Crowd disorder marred Cologne's return to European competition after 25 years as the German team's fans caused havoc in london and forced the Europa league game against Arsenal to be delayed on Thursday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was surprised that the game was eventually played after a one-hour delay, with his team winning 3-1.
The presence of thousands of ticketless Cologne fans, who marched through the streets of the British capital, made it hard for ticketholders to enter the Emirates Stadium. "At some stage I thought they would not play the game, because I can't see the police taking any risk. We live in a society of 100 percent security and I thought they would never take a gamble to play this game when I saw the images around the stadium. But I must say our supporters as well dealt well with the situation as well and there was no aggravation."
Cologne sits winless on the bottom of the Bundesliga, but its fans - walled off by security guards in the stadium were celebrating after only nine minutes when Jhon Cordoba lobbed goalkeeper David Ospina from 40 yards out. It took Arsenal 40 minutes to reply, through substitute Sead Kolasinac. Alexis Sanchez hit the match-winner, and started the move for the last goal, a rebound effort finished by Hector Bellerin as Arsenal won a Group H.
MIlAN START FAST
Milan started quickly in subduing host Austria Vienna 5-1 as forward Andre Silva scored a hat trick.
After three years away, AC Milan returned to European competition as perhaps the favorite.
Elsewhere, Atalanta struck three times in the first half to beat struggling Everton 3-0 in Group E on a triumphant return to Europe. Also, Real Sociedad scored twice within a minute early in the first half on the way to a 4-0 victory over Rosenborg.
