Arsenal secured top spot in their Europa League group as a much-changed side coasted to victory against Vorskla Poltava, whose manager then hit out at the decision to move the game to Kiev.

The Group E fixture was moved 185 miles east of Poltava to the capital’s Olympic Stadium with parts of Ukraine under martial law as political tensions with Russia continue to rise.

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The call to relocate the game was made on Tuesday evening, with Vorskla particularly unhappy with Uefa’s decision and official confirmation that the match would take place at all not coming from the governing body until six hours before kick-off.

The inconvenience – as well as a technical issue with their plane and the team bus breaking down just outside the stadium – did little to knock Arsenal off their stride as the youngsters Emile Smith Rowe and Joe Willock scored either side of an Aaron Ramsey penalty to seal a 3-0 win in temperatures which dipped to minus 10.

Vorskla started the game brightly but were never likely to get back into it once Smith Rowe scored with only 11 minutes on the clock, with their coach, Vasyl Sachko, afterwards venting his frustration at the change of venue.

“I would like to say a lot about this,” he said. “A holiday was taken away from Poltava. This game was very important for our city. One of the most important games for 10 years.”

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Arsenal have now sewn up first place in the group with a game to spare and, with more than an eye on Sunday’s Premier League north London derby at home to Tottenham, Unai Emery made 10 changes.

Striker Eddie Nketiah was handed his first senior start as Zech Medley, Bukayo Saka and Charlie Gilmour all came off the bench for their debuts – with Arsenal finishing the game with six teenagers on the pitch.

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On Smith Rowe’s performance, Emery said: “He’s taken confidence and responsibility and steps with us. Today his performance is very good. One good example for other young players. They have a lot of chances to help us today with this performance and also because we think they can help us.

“They need confidence playing matches, not only in training but also to take minutes in games like today.

“We have responsibility with the young players to show us if they can improve and stay with us.”