defence after a superb touch and move inside from the left wing. This one is saved well by Martinez, though.

23' - AUBAMEYANG SHOOTS WIDE

With Abraham challenging him for pace and power, Aubameyang is forced to take an early shot from 20 yards. He drags it wide.

21' - DOST NOW WITH A CHANCE

Frankfurt are all over Arsenal here and causing panic in the London side's defence. Kostic fires in a low cross from the left and it runs through to Dost. His first-time effort as he turns with his back to goal is difficult and sees the ball go marginally wide.

18' - HUGE CHANCE FOR KOSTIC

The Serbian times his run in behind the Arsenal defence to perfection and he's in one-on-one from an angle. He goes for the near post but can only find the side-netting of the Arsenal goal.

16' - TRAPP MADE TO WORK

Torreira once again breaking forward from midfield and looking to get on the end of a ball into the box. This time Trapp is there first to win the ball, but he clips Torreira in the process. The midfielder looks able to continue.

12' - SILVA HAS A GO

It's not far away from goal as the Portuguese international drives a shot at goal from the edge of the Arsenal box. He attempted to put the ball across Martinez into the far corner, but couldn't find the target.

10' - FRANKFURT STARTING CONFIDENTLY

The home side doing well to keep possession in the majority so far. Working it, as they do, from back to front and from wing to wing with every üöayer constantly involved. Kostic, despite only coming back into the squad tonight, has been crucial already.

5' - TORREIRA GOES CLOSE

A big opportunity for Arsenal to take the lead as the away side cross to the back post from the left side of the box. Torreira is forward from midfield and alone to reach the ball, but can't control his shot and sees it go high over the crossbar from eight yards out.

4' - FIRST CHANCE FOR FRANKFURT

The Eagles flying as we expect them to. Comfortable in possession and pressing hard. They win the ball in the Arsenal half and work it around the visitors' box, before Sow found the goalkeeper with his shot.

1' - KICK-OFF!

We're underway for the Europa League season in Frankfurt.

WHAT AN ATMOSPHERE

The home support have provided an incredible display once again in the stands. A huge choreography with deafening singing. Is this the beginning of another memorable European journey for the Eagles?

FIVE REASONS FRANKFURT CAN BEAT ARSENAL

5. Ich liebe dich…Not!

Arsenal have not enjoyed recent trips to Germany.

In fact, all four of their most recent quartet of visits have ended in defeat, the most recent being their 1-0 loss in Cologne in the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League group stage. Prior to that, they were beaten 5-1 twice by Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

In 19 visits to Bundesliga grounds, Arsenal have won just five times and lost on nine occasions.

KICK-OFF COMING UP!

We're just five minutes from kick-off in Frankfurt, with the sun shining and the fans providing an incredible atmosphere already well before the game's beginning.

FIVE REASONS FRANKFURT CAN BEAT ARSENAL

#4 The case of the defence

A major reason Frankfurt came through six qualifying games to reach the group stage unscathed was their defence.

The tried, tested, and successful formula of goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, whose loan deal from Paris Saint-Germain was made permanent in the summer, behind a back three including veterans David Abraham and Makoto Hasebe has worked again for coach Adi Hütter.

His team conceded just three times in reaching the group stage, and only once against French top-flight side Strasbourg in the play-offs, supposedly their stiffest test en route.

A FIRST MEETING

Despite these sides being founded in 1899 (Frankfurt) and 1886 (Arsenal) respectively, this is the first-ever meeting between Frankfurt and Arsenal in any competition.

FIVE REASONS FRANKFURT CAN BEAT ARSENAL

#3 Eagles flying under European lights

There is something about European games that brings out the best in Frankfurt. Their UEFA Europa League record is hugely impressive. In 30 games in the competition, including qualifying, they have won a whopping 21 times and lost on just three occasions.

Their performances at the Commerzbank Arena are still more breathtaking: Only continental heavyweights Porto, Inter Milan, and Chelsea have avoided defeat there with Frankfurt unbeaten in 15 games.

And their group-stage record? We're glad you asked: Six games, six wins, 17 goals scored, one conceded. You don't need to know anything else.

FAMILIAR FACES FROM LONDON

Four former Bundesliga players are in the Arsenal starting line-up this evening, as well as a German international in defence and two more former Bundesliga stars on the bench. Mustafi, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Smith Rowe and Aubameyang all start for Arsenal, while Leno and Nelson are on the bench.

FRANKFURT REFRESHED

A welcome sight for fans of the Bundesliga side tonight is the return of Filip Kostic to the starting line-up. He is back from enduring the flu over the weekend, and will look to feed Bas Dost and Andre Silva in front of goal.

ABRAHAM READY FOR AUBAMEYANG REUNION

"I have played against him often, Makoto Hasebe and Martin Hinteregger too," said the Frankfurt captain of the Arsenal forward, who returns to Germany where he scored 141 goals in 213 competitive appearances in five years at Borussia Dortmund.

"We know his qualities, he's a pacy player, plays well in between the lines and will try to get in behind the defence."

FIVE REASONS FRANKFURT CAN BEAT ARSENAL

#2 The Chelsea standard

Taking the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League as a benchmark, Frankfurt have a psychological edge.

The Bundesliga outfit's spectacular run in last season's competition was ended by eventual winners Chelsea, but only in a penalty shoot-out following two 1-1 draws. Arsenal, by contrast, made the final, but were comprehensively outplayed by Chelsea in Baku, losing 4-1.

Frankfurt also have a good record against English teams. They are unbeaten in their last five encounters with Premier League opponents, drawing the most recent three, including their meetings with Chelsea.

KOLASINAC ON FRANKFURT

The ex-Schalke man should be in the Gunners' starting XI tonight: "I've played in a few matches in Frankfurt before and we all know that Frankfurt are strong at home, especially with their fans. But we want to focus on our game and try to win the match over 90 minutes."

FIVE REASONS FRANKFURT CAN BEAT ARSENAL

#1 A 'CROCODILE' BITE 

Last season, Luka Jovic, Sebastian Haller, and Ante Rebic scored 68 per cent of the club's Bundesliga goals. That meant the departure of all three, known as the 'buffalo herd', left a massive void. "We need another animal. Crocodiles are great and they're killers," explained forward Goncalo Paciencia. "I want to be a killer in front of goal."

The Portuguese forward, who played back-up to last season's front three, stated his bloodlust for hitting the back of the net five times in ten early-season competitive games, including taking two bites out of Flora Tallinn in the UEFA Europa League preliminary rounds. Dejan Joveljic also scored against the Estonian outfit on his debut, while Paciencia claimed the matchwinner after Bas Dost had grabbed his own debut strike, this time in the league victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf on Matchday 3.

And then add in Andre Silva, who arrived on loan from AC Milan as Rebic went the other way. The 23-year-old has a stunning goalscoring record. He struck four times in eight UEFA Champions League outings for Porto in the 2016/17 campaign, and has 15 goals in 33 international matches for European champions Portugal. He also netted six in 10 UEFA Europa League matches for AC Milan in 2017/18. None of those goals came against Arsenal as the Gunners dumped the Rossoneri out of the competition in the knockout stages - Thursday presents an opportunity to make amends.

WELCOME!

After a fabulous run to the last four of the UEFA Europa League, Eintracht Frankfurt kick-off their group-stage campaign against the side that went one better than them in the 2018/19 competition, Arsenal. We've got all the build-up, live match action and post-match reaction here. Kick-off 6.55pm CEST/5.55pm BST/12.55pm ET.

Watch: Bas Dost scored on his Frankfurt debut!

Line-ups

Frankfurt: Trapp – Abraham (c), Hasebe, Hinteregger – da Costa (Chandler 74'), Kohr, Sow, Kostic – Kamada – Dost (Paciencia 66'), Silva
Unused subs: Rönnow, N'dicka, Falette, Fernandes, Joveljic
Out: de Guzman, Gacinovic (groin), Russ (Achilles tendon), Torro (not included in Europa League squad)
Coach: Adi Hütter 

Arsenal: Martinez – Chambers, Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac (Maitland-Niles 81') – Torreira, Xhaka (c), Willock (Ceballos 72') - Smith Rowe (Pepe 59'), Aubameyang, Saka
Unused subs: Leno, Nelson, Guendouzi, Martinelli
Out: Bellerin (match fitness), Lacazette (ankle), Mavropanos (groin), Özil and Sokratis (did not travel), Tierney (match fitness)
Coach: Unai Emery

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Eintracht Frankfurt

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