Bellerin insists Arsenal's 3-1 victory over Cologne amid fan trouble will provide Londoners with much-needed boost for Sunday's Chelsea clash
Arsenal's Hector Bellerin celebrates scoring his team's third goal against Cologne during an Europa League match at Emirates Stadium in London on Thursday. Arsenal won 3-1. Pic/Getty Images
Arsenal's Hector Bellerin celebrates scoring his team's third goal against Cologne during an Europa League match at Emirates Stadium in London on Thursday. Arsenal won 3-1. Pic/Getty Images
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Hector Bellerin insisted it had to be business as usual for Arsenal after a disruptive pre-match build-up to their Europa League clash with Cologne.
The visiting fans were celebrating when their team took an early lead through Jhon Cordoba's 40-yard strike and maintained it until half-time, but substitute Sead Kolasinac's volley, Alexis Sanchez's superb curler and Bellerin's 82nd-minute goal saw Arsenal to a 3-1 win.
Bellerin told BT Sport 2: "We were ready to play at 8pm but we had to play an hour late. You have to be ready, these things happen — not often, but you have to be ready.
Arsenal's poor start
"After not a very good start, the boss changed things and it worked, it gave us a boost in the second half and we're happy to go on and get the victory."
Cologne fans light flares inside the stadium on Thursday. Pic/AFP
Arsenal missed out on Champions League but Bellerin hinted they will hope to emulate Manchester United last season by winning the Europa League to secure a return to the top table.
"It's a new competition for us and we had to set the tone," he said. "We think we're one of the best teams in the competition and we have to show that on the pitch."
The win will provide an important lift ahead of a difficult trip to Chelsea on Sunday.
And Bellerin continued: "We already had confidence from (Saturday's win over Bournemouth) and this win, and coming back from losing, gives us a boost.
"We'll train hard these two days coming and we'll be ready for Sunday."
Gunners, Cologne charged
European football chiefs charged Arsenal and Cologne yesterday after vast numbers of away fans gained access to the home sections of Emirates Stadium, sparking chaotic scenes that marred the Europa League clash.
Visiting fans were issued with 3,000 tickets but around 20,000 fans of the German club are believed to have made the journey to London. The start of the match was delayed by an hour as ticketless Cologne fans tried to gain entry to the ground causing a security risk. Both clubs now face disciplinary proceedings from governing body UEFA.
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