23/11/2017 - FC Cologne - Europa League - First Team - A

Defeat on the night... but a 0-0 draw between BATE Borisov and Red Star Belgrade means that we have won Group H

Horn now with a majestic take from the corner, and he goes down clutching the ball

What. A. Save.

Wilshere could not have struck the ball any sweeter, but Horn tips over a rocket shot from the midfielder

There will be a minimum of four minutes of added time

Wilshere gets to the byline now and cuts back for Nketiah but Cologne scramble the ball away

Reiss Nelson does excellently, finding his way to goal with a mazy dribble, but his prodded right-footed strike is turned away by Horn

And now for our last change...

Time for our second change...

Ospina dives to the right... and Guirassy goes straight down the middle

The hosts have an incredibly valuable lead - game on!

It'll be Guirassy to take...

Guirassy goes to ground under the challenge of Debuchy - and the referee has pointed to the spot

Penalty to Cologne.

Mathieu Debuchy gifts possession to Cologne on the edge of the area with a poor defensive header, but Guirassy's header is dealt with by Ospina

We're back underway in Cologne

It looks like we're going to see a half-time change...

We're into two minutes of added time at the end of the first half at the Rhein Energie Stadion

Mohamed Elneny tries his luck from distance... but he fails to trouble Horn

Maroh is forced to withdraw with a hamstring injury

Maitland-Niles and Welbeck combine just outside the left-hand side of the penalty area, before the latter whips a shot wide of the far post

Post!

Francis goes even closer to finding his first Arsenal goal, but again, it isn't to be

Maitland-Niles with an excellent darting run on the left flank, which ends with him chopping onto his right foot and picking out Calum Chambers...

The defender tries his luck with a volley but his contact isn't the best and Horn gathers

Maitland-Niles hands up a looping cross for Wilshere, but the England international's header is held by Timo Horn

He has never scored for us... but he won't go much closer than that

Francis Coquelin thumps a rasping drive just wide of the far post

Save!

Jhon Cordoba fizzes a strike across goal and David Ospina - at full-stretch - tips the ball round the far post

We'll now have a corner...

Speedy start!

Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere combine to slot in Ainsley Maitland-Niles, but his shot goes into the side-netting

We are currently having a minute's applause in memory of Hans Schafer

Right, without any further ago - it's time for kick-off!

The teams are on their way out in Cologne... come on you Gunners!

Right, here's how you answered our question earlier this evening...

Ahead of kick-off we will have a minute's silence, to honour the life of Cologne legend Hans Schafer

Cologne XI: Horn, Sorensen, Maroh, Mere, Klunter, Ozcan, Jojic, Horn, Cordoba, Osaka, Guirassy

Here's a look at how tonight's hosts are lining up...

As the teams go through their warm-ups at the Rhein Energie Stadion - here's a glimpse from earlier today...

Right, let's take a look at how the build-up is unfolding on social media...

We've had this email from Arsenal fan Keith, in Chordeleg in Ecuador:

It's great to see Chambers back in the side, he and Mertesacker will control the defence and I can see ( and I've said many times ) a 5 nil win.

Loving your optimism, Keith!

And ahead of kick-off, here's what the captain has had to say about that day:

“It is definitely special and I am looking forward to it because I played my first league game here against Cologne and was substituted after 45 minutes because it was so heated and intense,” recalled Per.

 

“They have got special songs in Cologne and I am looking forward to listening to them before the game. The whole atmosphere is heated and passionate and it’s one of those clubs where you can feel they are different.

 

“Especially after our first game… even when we warmed up there was that feeling that the opposition have got special fans. I hope that can be reproduced on Thursday.”

Tonight, Per Mertesacker returns to the place he made his professional debut, 14 years ago in November 2003...

Now you've seen the line-up - we've got a question for you: Who's going to be our key player tonight?

 

Email your answers to studio@arsenal.co.uk - or tweet us using #COLvAFC on Twitter

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Chambers, Mertesacker, Holding, Debuchy, Elneny, Coquelin, Maitland-Niles, Wilshere, Welbeck, Giroud

Before we really get rolling ahead of kick-off, it's time to bring you tonight's team news...

Kick-off is at 6pm (UK time), so let's hope for a repeat of when we last met...

It's matchday! We're here to complete our travels in the Europa League group stage with a match against Bundesliga side Cologne in Germany