Europa League: Iwobi’s goal fails to save 10-man Arsenal

Premier League side, Arsenal suffered their second defeat of the Europa league campaign losing to French side, Rennes 3-1 in the first leg of the round 16 at the Roazhon Park on Thursday evening, with Nigeria international, Alex Iwobi scoring the only goal for the London side.

It was Iwobi”s first Europa goal and his fifth in all competitions this season.

Arsenal who played with 10 men following the dismissal of Sokratis Papastathopoulos in the 41st minute for a second booking went in front as early as the fourth minute when Iwobi’s cross from the left drifted past home goalkeeper Tomas Koubek, into the right corner.

The sending of  Papastathopoulos paid of for Rennes who drew level in the 42nd minute through Benjamin Bourigeaud whose stunning strike flew into the top right corner.

Arsenal’s woes were further compounded in the 65th minute when Nacho Monreal deflected Mehdi Zeffane’s cross from the right past his own goalkeeper Petr Cech to extend Rennes lead.

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Two minutes to the end of the match, a diving header from Ismaila Sarr stretched the game beyond the visitors who now face an uphill task of turning the table in the return leg at the Emirates.