Arsenal Vs FK Qarabag: 5 things we learned – An ugly win is a good win

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – OCTOBER 04: Arsenal players celebrate after their team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Qarabag FK and Arsenal at on October 4, 2018 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Arsenal travel to face FK Qarabag on Thursday night in their second Europa League group match. Here are five things we learned from the 3-0 victory.

Arsenal squeezed — the score may suggest otherwise, but for those who watched it, there is no doubt that this was a squeezing — past FK Qarabag on Thursday night with a 3-0 win to earn their second victory of their Europa League campaign. Goals from Sokratis, Emile Smith Rowe, his first senior strike for the club, and Matteo Guendouzi, were enough to see the Gunners past their awkward opponents.

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Here are five things we learned from the 3-0 triumph.

Arsenal, Sead Kolasinac — SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – JULY 28: Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal dribbles the ball during the International Champions Cup match between Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain at the National Stadium on July 28, 2018 in Singapore. (Photo by Lionel Ng/Getty Images)

5. Sead Kolasinac offers a threat

There were defensive concerns down both flanks throughout. But in the 3-4-3, there is a greater responsibility placed on the full backs to provide an attacking presence than in a normal back four. The vulnerabilities are a natural consequence of the two teams’ shapes. And Sead Kolasinac, for all of his defensive shortcomings, most certainly offered the wide outlet that Arsenal required.

The Bosnian, who was making his first start of the season after recovering from a knee injury, was a marauding presence up and down the left flank. His characteristic surges to the byline caused Qarabag great strife, he assisted Emile Smith Rowe on two first-half opportunities with neat cut-backs that could have been converted, and he was a consistent outlet to evade the high press at key moments in the match.

This is not necessarily something new. Kolasinac has displayed this skill set in previous outings. It is his fit as a traditional left back, not left wing-back, that produces concerns. But it was nice to see nonetheless. If Emery chooses the 3-4-3 system again, he is the ideal option.