Arsenal 6-0 BATE Borisov, RESULT: Mohamed Elneny, Olivier Giroud, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Mathieu Debuchy on target in Europa League

  • Mathieu Debuchy opened scoring with blistering strike across target for Arsenal
  • Theo Walcott and Jack WIlshere added to the scoring before half-time
  • An own goal and an Olivier Giroud penalty soon made it 5-0
  • Mohamed Elneny made it 6-0 with 14 minutes to play as Gunners dominated 
  • Arsenal XI: Ospina, Debuchy, Holding, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Coquelin, Elneny (Willock), Wilshere, Walcott (Nelson), Giroud, Welbeck (Nketiah)
  • BATE XI: Scherbitski, Rios, Polyakov, Milunovic, Maksim Volodjko, Berezkin, Dragun, Gordeichuk, Ivanic, Stasevich (Tuominen), Rodionov (Signevich)
  •  READ: The full match report from the Emirates Stadium 

Second string but no need to get out of second gear as Arsenal closed out the pre-Christmas phase of the Europa League with ease.

Long-awaited goals in red and white for Mathieu Debuchy and Jack Wilshere were the highlights here plus a swaggering performance from Theo Walcott that suggested his Arsenal career may not be over yet.

Arsene Wenger has pledged to go for glory in this competition and pretty much anyone they face from now on will be tougher than this glorified training ground exercise.


READ: The full match report from the Emirates Stadium

  • Dan Ripley

    Host commentator

22:03
Arsenal will not record an easier win all season long

But you still have to beat what is in front of you, and Arsenal have sure done that this evening by swatting aside BATE who had their hopes of reaching the round-of-32 well and truly extinguished.

Joining the Gunners instead from Group H are Red Star Belgrade who saw off Cologne 1-0.

That's all from me here. More reaction to come on the homepage. Thanks for following.

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21:54
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 6-0 BATE Borisov
Arsenal Mohamed Elneny celebrates scoring during the Gunners' 6-0 win against BATE
21:53

89min: There will be two minutes added on at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal have lost all interest in scoring goals.

21:52

86min: A collector's item - a BATE chance. Nikolai Signevich curling wide across goal from the edge of the box.

I hope David Ospina has a clean sheet clause in his contract, he's on for possibly the easiest Christmas bonus earned across the country.

21:47

83min: Those three changes have led to the quietest spell in this game, with Arsenal just starting to allow BATE some possession - having dominated over 73 per cent of it.

21:44

80min: A Christmas gift from Arsenal? BATE actually enjoy a spell of pressure inside the Arsenal half, it ends with a set-piece scuffed way over the bar and that's just about sums up the visitors.

Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny scores their sixth goal against a hapless BATE side
Elneny celebrates scoring the team's sixth goal at the Emirates Stadium
21:40
Arsenal and BATE Borisov substitutions

77min: Bring on the changes. It's a double switch for the Gunners as Elneny and Danny Welbeck depart to be replaced by Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock.

BATE also make a final change as Evgeni Yablonski replaces Mirko Ivanic.

21:35
GOAL! ARSENAL 6-0 BATE Borisov

74min: Splendid goal from Arsenal. Jack Wilshere lays the ball off for Mohamed Elneny on the edge of the box, who proceeds to curl the ball across goal into the net.

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21:33
Arsenal substitution

71min: Even fringe players need rest apparently as Theo Walcott departs with Reiss Nelson replacing him for the last 20 minutes.

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring their fifth goal from the penalty spot
21:31
BATE Borisov substitution

69min: Igor Stasevich's reward for actually forcing David Ospina into a save is to be hooked off for BATE's second change as he is replaced by Jasse Tuominen.

21:29

67min: And you wouldn't bet the scoring ending there. Even though BATE are continuing to be torn to shreds they refuse to shut up shop.

Fine if you can get some attacking play, but the visitors cannot even get hold of the ball let alone string together a passing move.

21:26
GOAL! ARSENAL 5-0 BATE Borisov

64min: Olivier Giroud's first penalty is successful but pulled back for encroachment, before his second attempt also finds the back of the net. He can start looking to fill his boots now after my earlier dig...

21:23
PENALTY (Arsenal)

Clumsy from Nemanja Milunovic, who bundles over Theo Walcott inside the box. Olivier Giroud steps up...

21:23

61min: This is the sort of night you expect Olivier Giroud to fill his boots, but the striker has not featured all that much.

The France international brings the ball under control on the edge of the box before cutting the ball onto his left foot and drilling well over the bar. Should be hitting the target really.

21:20

58min: Still BATE's best player is their keeper as Denis Scherbitski stands firm to deny Danny Welbeck after the striker had turned inside from the right side of the box.

BATE Borisov's Denis Polyakov (left) scores an own goal and the fourth for Arsenal
21:18
BATE Borisov substitution

56min: Here is BATE's first switch as Nikolai Signevich replaces the captain Vitali Rodionov.

21:17

54min: That goal has led to some activity on the BATE bench. But I do have to doubt the quality coming on when they were seen as not good enough to get into the first XI of this shambles.

21:13
GOAL! ARSENAL 4-0 BATE Borisov

51min: Denis Polyakov couldn't have dreamed it any better. A low ball is played into the box and he races onto it by blasting past the keeper.

The trouble is for the BATE defender is that the ball was played in by Theo Walcott and the target he is shooting at is his own goal.

21:13
From Sportsmail's Adam Shergold at the Emirates Stadium

'We've all just had a good chuckle here in the press box as the attendance was announced as 54,648.

'Of course, this being Arsenal, that is the "tickets sold" figure. In reality, about 30,000 have shown up tonight.'

There were plenty of empty seats at the Emirates Stadium
21:10
The SECOND HALF is underway at the Emirates Stadium

No changes. But after being outplayed in the first period and seeing Red Star winning against Cologne, is there going to be any fight from BATE in this period?

Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck celebrate during a first half dominated by Arsenal
21:07
And here are the HALF-TIME scores from across the Europa League

As it stands, Red Star Belgrade will be joining Arsenal in the round-of-32 as they lead Cologne 1-0.

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21:05
Here are a selection of first half stats from the Emirates Stadium

One. Way. Traffic.

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21:03
PLAYER WATCH: Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

It's difficult to properly judge any Arsenal player given how terrible BATE have been but Jack Wilshere's recent resurgence continues having totally controlled the first period. Here is his first half heat map.

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20:59
Here is Wilshere's first Arsenal goal since May 2015
20:52
HALF-TIME: Arsenal 3-0 BATE Borisov
Arsenal's Theo Walcott scores his sides second goal against BATE Borisov
Walcott celebrates scoring his side's second goal at the Emirates Stadium
Jack Wilshere of Arsenal scores his side's third goal near the end of the first half
Wilshere (centre) celebrates scoring his first goal for Arsenal since May 2015
20:48
GOAL! ARSENAL 3-0 BATE Borisov

43min: He's not keeping this out though as Jack Wilshere drills across goal from inside the box to score his first Arsenal goal since May 2015. The scoreline is only just beginning to reflect the first half dominance from Arsenal.

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20:48

42min: Denis Scherbitski has probably been the only BATE player that has turned up as he does well to tip over a Jack Wilshere strike.

20:47

40min: And still Arsenal pile forward. This scoreline could be anything tonight with BATE looking a total shambles. Walcott is loose inside the box again but his bottom corner bound effort is cleared off the line.

Here is one that went in earlier courtesy of Mathieu Debuchy:

20:42
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 BATE Borisov

37min: So there is no surprise when that becomes a 2-0 lead. Danny Welbeck collects a pass inside the box, but despite a BATE player sliding to make the tackle the ball falls loose for Theo Walcott who drills home. Too easy for the Gunners.

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20:41

34min: More stats for you. Arsenal have completed 258 passes so far - BATE just the 61. It's just about one of the most comfortable 1-0 leads you will ever see.

20:38

31min: BATE just cannot get hold of the ball. I'm genuinely struggling to recall the last time I saw them with possession inside the Arsenal half.

The Gunners have had nearly 79 per cent of the ball.

20:35

28min: Two good chances for Arsenal and both fall for Theo Walcott.

The first sees Olivier Giroud nod a cross down into the forward's path, only for the keeper to turn the shot over the bar with his foot.

While the second sees Walcoot's free-kick fly just wide.

BATE Borisov's Denis Shcherbitski makes a save as Arsenal dominated the first half-an-hour
20:32
From Sportsmail's Adam Shergold at the Emirates Stadium

'That was only Mathieu Debuchy’s second goal for Arsenal. The last came way back on December 21, 2014 against Liverpool. Very nicely taken though. It was also the 100th goal Arsenal have scored in the calendar year of 2017.'

Mathieu Debuchy celebrates scoring an equaliser against Liverpool in 2014
20:30

23min: Jack Wilsehere's first time pass from his own half releases Danny Welbeck down the left but Denis Scherbitski sprints out his box to deny the striker a clear shot on goal.

It looked like a touch of madness from the BATE keeper, but it was justified in the end.

Mathieu Debuchyshoots to fire Arsenal into the lead against BATE Borisov
20:27

20min: BATE are chasing shadows. Arsenal even with a fringe team are looking so, so comfortable as they continue to knock the ball around with confidence. The final ball has been slightly lacking but I don't think the Gunners have shown much urgency to play it.

BATE Borisov's Maksim Volodko is shown a yellow card by referee after fouling Mathieu Debuchy
20:23

17min: First booking of the game goes to Maksim Volodko, who in his own fashion congratulates Debuchy on his stunning strike by hacking down the full-back. Charming.

20:22

14min: Fringe team and an empty stadium but it's a familiar sight as Arsenal are dominating this game. A second goal looks to be on its way...

Arsenal's Mathieu Debuchy celebrates scoring Arsenal's opening goal against BATE Borisov
20:15
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 BATE Borisov

11min: Who had Mathieu Debuchy down as first goal scorer tonight? Well to the handful of you who did (if that) have a good spend up because the full-back has opened the scoring with his first goal in three years.

It was worth the wait too as the France defender pounced on a loose ball to drill a rasping strike across goal into the net. Unstoppable.

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20:15
From Sportsmail's Adam Shergold at the Emirates Stadium

'Have never seen the Emirates so empty for a first-team game. About half-full I’d estimate. But then this is a pretty tough sell, isn’t it? A dead rubber with qualification assured, live television coverage and folks tightening their belts with Christmas in mind

'There is a small but excitable band of BATE supporters over in the corner - it’s about 1,900km from Borisov to London.'

Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny (left) reacts after hitting the post earlier in the game
20:12

7min: Half-chance for BATE as Mirko Ivanic intercepts a clearance before lashing just over the bar from the edge of the box.

20:12

6min: I don't think I have ever seen the Emirates Stadium this empty. Could this be a record low attendance?

It's not affecting the Arsenal team too much early on as the home side are on top.

20:10

3min: And Arsenal should be ahead already. Theo Walcott and Oliver Giroud combine to knock the ball on for Mohamed Elneny, whose low strike cannons off the near post and wide.

The Arsenal team line up before their Europa League clash with BATE Borisov
20:06

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20:05
Out come the players at the Emirates Stadium...

Lots of empty seats inside the Emirates Stadium, with Arsenal already confirmed as group winners. BATE though could progress with victory as long as Red Star Belgrade and Cologne play out a draw.

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20:01
From Sportsmail's Adam Shergold at the Emirates Stadium

'A full house of 11 team changes made by Arsene Wenger from the side beaten 3-1 here by Arsenal on Saturday evening and we have a curious mixture of fringe first-teamers and young hopefuls in red shirts.

'To be fair, that’s no different to the previous five matches in this UEFA Europa League campaign, Wenger using the competition to good effect to rotate his personnel.

'Among those in the starting line-up tonight are Jack Wilshere, fighting for a more regular first-team spot after his injury nightmares, and Theo Walcott, who has barely featured in the Premier League this season but Wenger insists will not be leaving in January.

'Ainsley Maitland-Niles is really the only academy graduate to make the starting line-up, but the bench is packed full of them with Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson among the exciting talents.

'This game is a dead rubber for the Gunners, who have advanced to the knockout phase as group winners following three wins, a draw and a defeat from five games.

'BATE, by contrast, do have plenty to play for. They are currently bottom of the group but if Cologne and Red Star Belgrade were to draw tonight, they would move ahead of them both into second place with a win.'

In order to achieve that, they’ll have to improve markedly from the performance in the reverse fixture a few weeks ago, when Arsenal won 4-2 in Belarus with Walcott scoring twice.

The visitors tonight are also at the end of their domestic season but at least they ended it on a high. A 96th-minute goal on the final day of the season meant they pipped Dinamo Minsk to the title on goal difference. It was their 12th consecutive league title win!

Theo Walcott will captain Arsenal's final group stage match as he warms up with Jack Wilshere
19:18
Here's BATE Borisov's side...

And for all the BATE Borisov fans out there - here's your team to face Arsenal tonight: Scherbitski, Volodko, Polyakov, Milunović, Rios, Dragun, Berezkin, Ivanić, Stasevich, Gordeychuk, Rodionov

18:59
The teams are in..

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Debuchy, Chambers, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Coquelin, Wilshere, Walcott, Welbeck, Giroud

Subs: Macey, Sheaf, Nelson, Reine-Adelaide, Willock, Nketiah, Akpom

18:57
Hello and welcome...

Welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of Arsenal vs BATE Borisov. 

I will be guiding you through the action as it happens so stay tuned for live updates for the 8:05pm (GMT) KO at the Emirates Stadium. 

 

Arsenal have made light work of the Europa League group stage this season and go into their final match against BATE Borisov looking to progress into the round-of-32 with a win.

The Gunners are already confirmed as group winners and will field a weakened side for the visit of BATE Borisov who despite sitting bottom of Group H still have a chance of joining Arsene Wenger's side in the knock-out stages.

Follow all the action from the Emirates Stadium as it happens with kick-off from 8.05pm GMT.

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