Arsenal smash BATE for six to send warning to Europa League rivals

Well thank goodness for that. Arsenal provide some entertainment and sign off from European competition, for at least a few months, with a big win. BATE, we'll see you next year.

That brings an end to our live coverage for another evening but we'll be back with the return of the Premier League this weekend with some mouthwatering games in store.

On Sunday, we have the Merseyside derby as Liverpool host Everton, while Manchester United will attempt to end Manchester City's winning run and cut their lead at the top.

But until next time, goodbye.

Full time: Arsenal 6-0 BATE Borisov

Six goals for the Gunners faithful to celebrate as the north Londoners mark reaching the last 32 with a thumping win. Goals for Mathieu Debuchy, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Olivier Giroud and Mohamed Elneny, while Denis Polyyakov plundered in an own goal in the second half. Too easy really in one of the most one-sided games you'll see at this level.

Entering the dying embers of this one. BATE want to go home. Arsenal's fans want blood.

Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah on for Arsenal. Elneny and the goalless Welbeck off. Around 13 minutes left for Arsenal to match their record European win here.

GOAL! Arsenal 6-0 BATE Borisov (Mohamed Elneny)

Goal of the night for me. Elneny curls a beauty which arcs over Scherbitski and into the far corner. Where were these goals on Saturday, when the chances were being spurned against Manchester United? For another time, perhaps.

Bit brisk at The Emirates tonight. If anyone could tell me why my right hand is colder than my left [without making a seedy joke] that would be great.

Olivier Giroud celebrates getting in on the act from the penalty spot.

Change for Arsenal. Theo Walcott, scorer of the second goal, I think, is replaced by Reiss Nelson.

David Ospina called into action as Stasevich turns and shoots in the box, but it is well held by the Arsenal 'keeper. No rest-bite for BATE.

GOAL! Arsenal 5-0 BATE Borisov (Olivier Giroud)

At the second time of asking Olivier Giroud makes it five. Theo Walcott is fouled by Nemanja Milunovic and the referee points to the spot. Giroud scores but it is ordered to be retaken after an encroachment. But the Frenchman makes no mistake from the second attempt, finding the corner.

PENALTY TO ARSENAL

Danny Welbeck can't get in on the act, and is denied by Scherbitski from point blank range. Around 32 minutes left to get a few more. Arsenal's record European win is 7-0...

Jack Wilshere gets in on the act with Arsenal's third before the break.

GOAL! Arsenal 4-0 BATE Borisov (Denis Polyakov)

No defending BATE for this one. They get turned by a fine pass from Wilshere which picks out Walcott. His cross is destined to find Welbeck but before it does Polyakov smashes the ball into his own net for his own measure. He could have cleared the ball but thought better of it.

54,648 tickets sold at The Emirates. The lowest attendance since the ground opened.

We're going to have a second half apparently. Both teams back out and we're under way.

Half-time: Arsenal 3-0 BATE Borisov

At this level of football, this is far too easy for Arsenal. They lead 3-0 through Mathieu Debuchy, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere and to be honest they could come close to the seven that Liverpool scored last night. BATE look like a rabbit in the headlights and could be in for a pasting tonight. They're heading out of the Europa League.

GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 BATE Borisov (Jack Wilshere)

Goodness me this is one-sided. Arsenal go three up in the shadow of half time. Wilshere collects the ball in the box, wriggles through one challenge and hammers the ball into the top corner. Two-and-a-half years since his last goal and he is the toast of The Emirates again.

Jack Wilshere urged to shoot from 25 yards and he obliges, forcing Scherbiski to turn the ball over the bar. Chance after chance.....

And it should be three but for a despairing clearance off the line by Milunovic. Giroud pulls the ball back and though Welbeck runs beyond the ball Walcott arrives on cue but it is hooked from underneath the crossbar from the BATE centre-back. Pick a number, Arsenal, pick a number.

"BATE Borisov are shocking," says John Hartson on BT Sport. Granted they haven't been able to touch Arsenal in these opening 40 minutes, but a tad harsh from the Welshman there.

GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 BATE Borisov (Theo Walcott)

The Gunners virtually walk the ball in to double the lead and all-but secure the win. Danny Welbeck looks certain to score but he runs the ball too far, but Walcott is on hand to collect the loose ball and hammer into the corner.

Another view of that Mathieu Debuchy strike which has Arsenal ahead.

Arsenal are slicing BATE apart around the fringes of the penalty area but are yet to execute any of these opportunities. The Belarusian outfit are being completely overwhelmed.

In the other game in the group, Red Star Belgrade lead 1-0 over FC Cologne, meaning both they and BATE are heading out of the competition. Aleksandr Yermakovich's need a win at The Emirates and a draw in the other game. I am sorry to say neither result is going their way.

Mathieu Debuchy celebrates his rasping drive giving Arsenal the lead.

Jack Wilshere taken out off the ball by Milunovic on the edge of the box. The England man has a case of getting at least a free-kick, but I must admit the contact was very minimal. No damage done.

Walcott now curls low and wide from a 20-yard free-kick. Scherbitski dived low and was beaten all ends up.

Nearly two for the hosts and it takes a sharp save from Scherbitski [a name I fancy I'll be writing a lot of tonight] saves from a back-header from one of his own defenders. Now Giroud heads down to Walcott who is also denied by the BATE stopper, who is having some night already.

Very bold from BATE goalkeeper Denis Scherbitski, who comes out of his box to confront Danny Webeck who is played in behind by Jack Wilshere. The England man is a bit spooked it must be said and the 'keeper recovers well and clears the danger. But Arsenal looking good here.

Maksim Volodko into the referee's book after a rash tackle after he is disposed by Holding. Can't help but be reminded of Lord Voldemort, due to the make-up of his name. No signs of any magic from the BATE full-back just yet though.

Video of Mathieu Debuchy's goal here for those who may have missed it.

Not sure about this, but that goal should adds a few pounds to his price tag.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 BATE Borisov (Mathieu Debuchy)

Wonderful goal to illuminate this game. Chambers' deflected ball sees Walcott cause some chaos and after appeals for a penalty for handball it breaks to Debuchy who unleashes a fabulous strike beyond Denis Scherbitski. Just his second goal for the Gunners, and first for three years.

Walcott blasts the ball goalwards and Nemanja Milunovic wears one in the face. It is a cold night and that one hit him like a wet fish. Nasty blow and play is stopped.

BATE giving it a go early on and Ivanic takes a shot on the bounce from 20 yard and it flies into the stand. The stewards might be needed to reclaim a few balls tonight, such is the sparse crowd. There are more people here during a break-in.

AGAINST THE POST! Ok so the capitals might not be necessary but Arsenal go within inches of taking the lead inside three minutes. Walcott shifts the ball on to Elneny who with his wrong foot beats Scherbitski, but sees the ball hammer against the post.

Under way at The Emirates.

I'd say The Emirates is around half full. Meanwhile, BATE have brought around 250 to north London. All in all, it's rather grim.

Teams on their way out at The Emirates, as the Europa League anthem kicks into gear. Can't say it possesses the gravitas of it's Champions League brother, but it tries very hard.

Alexis Sanchez offers his support to his Arsenal teammates.

Full time from Cyprus and Everton have concluded their Europa League campaign with a 3-0 win at Apollon. Two goals in the first half for Ademola Lookman and a second half strike for Nikola Vlasic.

It might be a completely changed team, but there is plenty for new manager Sam Allardyce to work with there ahead of the Merseyside derby against Liverpool.

Arsenal's 12-match winning run at The Emirates in the Premier League was halted by 10-man Manchester United at the weekend, and though this is a different set of players it is important the club regain some momentum ahead of facing Southampton at the weekend.

'Sold Out' signs around the ground tonight. We'll see.

BREAKING NEWS

Cristiano Ronaldo named Ballon d'Or winner for a fifth time. Full story here.

Behind the scenes before kick-off at The Emirates.

I have just seen footage of Arsene Wenger making his way into the Emirates, shaking hands with Gunnersaurus as he makes his way to the dressing room. The Arsenal mascot has to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen, and there is a fair chance he could swap places with the President of the United States and no-one would take notice.

Arsene Wenger this week bemoaned the rule which allows Champions League sides to drop into the Europa League from the knock-out stage. Among those teams the Gunners could be drawn against includes Celtic, Napoli and Borussia Dortmund, so you can see his point, can't you?

Worth mentioning that tonight is not a complete dead rubber, with BATE still in contention to reach the last 32. They need to win at The Emirates tonight and hope that Cologne and Red Star - both of whom are above them in the group - draw. A real tall order it must be said.

So what is on the line for Arsenal tonight?

In truth, not very much. But there are a number of players fighting for both their place in the first team and their future. Jack Wilshere is probably top of that list, with his deal expiring in the summer.

Behind him is Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud, whose contracts both expire in the summer of 2019. There is probably one berth in the Arsenal team which is free at the moment - the role behind Alexandre Lacazette - and this trio are certainly fighting to make it theres.

Let's hope there are a few more fans at the Emirates tonight.

And here is the team from the Belarusian champions.

No news of the BATE team as yet, but I will bring it to you as soon as I get it.

No Per Mertesacker either, while surely means he will start against Southampton with Shkodran Mustafi nursing an injury.

One side note from that piece of team news, you would assume Wenger is pretty confident over the fitness of Alexandre Lacazette - who started against Manchester United despite being ruled out for the game - with Welbeck and Giroud both starting this evening. Just a thought.

As you would expect, 11 changes for Arsenal for their final Europa League group game. Mathieu Debuchy makes a rare start, as does Callum Chambers. Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud both start, as does Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott in what is an attack bathed in experience and expiring contracts.

The Arsenal team has dropped....

42,679 was the number of tickets bought for Tottenham's virtual dead rubber against Apoel at Wembley last night, but according to reports Arsenal have sold upwards of 50,000 for tonight's game, despite their fate in the group having already been sealed. We await the confirmed number, but that would be an impressive haul if it comes off. Some fans might be getting in their first [and only] game of the season.

Everton are also playing their final Europa League group game tonight and they lead Apollon Limassol 2-0 at half time in their game. Two goals for youngster Ademola Lookman in Cyprus, where Sam Allardyce is not in attendance due to a doctor's appointment.

Confirmation of the teams on the way from the Emirates but how do we expect Arsenal to line up tonight?

Arsene Wenger has already confirmed that Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott will start. Shkodran Mustafi is out with a minor injury while Santi Cazorla is a long-term doubt.

David Ospina has been all-but unchanged in this competition, while Rob Holding, Mohamed Elneny and Olivier Giroud are likely to feature too.

Arsenal look to put the seal on their group stage campaign in the Europa League as they welcome BATE Borisov to The Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are already safely through to the last 32 thanks to their 1-0 defeat to Cologne two weeks ago [don't ask] and Arsene Wenger can roll out the youngsters again tonight ahead of the draw on Monday.

It will be another chance for Jack Wilshere to prove he is worthy of a new contract - with less than a year to run on his existing deal - while Theo Walcott's expires a year later. Both start tonight.

All the team news and build-up as we say goodbye to the Europa League group stage on the way ahead of the 8:05pm kick-off in north London.