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 19:06 · Evan Bartlett]

Good evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Arsenal's Europa League clash against FC Koln.

[14 September 2017 19:08 · Evan Bartlett]

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Team news: 

Alexis Sanchez makes his first home start of the season for Arsenal while the perennially injured Jack Wilshere takes his place on the bench.

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal, Bellerin, Iwobi, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Walcott, Alexis, Giroud

[14 September 2017 19:14 · Evan Bartlett]

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Pre-match reading:

Arsene Wenger is obsessed with finally winning the Champions League but, as Miguel Delaney explains, the sad reality is that prospect is significantly fading. The Europa League is perhaps his last chance...

[14 September 2017 19:17 · Evan Bartlett]

Breaking news: Match delayed for an hour

Reports emerging from the Emirates say fans have been locked out of the stadium and the match has been delayed for an hour. New kick-off time: 9.05pm.

[14 September 2017 19:24 · Evan Bartlett]

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Match delayed

The sheer volume of FC Koln fans outside the Emirates is preventing Arsenal fans from entering the stadium, according to reports.

Well, there were at least 20,000 of them marching through the streets of London earlier...

[14 September 2017 19:28 · Evan Bartlett]

Reason for delay:

Arsenal's Europa League game with FC Koln this evening has been unexpectedly delayed by an hour for safety reasons.

The unusual step was taken because of severe congestion immediately outside the Emirates which is preventing fans from entering the ground.

The decision was announced less than hour before the scheduled 8.05pm start, pushing it back to an unusual 9.05pm kick-off start.

Far more FC Koln fans than the 3,000 with away end tickets have travelled for the game, many of whom have bought tickets among the home fans, with 15,000 German fans estimated to be here.

The attempts of stewards to identify home fans from away fans has led to severe congestion and delays outside the ground, causing unprecedented security problems for stewards and police to solve.

Here's more on the one hour delay from our man at the ground, Jack Pitt-Brooke:

[14 September 2017 19:34 · Evan Bartlett]

'Calm at the moment'

Police helicopters and horses are in attendance at the Emirates with stewards attempting to identify home and away fans. 

There are unconfirmed reports of FC Koln supporters attempting to storm a gate and gain entry to the ground earlier on, but all appears calm now...

[14 September 2017 19:41 · Evan Bartlett]

Video from the Emirates...

[14 September 2017 19:44 · Evan Bartlett]

Pre-match reading...

With an extra hour to kill before kick-off get your teeth stuck into our interview with Koln goalkeeper Timo Horn.

He tells Archie Rhind-Tutt about growing up in Cologne, his preparations for a first European adventure and being a secret Arsenal fan...

[14 September 2017 19:45 · Evan Bartlett]

Video from inside the Emirates...