Arsenal vs Vorskla Poltava - as it happened: Unai Emery makes winning start in Europa League

All the action from Arsenal's opening Group E fixture

Arsenal 2018/19 Premier League profile

Arsenal head into the Europa League in good hands under Unai Emery, who won the competition in three consecutive years as Sevilla manager. The Gunners will be hoping to improve on their performance in last year's competition, in which they were beaten in the semi-finals by Atletico Madrid.

Emery is expected to make several changes to his regular side, with Bernd Leno, Lucas Torreira, Mohamed Elneny and Stephan Lichtsteiner pushing for starts.

Their relatively unknown opponents, Vorskla Poltava, finished third in the Ukrainian top division last season and are competing in the Europa League group stage for the first time since 2011/12.

Follow live coverage below:

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What time does it start?

The match kicks off at the Emirates at 8:00pm BST.

Where can I watch it?

BT Sport are showing live coverage on BT Sport 2 and on the BT Sport app to customers.

What are the odds?

Arsenal to win: 1/10

Vorskla Poltava to win: 33/1

Draw: 11/1

[20 September 2018 16:37 · Jack Watson]

Good evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Arsenal's opening Group E match in the Euorpa League.

Stay tuned for team news and build-up to the match from 19:00.

[20 September 2018 19:13 · Jack Watson]

Team news

Bernd Leno and Lucas Torreira make their first start for Arsenal. 

[20 September 2018 19:22 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Staying strong 

Arsenal have named a slightly stronger than expected starting XI, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang retaining his place and exciting youngsters Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe both forced to settle for a place on the bench. 

It's also one of the more attacking line-ups Emery has named, which looks as though the players could be lining up in a 4-2-3-1, switching to a more aggressive 4-3-3 when in possession.

It's fair to say that Arsenal are going for it...

[20 September 2018 19:24 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Vorskla's XI

Here is how the away side will start tonight. 

Vorskla: Shust, Perduta, Dallku, Chesnakov, Artur, Kobakhidze, Kravchenko, Sharpar, Rebenok, Kulach, Kolomoets. Subs: Tkachenko, Giorgadze, Sklyar, Sergiychuk, Mysyk, Nicolas Careca, Sakiv. 

Anyone with even a faintest idea who any of the above players are, please feel free to apply for a job at The Independent, because none of us have a clue. 

[20 September 2018 20:02 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla

Vorskla start the match and they kick the ball long, Arsenal have a goal kick

[20 September 2018 20:04 · Michael Jones]

3 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla

Scrappy start to the game so far with both teams pressing well, Kulach dives in on Torreira and Arsenal have a free kick

[20 September 2018 20:06 · Michael Jones]

5 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla

Vorskla have started well, they look quick and sharp and they aren't allowing Arsenal to control the ball

[20 September 2018 20:09 · Michael Jones]

8 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla

Arsenal look to find a gap down the right hand side but Sharpar is there to stop the attack, Welbeck clips his foot and gives away a free kick.

[20 September 2018 20:11 · Michael Jones]

10 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla

Shust pumps the ball forward and Kolomoets heads the ball into the path of Kulach, there's no-one in the box for Vorskla so Kulach tries a shot but it's way wide of goal

[20 September 2018 20:13 · Michael Jones]

12 mins: Arsenal 0 - 0 Vorskla

Arsenal make some use of the ball in Vorskla's box but are unable to find a way through. The ball comes out to Torreira who flicks the ball over the top trying to find Lichsteiner as he runs into the centre of the box but Shust claims the ball well.