Cologne hiccup purely academic for Arsenal

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud (blue) and Cologne's Jorge Mere vie for a header during their Europa League match on Thursday. REUTERS

Gunners, Milan among clubs to seal Europa League last-32 spots

PARIS－Arsene Wenger's Arsenal secured top spot in Europa League Group H on Thursday despite slumping to a 1-0 defeat at Cologne, while AC Milan reached the last 32 by thrashing Austria Vienna.

Frenchman Wenger made 11 changes to the team that beat Tottenham Hotspur in last weekend's north London derby, with starts handed to Olivier Giroud, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck.

But the Gunners succumbed to a 62nd-minute penalty from Sehrou Guirassy after the French striker tumbled to ground inside the area under a challenge from Mathieu Debuchy.

Cologne, winless through 12 Bundesliga matches this season, climbed to second with one match to play, as a 0-0 draw between BATE Borisov and Red Star Belgrade in Belarus confirmed Arsenal's status as group winner.

"We've lost a game in which Cologne had one shot on goal other than the penalty," said Wenger.

"We were always missing that little something to get the goal. Cologne defended with spirit and for them it's turned out to be the perfect night."

Seven-time European champion Milan secured top spot in Group D with a 5-1 win over Austria Vienna.

Christoph Monschein put the visitor ahead in Italy, but Vincenzo Montella's team roared back with Andre Silva and Patrick Cutrone both netting twice along with a goal from Ricardo Rodriguez.

Atalanta sealed its spot in the knockout phase as Bryan Cristante and Andreas Cornelius notched two goals apiece to thump a listless Everton 5-1 at Goodison Park.

Toffees trounced

Robin Gosens added another with a terrific dipping volley, with Sandro Ramirez scoring his first Everton goal as the Toffees crashed to a fourth defeat in five group outings.

"There was nothing riding on the game, but it's our pride. It's not nice to lose games. It's very disappointing and upsetting," Toffees captain Wayne Rooney told BT Sport.

Nabil Fekir notched his 13th goal of the season for Lyon in a 4-0 rout of Cypriots Apollon Limassol as the French side joined Atalanta in advancing from Group E.

Mario Balotelli scored twice as Nice moved into the last 32 following a 3-1 victory over Zulte Waregem of Belgium, with Lazio dropping its first points in Group K after a 1-1 draw at home to Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem.

Marseille snatched a 93rd-minute equalizer courtesy of an own goal from Wilfried Moke in a 1-1 draw at Konyaspor to stay ahead of its Turkish opponent in the race for second behind Salzburg, a 3-0 winner over Vitoria Guimaraes, in Group I.

"Miracles don't happen by chance," said Marseille coach Rudi Garcia, whose side saw Jordan Amavi dismissed 10 minutes from time.

"Like in the last match, the team believed in itself until the end despite being a man down."

Villarreal progressed to the knockout stages as Democratic Republic of Congo striker Cedric Bakambu netted a brace to seal a 3-2 victory over Astana in Kazakhstan.

Swedish minnow Ostersund－coached by Englishman Graham Potter－extended its surprise run in Europe into the New Year with a 2-0 home win over Ukrainians Zorya Luhansk.

Veteran Spain striker Aritz Aduriz netted two penalties in Athletic Bilbao's 3-2 win over Hertha Berlin to leave the Basque club with its fate in its own hands heading into the final round of matches.

Reuters