Arsenal Fan Savages Theo Walcott With Brutal Tweet During Europa League Clash With Cologne

Theo Walcott has not exactly had the greatest relationship with the Emirates faithful over the past few years. 

The Englishman joined Arsenal at just 16 years of age in 2006 and was tipped to make quite the impression on the footballing world. After all, Walcott has always been blessed with exemplary pace - a tool so frequently used to exploit defences in modern football. 

However, things have not quite worked out for the former Southampton player in north London. Walcott is yet to maintain consistent goalscoring form over the course of an entire season. The pacy winger also often frustrates many with a perceived lack of commitment on the pitch.

Walcott earned his first starting berth of the 2017/18 campaign in Arsenal's opening Europa League match on Thursday. Despite falling behind early on, the Gunners managed to pull out a 3-1 win over Cologne.

Still, Walcott failed to put in a convincing performance in Arsenal's victory. And after being treated to 11 years of similar showings, Arsenal fans were predictably aggrieved. 

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Mozárt @afcMozart

Cologne fans wearing Arsenal shirts to sneak into the Emirates. Something Theo Walcott has been doing successfully for over a decade.

8:45 PM - Sep 14, 2017

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Large numbers of Cologne fans dressing themselves up in Arsenal shirts set Arsenal fan "Mozart" up to craft a brutal tweet in relation to Walcott.

He tweeted: "Cologne fans wearing Arsenal shirts to sneak into the Emirates. Something Theo Walcott has been doing successfully for over a decade."

The Gunners added prolific frontman Alexandre Lacazette to their ranks, while Danny Welbeck seems to have found form as well. This, added to Walcott's tepid showing last week, make it difficult to see Arsene Wenger handing the attacker regular first-team football this season.

PHOTO: Arsenal's Sead Kolasinac Taunts FC Koln With Europa League Goal Celebration

Having lashed home the equaliser against FC Koln on Thursday night as Arsenal secured a 3-1 win, Sead Kolasinac lifted up his jersey to relay a message to the away supporters and show his allegiance to his old side Schalke 04. 

The spectacular volley was met with an equally spectacular celebration, wearing a t-shirt underneath reading 'Nordkurve' (which translates to North Curve) the name of the Schalke stand containing their most dedicated fans.

Having left Schalke in the summer for Arsenal on a free transfer - Kolasinac demonstrated his love of the club that gave him his first team career debut, while taunting old rivals. 

🔴 Red on the outside.
🔵 Royal Blue on the inside.#s04 pic.twitter.com/Q4beFyntAl

— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) September 15, 2017

Scoring his second goal of the season, many were surprised to see the Bosnia international named on the bench to begin with for the Europa League tie. After a strong start to his Arsenal career, Kolasinac is quickly becoming a fan favourite.

Arsenal Release Official Statement Following Europa League Crowd Trouble & Vow to Investigate Events

Arsenal have released an official statement following the events on Thursday night that saw disruption outside and inside the Emirates stadium during and before their Europa League tie with FC Köln.

The match itself was postponed an hour due to the disturbances caused by supporters of the Bundesliga outfit, and while five arrests have been made as a result of the events, Arsenal stress that "fan safety was always paramount".

The statement reads on the club's official website: "We worked in full consultation with police and UEFA officials on the night and in advance of the game and had taken extensive steps in advance to prevent tickets being sold to visiting supporters.

10h

Archie Rhind-Tutt 

 ✔@archiert1

Replying to @archiert1

20,000 Köln fans did not go on the rampage tonight at the Emirates - that did not happen.

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Archie Rhind-Tutt 

✔@archiert1

The best description of what went on, from what I saw and the people I've spoken to, is this from @barneyronay.pic.twitter.com/UrNoKrg09f

12:59 AM - Sep 15, 2017

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"This included a number of measures including ensuring no tickets were sold via general sale and that no red memberships purchased after the draw were able to be used to get tickets in the home end for this match. 

"We also worked with our colleagues at Cologne to stop supporters travelling without match tickets.

"The 3,000 tickets issued to Cologne fans was in line with competition rules but it is clear many more visiting fans arrived, causing significant congestion and disturbance outside the stadium before kick-off. Many tickets were sold through touts and this is very disappointing.

"We have launched a full review into the circumstances surrounding the game and will ensure any lessons that can be learned are used in the future."

After the match, when asked if UEFA should take action, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger replied (as quoted by ​TalkSPORT): "They are the only master to analyse the facts of what happened. They will certainly make an inquiry to see what happened, for sure.

"They [Köln fans] were very clever. I don't know how they managed to infiltrate our fans and get everywhere but they did that very well. I don't know if they went through Arsenal membership, on the internet... they did very well.

"We live in a society of 100 per cent security and I thought they would never take a gamble to play this game when I saw the images around the stadium. But I must say our supporters as well dealt well with the situation as well and there was no aggravation."

Despite going 1-0 down to a spectacular early goal from Jhon Cordoba, efforts from Sead Kolasinac, Alexis Sanchez and Hector Bellerin gave the Gunners a 3-1 victory, taking all the points in their opening game of the competition.

Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette Explains Why He Is Hungry for Europa League Success This Season

Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has admitted his burning desire to win this season's Europa League after last year's heartbreak with Lyon.

The Gunners got their continental season underway with a 3-1 win over Bundesliga outfit FC Koln on Thursday evening, and with this year's final being played in Lacazette's place of birth, Lyon, the club's record signing is itching to make it all the way.

​"This year I want to go further and reach the final, which is in Lyon. I hope we can lift the trophy this season," Lacazette told the club's official website.

"I’m the player who is the hungriest to win it, because playing in the final in front of my friends and family would be great."

Last year saw the 26-year-old reach the semi-final before being knocked out by eventual runners-up Ajax, and while Lacazette is determined to rectify last season's failures, he also realises that the Europa League final is a long time away.

"Having said that, we can't think too far ahead. We should think about our match this week and take it game by game.

“It’s a good test because it's a European competition, although we do want to play in the Champions League. It's what we have to do this season. We have to win it. That's our target and it would be another trophy for the club. That would be good for this season.”

The north London club face a tough test on Sunday as they travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Premier League champions Chelsea.

Despite a dominant 3-0 victory over Bournemouth last weekend, Arsene Wenger's side have already shown this season that they struggle against the top teams; a 4-0 away defeat to Liverpool at the end of August proving that.

Arsene Wenger Hails 'Exceptional' Alexis Sanchez After 'Convincing' Europa League Win

Arsene Wenger has heaped praise on Alexis Sanchez after his stunning goal in Arsenal's 3-1 Europa League win over Koln on Thursday night.

The Chilean forward found the net with a superb curling effort for his side's second goal, either side of strikes from substitute Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin.

And Wenger effused over Sanchez's second-half display, while complimenting the impact of Kolasinac after the break.

"Sanchez came alive in the second half," the Frenchman said, quoted by ​Sky Sports. "He is still fighting to come back to his best physically, but Sanchez is Sanchez. He's an exceptional footballer.

"I moved to a four in the second half, [Sead] Kolasinac I think gave us a lot going forward, but as well he pushed Sanchez forward, who played deep in the first half.

"When he had more support on the flanks from Kolasniac he became more dangerous."

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OptaJoe 

✔@OptaJoe

57 - Arsene Wenger has now won against 57 different clubs during his tenure as Arsenal manager (from 64 different teams faced). Collection.

10:54 PM - Sep 14, 2017

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Arsenal fell behind inside ten minutes when David Ospina was lobbed by Jhon Cordoba's audacious long-range effort, and Wenger admitted that his side were uncharacteristically lethargic in the early stages.

"I believe we had a little bit of a slow start, our combinations were too slow, and on top of that, we were shocked by the stunner that they scored," he said.

"From then on it was important we did not panic and to keep control of the game. In the second half I believe our team was better balanced better equipped going forward.

"I changed it at half-time, and second half was one-way traffic. It was just a question of time, overall I think we won it in a convincing way."

Rashford free-kick gives Mourinho's men advantage

Manchester United are in pole position to reach the Europa League final after winning the away leg of their semi-final against Celta Vigo.

Marcus Rashford scored a second-half free-kick as Manchester United defeated Celta Vigo 1-0 at Balaidos to gain the upper hand in their Europa League semi-final tie.
It looked like Jose Mourinho's men were going to be in for a frustrating night in Spain when they had the better of the first half but failed to take advantage of their goalscoring opportunities, a familiar theme from their Premier League campaign.

But in-form Rashford, who also scored a dramatic extra-time winner against Anderlecht in the quarter-finals, fooled Celta goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez with his set-piece to ensure United take an away goal and an aggregate lead back to Old Trafford for next Thursday's second leg.
A place in the Stockholm final on May 24 against either Ajax or Lyon is at stake for the winners, the Dutch side looking the most likely opponents after winning the first leg of the other semi-final 4-1.
 Celta created the first opportunity of note, Nemanja Radoja's inswinging cross headed poorly wide by an unmarked Daniel Wass from six yards.

United responded strongly with only a stunning one-handed Sergio save keeping out Rashford's fine curling strike from 20 yards after the England international had worked space for himself outside the area.
And the visitors squandered two further chances before the interval, Henrikh Mkhitaryan missing the first when his left-footed shot was saved by Sergio, the returning Paul Pogba – back as one of six changes from Mourinho - having sent him through on goal.
And Jesse Lingard was the next to miss an excellent scoring opportunity, his strike lacking the placement and power required to beat Sergio after Rashford had set him up with a neat pass, meaning the match was level at the break.
Celta came out strongly in the second half, Iago Aspas flicking a header wide from Wass' cross, before Pione Sisto's deflected strike was tipped over by United goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
 But it was United who made the breakthrough with 23 minutes remaining after Hugo Mallo had brought down Rashford 20 yards from goal.
Rashford took the free-kick himself and sent his effort into the far corner, deceiving goalkeeper Sergio who had wrongly anticipated the 19-year-old shooting for the other corner.
Celta tried to respond when Aspas volleyed wide after a one-two with Jonny and Lingard blasted wide from 15 yards at the other end after a loose ball fell into his path as United threatened to strengthen their position further.
Rashford appeared to limp off in the closing stages as he and Mkhitaryan were replaced by Anthony Martial and Ashley Young.

And Mourinho's injury headache got worse as Young – only on the pitch for 11 minutes - had to be replaced by Chris Smalling, who himself was making his return from a spell out of action, but United were still able to hold on for a valuable victory.

Cornelius strike seizes advantage for Danes

Stale Solbakken's men will take a slender lead into the second leg in Amsterdam after securing victory in the opening fixture on Thursday

Andreas Cornelius netted a second-half winner to help Copenhagen to a deserved 2-1 victory over Ajax in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
The towering striker made the difference with a superb header just before the hour mark after Peter Ankersen's sublime cross from the right, beating Matthijs de Ligt in the air to leave goalkeeper Andre Onana without a chance.
The Danish champions had previously gone a goal up through Rasmus Falk after just 27 seconds, only for Kasper Dolberg to score a controversial equaliser from what seemed like an offside position, but there would be no denying the home side in the end.

Copenhagen were brimming with confidence heading into Thursday's encounter following their superb home form over the past 18 months, last conceding in an official game at Telia Parken back in August 2016 and going unbeaten ever since a 3-2 defeat against Jablonec in August 2015.
Ajax, meanwhile, had every reason for optimism as well, having won five of their eight prior Europa League encounters this term and drawing the remaining three.
It was Copenhagen that dominated proceedings, though, and Cornelius' second-half strike would eventually prove to be decisive.
Copenhagen charged forward right from the start and needed less than a minute to open the scoring through Falk. The midfielder escaped the attention of Lasse Schone after a clever pass from William Kvist and beat Onana with a fine volley from a narrow angle.
The hosts continued to cause Ajax all kinds of trouble early on and Youssef Toutouh could have doubled his side's lead after a long throw-in from Kvist, blasting a shot just wide of the target after Federico Santander had headed the ball into his path.

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AFC Ajax (English) 

✔@AFCAjax_EN

32' GOAL for #AJAX! 1-1, Dolberg! #UEL #kopaja

7:33 PM - 9 Mar 2017

 
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The Amsterdammers slowly grew into the game and Dolberg restored parity in the 32nd minute with a sublime finish from what appeared to be an illegal position. Davy Klaassen sent in a fine cross from the right and the Denmark international did well to hold off Ankersen before volleying home.
Ajax made an encouraging start to the second half and could have grabbed the lead when the unmarked Schone got a chance to try his luck from the edge of the box, only for the experienced midfielder to aim yards wide.
Copenhagen had struggled to get going after the restart, but they went 2-1 up with their first chance of note after the break, Cornelius beating Onana with a strong header after outmuscling De Ligt in the 59th minute.
Ajax boss Peter Bosz brought on big-money signings Hakim Ziyech and David Neres in the closing stages of the game as the visitors went in search of an equaliser.
Klaassen was unfortunate to be denied by a fine save from Robin Olsen, before Dolberg had a goal disallowed in the 88th minute for a foul on Uros Matic as it ended 2-1.