Arsenal made a winning start to their UEFA Europa League campaign on Thursday night, beating Bundesliga side Cologne 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium in London.

Nigeria international Alex Iwobi was handed his debut in the competition after manager Arsene Wenger named him in the starting line-up, while fellow Hale End Academy product Chuba Akpom was an unused substitute.

Arsenal went behind in the ninth minute, Córdoba capitalized on a goalkeeping blunder by Ospina to score from 45 yards out.

Kolašinac volleyed the Gunners level after spending less than four minutes on the pitch; Alexis Sanchez netted his first goal of the season with by curling home a beauty after he received a pass from Iwobi in the 67th minute.

And Hector Bellerín put the gloss on a fine performance in the club's first European game of the season when he found the net in the 81st minute.

In their next fixture, Wenger's team face Victor Moses's Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, September 17.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com