Arsenal 3-2 Vitoria: Hero Pepe's two late free-kicks inspire comeback win

Substitute Nicolas Pepe rescued Arsenal with two sublime free-kicks in the last 10 minutes of their Europa League group game against Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium.

Match Report

Two stunning late free-kicks from Nicolas Pepe saw Arsenal come from behind to beat Vitoria 3-2 after former Tottenham wonderkid Marcus Edwards had terrorised the Gunners at the Emirates.

Edwards opened the scoring with a fine turn and finish inside the penalty area on eight minutes but the home side equalised through teenager Gabriel Martinelli on 32 minutes.

Vitoria deservedly restored their lead just six minutes later and looked to have done enough to take all three points before Pepe bent home a free-kick on 80 minutes and added a second in injury time to stun Vitoria.

Group Standings

Match Events

8' GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Vitoria Guimaraes (Edwards)

GOAL! Vitoria lead 1-0, it's the former Spurs man Edwards! It's a brilliant goal, Garcia gets away from Tierney down the right and finds Edwards in the penalty area. He collects the ball cleanly, turns away from Tierney and finishes right-footed through Martinez' legs.

32' GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Vitoria Guimaraes (Martinelli)

GOAL! Arsenal are level, Martinelli scores again! It's a simple goal, Tierney loops in a lovely cross from the left and Martinelli meets it in a central position ten yards out, planting a header inside the left post.

36' GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Vitoria Guimaraes (Duarte)

GOAL! Vitoria lead again, Duarte finishes superbly! Davidson robs Maitland-Niles but looks to have taken the wrong option as he shoots left-footed from the edge of the area. He hits the far post and it rebounds to Duarte, who does really well to power it past Martinez first time.

54' Great chance for Smith Rowe!

Great chance for Smith Rowe! Tierney pulls the ball back for Martinelli but a defender gets a boot in. It breaks for Smith Rowe who hits it first time, but slices it across goal and wide to the right.

58' Yellow Card! Garcia booked

Lacazette goes down holding his face after a coming-together with Garcia, who gave him a little forehead bump in the aftermath. Naughty from Lacazette, who looked as if he'd been punched to the ground, but Garcia gets booked.

80' GOAL! Arsenal 2-2 Vitoria Guimaraes (Pepe)

GOAL! Arsenal are level again, Pepe delivers! He steps up to take the free-kick over on the right and bends it left-footed inside the far bottom corner, with the goalkeeper clearly not expecting it.

83' So close from Martinelli!

Mustafi plays a perfect through ball for Bellerin racing in behind down the right, he cuts the ball back for Martinelli who meets it powerfully, but it's straight at the keeper from close range.

85' Holding's header goes close!

Pepe opts to cross this time and it's a wonderful floated ball which Holding gets his head to, but his header back across goal is held well by Silva. An Arsenal shirt was lurking to knock in the rebound if he hadn't gathered it cleanly.

92+2' GOAL! Arsenal 3-2 Vitoria Guimaraes (Pepe)

GOAL! PEPE DOES IT AGAIN! Arsenal turn it around in stoppage time. Pepe steps up for the second time, this time just outside the area and he bends it right into the top-left corner. Perfection.

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