Arsenal narrowly avoided a shocking loss on Thursday night in Europa League group stage action, coming back in the game’s final minutes to beat a Vitoria de Guimaraes side that looked primed for a big upset.

Free-kick specialist Nicolas Pepe scored two brilliant free-kick goals in the 80th minute and then in extra time to bring Arsenal back from the brink of a loss that no one could have seen coming.

The plucky Portuguese side, which has yet to record a single point in group stage action, took an early lead at Emirates Stadium when former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards scored.

Arsenal brought the game back to a deadlock with a goal from 18-year-old forward Gabriel Martinelli, but Bruno Duarte struck only 5 minutes later to regain the lead for Vitoria Guimaraes.

The game remained 2-1 until Pepe came in at the 75th minute. He promptly scored a stunning free-kick from nearly 30 meters out to tie the game, and then knocked in a shorter free kick in extra time to give Arsenal the 3-2 win.

The Gunners now have a perfect 9 points and look to be a lock to advance to the knockout stage of Europa League play.

The post Arsenal Comes Back Late to Avoid Europa League Upset appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a long period of negotiations and counter-offers, Arsenal finally won the race to sign Lille winger Nicolas Pepe on Thursday.

Arsenal came out on top after battling for Pepe’s services with other European giants such as Paris St-Germain and Manchester United. Their $93 million bid and their contract offer won out, and Pepe was announced as a Gunner on Thursday.

The Ivory Coast international is considered to be one of the top young wingers in soccer. After coming up through the Poitiers youth academy in relative obscurity and then gradually making moves to bigger French clubs such as Angers and Orleans, Pepe burst onto the scene after joining Lille on an $11.1 million transfer in 2017.

The right-winger scored 35 goals in only 74 matches with the Great Danes, impressing with his agility, velocity, and strong left foot. He was unstoppable with Lille in its 2018-19 Ligue 1 campaign, which finished with a 2nd place slot in the league, scoring 22 goals and recording 11 assists.

Now, Pepe will have the opportunity to play Premier League soccer and establish himself as Unai Emery’s biggest offensive weapons. Pressure will be high on the 24-year-old, but he undoubtedly has all of the tools to succeed at one of England’s most legendary clubs.

The post Arsenal Wins Race to Sign Lille Winger Nicolas Pepe appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Arsenal narrowly avoided a shocking loss on Thursday night in Europa League group stage action, coming back in the game’s final minutes to beat a Vitoria de Guimaraes side that looked primed for a big upset.

Free-kick specialist Nicolas Pepe scored two brilliant free-kick goals in the 80th minute and then in extra time to bring Arsenal back from the brink of a loss that no one could have seen coming.

The plucky Portuguese side, which has yet to record a single point in group stage action, took an early lead at Emirates Stadium when former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards scored.

Arsenal brought the game back to a deadlock with a goal from 18-year-old forward Gabriel Martinelli, but Bruno Duarte struck only 5 minutes later to regain the lead for Vitoria Guimaraes.

The game remained 2-1 until Pepe came in at the 75th minute. He promptly scored a stunning free-kick from nearly 30 meters out to tie the game, and then knocked in a shorter free kick in extra time to give Arsenal the 3-2 win.

The Gunners now have a perfect 9 points and look to be a lock to advance to the knockout stage of Europa League play.

The post Arsenal Comes Back Late to Avoid Europa League Upset appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a long period of negotiations and counter-offers, Arsenal finally won the race to sign Lille winger Nicolas Pepe on Thursday.

Arsenal came out on top after battling for Pepe’s services with other European giants such as Paris St-Germain and Manchester United. Their $93 million bid and their contract offer won out, and Pepe was announced as a Gunner on Thursday.

The Ivory Coast international is considered to be one of the top young wingers in soccer. After coming up through the Poitiers youth academy in relative obscurity and then gradually making moves to bigger French clubs such as Angers and Orleans, Pepe burst onto the scene after joining Lille on an $11.1 million transfer in 2017.

The right-winger scored 35 goals in only 74 matches with the Great Danes, impressing with his agility, velocity, and strong left foot. He was unstoppable with Lille in its 2018-19 Ligue 1 campaign, which finished with a 2nd place slot in the league, scoring 22 goals and recording 11 assists.

Now, Pepe will have the opportunity to play Premier League soccer and establish himself as Unai Emery’s biggest offensive weapons. Pressure will be high on the 24-year-old, but he undoubtedly has all of the tools to succeed at one of England’s most legendary clubs.

The post Arsenal Wins Race to Sign Lille Winger Nicolas Pepe appeared first on SportzBonanza.