Arsenal 3 Cologne 1 LIVE: Hector Bellerin adds to Alexis Sanchez’s stunning curling strike and Sead Kolasinac volley

ARSENAL take on Cologne as they begin their first Europa League campaign since 2000.

That year, they lost the final to Galatasaray and Arsene Wenger will be desperate to go one better this term.

• This is the seventh consecutive season Arsenal have faced German opposition in Europe – they’ve faced Bayern Munich in four of those (2012/13, 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2016/17), Borussia Dortmund in three (2011/12, 2013/14 and 2014/15) and Schalke once (2012/13).
• Arsenal and 1. FC Koln faced each other in the 1970/71 Fairs Cup, with the Gunners losing on aggregate on away goals. Arsenal won the home leg 2-1 at Highbury with goals from Frank McLintock and Peter Storey.
• This is Arsenal’s first European match not played in the Champions League since the 2000 UEFA Cup final, which they lost 4-1 on penalties to Galatasaray after a 0-0 draw.
• 1. FC Koln’s last European match against English opposition came in September 1995 – they routed Spurs 8-0 in an Intertoto Cup match.
• In European competition proper, 1. FC Koln’s last win over English opponents was in December 1976, beating a QPR side featuring Frank McLintock in the UEFA Cup.
• The Gunners haven’t lost a home game on a Thursday since Boxing Day 1974, losing 2-1 to Chelsea at Highbury - they’ve won eight and drawn three since.
• Including qualifiers, 1. FC Koln will be the 64th different team Arsene Wenger has faced in European competition as Arsenal manager – he has registered at least one win over 56 of the previous 63 (89%).
• Alexandre Lacazette has been involved in 10 goals in his last 10 starts in the Europa League (eight goals, two assists).
• Of players to have featured in the Europa League for at least 600 minutes since 2009/10, Mesut Ozil has the best minutes per assist ratio, averaging an assist every 110 minutes. Ozil featured in the 2009/10 Europa League, assisting six goals in eight matches for Werder Bremen.
• In three of Arsenal’s last four European competition campaigns outside of the Champions League, the Gunners have reached the final – 1994 and 1995 Cup Winners’ Cups and 2000 UEFA Cup final.