Ambitious! Cologne play a 'Paul Scholes' corner to the man in the D but left-back Konstantin Rausch completely duffs the volley and he almost leads to an Arsenal counter.

Hector Bellerin is Arsenal's out ball more often than not but his early cross is easily cut out this time. The German side look a real threat on the break as goalscorer Jhon Cordoba picks up another free-kick off Rob Holding.

Image source, Reuters

The lesser-spotted Jack Wilshere is picked out by the cameras on the Arsenal bench. He last played for the Gunners in August 2016. Will we see him later?

Chance as Alex Iwobi plays in Theo Walcott, onside this time, but he can't find a finish and scuffs wide under pressure from Konstantin Rausch.

Image source, AFP

Hector Bellerin has a target to aim for and puts in a very good cross which Olivier Giroud heads down, hard. Timo Horn makes the save with ease though.

Theo Walcott, without a goal since early April, is caught offside twice in a few minutes and a howl of frustration can be heard from the home fans. Cologne are well set-up to soak up pressure and then hit on the break.

Per Mertesacker doesn't get much air time for Arsenal these days and he looks rusty as another direct ball over the top finds Simon Zoller in behind him. Get the ball out of your feet and strike - but he dallies and the Gunners get back to make a tackle.

Image source, AFP

That's Cologne's first goal in European football for 9130 days

Image source, Reuters

I didn't see or hear any mention of crowd disturbances in the celebrations after that early goal, I'm pleased to say. Cologne break well again with Leonardo Bittencourt firing high and over the top. Extreme strike.

Not a good night for the Premier League so far. David Ospina's clearance was not good enough, but the finish was really top drawer.

Alexis Sanchez almost catches the Cologne defence out as he harries goalkeeper Timo Horn but the visitors play the ball out very smartly from the back under pressure.

Captain Matthias Lehmann's free-kick is very poor though and drills into the wall. At the other end Mohamed Elneny is played through but he can't get there ahead of goalkeeper Timo Horn.

Rob Holding twice gives away cheap fouls in a dangerous area as Cologne make a bright start.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is playing at left wing-back for Arsenal it seems in these early stages.

Arsenal kick-off and their possession is loudly jeered and whistled by the Cologne support.

Image source, Getty Images

All eyes and ears on the stands maybe - but on the pitch we are up and running.

Richard Conway
BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent at The Emirates

The Cologne fans are in full voice now. Before kick-off I saw a group of 100 fans come into the stadium, as they fought with the stewards. Ugly scenes, punches, kicks, people diving over stewards. Police were on the scene in a few minutes but not before another group of fans repeated the act. Now there are police dogs and a line of riot police.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal fans have had to raise the volume, and they do! Loud cheers of 'Arsenal! Arsenal!' greet the sides.

Here come the teams at the Emirates. Time to get this game on.

John Southall
BBC Radio Five Live football reporter

There's been trouble outside the stadium, scuffles inside the stadium. The kick-off was delayed because of the sheer volume of Cologne fans without a ticket. Riot police are segregating Cologne fans.The question has to be how so many of their fans have managed to get into Arsenal areas? There has to be an investigation.