Arsenal star becomes first player to score for the Gunners without playing for Wenger

macfranc007 October 05, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Akan Anwankwo

- Sokratis Papastathopoulos scored Arsenal's first goal in win over Qarabag

- The Greek international was signed from Dortmund in the summer

- He becomes the first player to score a goal without player under Wenger

Greece defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has become the first player to score for Arsenal without featuring under Arsene Wenger since 1996.

Sokratis opened the scoring for the Gunners in their Europa League win over Azerbaijan side Qarabag

The goal meant the Greek international is the first player to find the back of the net for the Emirates outfit without making an appearance for the ex-manager of the club.

Sokratis has been in fine form since joining Unai Emery's side from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.

The central defender has pinned-down a starting place in Emery's starting XI and has been in fine form despite suffering back-to-back defeats with Chelsea and Manchester City

The 30-year-old's partnership with Shkodran Mustafi has helped the London club record five straight Premier League wins on the bounce.

However left-back Sead Kolasinac was singled out by Arsenal legend Martin Keown to be struggling to hit form in the club's Europa League win.

Keown told BT Sport: “Kolasinac was a problem. He’s a player that wants to go forward but doesn’t want to defend.

“He really was a weakness for Arsenal (tonight). He’s not been in with the group, he’s not played in the back four. He’s not picked up the message of what the manager is looking for.”

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that Arsenal recorded a 3-0 victory over Qarabag in the Europa League.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos set the ball rolling with a fifth minute strike in the first half while Emile Smith-Rowe and Matteo Guendouzi ensured victory for the Gunners.

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