Arsenal opens Europa League with win at Frankfurt

Last year's Europa League finalist Arsenal started this year's campaign on a winning note with a 3-0 away victory over 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

While Arsenal star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang added a late goal, it was academy products Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka who stood out by scoring one each before that.

Sevilla, the most successful team in Europe's second-tier competition, also opened with a 3-0 victory at Qarabag while Kevin Bua struck twice to lead Basel to a 5-0 win over Krasnodar in Group C.

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, left, scores his side's third goal during the Europa League Group F soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Arsenal in the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Probst)

In late games, 2017 champion Manchester United returns to the competition with a home game against Astana and newcomer Wolverhampton Wanderers was hosting Braga.

Here's a look at Thursday's early games.

ARSENAL'S YOUNG GUNS

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Europa League Group F soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Arsenal in the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Probst)

Arsenal manager Unai Emery started a trio of academy graduates, with Emile Smith Rowe, Saka and Willock forming a youthful attack together with Aubameyang. It was the 20-year old Willock who opened the scoring in the 38th with a deflected right-foot shot from inside the area, which bounced off the crossbar and into the net.

Frankfurt chased an equalizer before midfielder Dominik Kohr was ejected 11 minutes from time after picking his second yellow card for a tackle on Saka.

The 18-year-old Saka — who like Smith Rowe was making his first start of the season — doubled the lead with a precise left-footer from outside the area in the 85th before setting up Aubameyang to finish it off couple minutes later.

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, left, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Europa League Group F soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Arsenal in the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Probst)

While Arsenal looked sharp up front, its defense look shaky throughout the game and Frankfurt missed a number of good chances to score — in part thanks to a couple of good saves from backup goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka also hit the bar from a free kick.

Standard Liege started with a 2-0 win over Vitoria in the other Group F game.

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League Group F soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Arsenal in the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Probst)

SEVILLA SHINES

Javier Hernandez broke the deadlock in Baku in the 62nd minute with a curling free kick for Sevilla, the Europa League winners in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Forward Munir El Haddadi and Oliver Torres added one apiece.

Lazio's Bastos salutes young fans after exiting the pitch during the Europa League, group E, soccer match between CFR Cluj and Lazio at the Constantin Radulescu stadium in Cluj, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (AP PhotoPaul Ursachi)

In the highest-scoring game of the night, Luxembourg's Dudelange upset host APOEL Nicosia 4-3 in Group A.

OTHER GROUPS

In Group E, Romanian champion Cluj came from a goal down to beat Lazio 2-1. Ciprian Deac equalized against the run of play from the spot after defender Bastos gave Italy's cup winner the lead, before Billel Omrani scored the winner.

CFR's Cestor Mike jumps for a header with Lazio's Felipe Caicedo during the Europa League, group E, soccer match between CFR Cluj and Lazio at the Constantin Radulescu stadium in Cluj, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (AP PhotoPaul Ursachi)

Celtic rescued a 1-1 draw at Rennes after Ryan Christie equalized from the spot in the 59th minute. M'Baye Niang had given Rennes the lead, also from the spot.

In Group B, Danish champion Copenhagen earned a 1-0 win over Lugano, while Dynamo Kyiv beat Malmo at home by the same score.

PSV Eindhoven edged past Sporting Lisbon 3-2 in Group D while newcomer LASK Linz won 1-0 against Rosenborg.

Lazio's Bastos, second from left celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the Europa League, group E, soccer match between CFR Cluj and Lazio at the Constantin Radulescu stadium in Cluj, Romania, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (AP PhotoPaul Ursachi)

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Copenhagen's Pieros Sotiriou, left, and Lugano's Eloge Yao, center, battle for the ball during the Europa League group B soccer match between FC Copenhagen and FC Lugano in Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday Sept. 19, 2019. (Liselotte SabroeRitzau Scanpix via AP)

Copenhagen's Rasmus Falk, center, and Lugano's Fabio Daprela, right, battle for the ball during the Europa League group B soccer match between FC Copenhagen and FC Lugano in Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday Sept. 19, 2019. (Liselotte SabroeRitzau Scanpix via AP)

PSV's Ritsu Doan stitches to block a pass during the Europa League Group D soccer match between PSV and Sporting CP at the Philips stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (AP PhotoPeter Dejong)

Sporting Pedro Mendes celebrates scoring his side's second goal as PSV's Timo Baumgartl, rear, fails to block the shot during the Europa League Group D soccer match between PSV and Sporting CP at the Philips stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. (AP PhotoPeter Dejong)