LONDON — Brazilian teenager Marquinhos scored on his Arsenal debut as the Gunners started their UEFA Europa League campaign with a 2-1 win over FC Zurich in Switzerland, while Jose Mourinho’s Roma slumped to a surprise defeat.
Nineteen-year-old Marquinhos, signed from Sao Paulo in June, finished first time from a low Eddie Nketiah cross in the 16th minute to put Arsenal ahead in the city of St Gallen.
Zurich, who was Swiss champions last season for the first time since 2009, equalised just before halftime when Mirlind Kryeziu converted a penalty after a foul in the box by Nketiah, AFP reported.
However, Nketiah made up for that by scoring the winning goal just after the hour mark, heading in a hanging cross from Marquinhos.
It is the perfect start in group A for Arsenal, after coach Mikel Arteta made eight changes to his line-up following the 3-1 weekend defeat at Manchester United in the Premier League.
Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale were among the players rested while Marquinhos made his first appearance, as did American goalkeeper Matt Turner, signed in the close season from New England Revolution.
Fabio Vieira also made a first start since joining from Porto.
Group rivals PSV Eindhoven and Bodo/Glimt drew 1-1 in the Netherlands, with Cody Gakpo equalising for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side after Albert Gronbaek had given the Norwegian champions the lead.
Arsenal welcomes PSV to the Emirates Stadium next Thursday.
Roma are looking to claim a second successive European trophy after winning the inaugural Europa Conference League last season, but they went down to a surprise 2-1 loss away to Luodogorets Razgrad in Bulgaria in group C.
Uzbek forward Eldor Shomurodov looked to have secured a draw for Roma when he equalised with four minutes to go, cancelling out Brazilian midfielder Cauly’s opener.
But the Bulgarian champions grabbed all three points in the 88th minute through Nonato, another member of their sizeable Brazilian contingent.
Meanwhile, Fenerbahce beat Dynamo Kyiv 2-1 in Istanbul in group B with Michy Batshuayi coming off the bench to score an injury-time winner on his debut following his recent move from Chelsea.
The result is a measure of revenge for the Turkish side, who lost to the Ukrainians in the Champions League qualifying rounds.
Dynamo was then beaten by Benfica in the Champions League playoffs, and so the clubs were reunited in the same Europa League group.
Manchester United was among the clubs in action later as they hosted Real Sociedad at Old Trafford in group E.
Manchester United kicked off their Europa League campaign poorly with a 1-0 home defeat by Real Sociedad.
A minute’s silence was observed in Zurich and Manchester following the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, which was marred by booing from the crowd in Switzerland.
At Old Trafford, United pinned Real Sociedad in their own half, with Christian Eriksen finding spaces for Anthony Elanga and Ronaldo but the Spanish side held on thanks to their centre backs.
Ronado netted in the first half, only to see the offside flag be raised.
With Eriksen replaced by Bruno Fernandes for the second half, United lacked creativity and Real Sociedad started to grow more confident.
They were rewarded in the 59th minute when Brais Mendez converted a penalty following a handball by Lisandro Martinez.
The result left United third in Group E, behind Real Sociedad and early leaders Sheriff Tiraspol, who beat Omonia Nicosia 3-0.
Lazio top Group F after Matias Vacino’s double helped them beat Feyenoord 4-2 in Rome.
