Arsenal vs Cologne - as it happened: Alexis Sanchez and Hector Bellerin help Gunners come from behind to win

A re-cap of all the action as second-half substitutes Sead Kolasinac and Jack Wilshere make the difference following a night marred by crowd chaos

Alexis Sanchez puts Arsenal ahead with a delightful, curled strike from the edge of the box (AFP/Getty Images)

Arsenal get their Europa League campaign under way on Thursday night – a first for Arsene Wenger during his 21 years at the club – against Bundesliga side FC Koln.

The side will rest a host of first-team players as Wenger bids to make his return to the Champions League through the Premier League instead.

As a result, the likes of Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette have all been left out of the squad, though Alexis Sanchez features and Jack Wilshere is on the bench.

The fixture was delayed by an hour in the 'interest of crowd safety' following fan congestion around the Emirates.

Follow live updates below:

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What time does it start?

The game kicks off at 8.05pm (BST) on Thursday 14 September at the Emirates Stadium.

Where can I watch it?

The game will be broadcast on BT Sport 2 and is also available to live stream on the BT Sport app.

It’s a big game for?

Jack Wilshere. With Arsenal’s first-team players set to be rested for Thursday’s game, the likes of Jack Wilshere and Co now have the chance to shine. The Englishman in particular has a point to prove, having been recalled from Bournemouth only to find himself overlooked as he recovers from yet another injury. It’s game such as these where Wilshere can set about clawing his way back into the regular starting XI.

Wilshere has a point to prove (Arsenal FC)

Player to watch?

Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean has been used sparingly by Wenger after the transfer turmoil of the summer and as he bids to regain his match fitness for the Premier League. Sanchez can expect a proper run out on Thursday as he attempts to rediscover the sort of form which caught the attention of Manchester City in the first place.

Sanchez is yet to regain his match fitness (Getty)

Form

Arsenal: WLLW

FC Koln: LLLW

Odds

Arsenal to win: 2/5

Draw: 41/10

FC Koln to win: 15/2

[14 September 2017 22:29 · Evan Bartlett]

GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Koln (Sanchez). 

[14 September 2017 22:31 · Evan Bartlett]

What a hit from Sanchez. Iwobi plays the ball out to him on the left and if anything it's a bit wide, but the Chilean forward picks up, turns and takes on three Koln defenders, he approaches the corner of the box and curls a delightful strike into the far top corner. 

Arsenal have turned it around.

[14 September 2017 22:31 · Evan Bartlett]

69 mins: Sub for Arsenal. Wilshere on for Iwobi.

[14 September 2017 22:34 · Evan Bartlett]

72 mins: Corner to Koln. Cordoba runs from his own half and takes it past Monreal, but the Koln man can't beat Ospina as the Arsenal man deflects it behind. Arsenal subsequently clear.

[14 September 2017 22:36 · Evan Bartlett]

74 mins: Chance for Arsenal as Bellerin and Giroud combine to set up Walcott but his drag back finds no man's land in the Koln box. Arsenal win a free-kick on the edge of the box... Horn collects well from a dipping Sanchez strike. He really would have done well to score from there though.

[14 September 2017 22:38 · Evan Bartlett]

Here's that hit from Sanchez...

[14 September 2017 22:40 · Evan Bartlett]

77 mins: Arsenal have been much the better side in this second-half. Wilshere this time puts Sanchez through - who. incidentally is about a yard offside - and fires wide. How on earth did the flag stay down there..?!

[14 September 2017 22:41 · Evan Bartlett]

79 mins: Ospina makes an easy enough save from Jujic's left-footed strike. A rare attack from the visitors in this second-half. Still 2-1 to Arsenal.

[14 September 2017 22:44 · Evan Bartlett]

GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Koln (Bellerin)

[14 September 2017 22:46 · Evan Bartlett]

Game, set and match? It looks like it. Arsenal attack down the left once again. The balls falls to Walcott - thanks to a delightful Wilshere dummy - but the forward's shot is blocked by Horn in the Koln goal. The ball then falls out to Hector Bellerin who is happy to take ball, man, a huge lump of grass and anything else that might get in his way into the back of the net.