Guimaraes, Portugal: Arsenal conceded a stoppage-time equaliser as they were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw at Portugal’s Vitoria Guimaraes in Europa League Group F yesterday.
The Premier League club looked to be on course for victory when defender Shkodran Mustafi headed home Nicolas Pepe’s 80th-minute free kick but Bruno Duarte struck from close range to end Arsenal’s perfect record in the group.
Arsenal’s fourth consecutive draw in all competitions will increase the pressure on manager Unai Emery following a difficult week in which Granit Xhaka was also stripped of the captaincy.
The English team still top the group standings on 10 points and will qualify for the last 32 of Europe’s second-tier club competition if Standard Liege lose to Eintracht Frankfurt today.
Emery made eight changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday, including handing the captain’s armband to defender Rob Holding.
The Switzerland captain Xhaka was stripped of the captaincy following an angry confrontation with home fans during the Gunners’ 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 27.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who will take over as club captain from Xhaka, and German midfielder Mesut Ozil also did not travel to Portugal.
Emery opted for a change in formation with a defensive back three of Holding, Sokratis and goalscorer Mustafi, with youngsters Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Kieran Tierney adding an attacking threat as wing-backs.