Match ends, 1. FC Köln 1, Arsenal 0.
Manager Arsene Wenger said Arsenal "had got the job done" by advancing to the Europa League knockout stage as Group H winners despite losing at Cologne.
A penalty by Sehrou Guirassy, after Mathieu Debuchy was harshly adjudged to have fouled the French striker, earned Cologne only their second win in 17 Bundesliga and Europa League games this season.
The closest the Gunners came to scoring was when Francis Coquelin hit the post when the game was goalless in the first half.
With one match remaining, Arsenal have 10 points from five games, four ahead of Cologne and Red Star Belgrade, who were held to a goalless draw by Bate Borisov.
"You feel you have done the job to finish top of the group," said Wenger. "We now play our final game at home against Bate Borisov without much at stake, other than the fact that we want to win the game. It's what we wanted."
A second successive Europa League win for Cologne means they could qualify for the knockout stage after losing their first three matches.
More pain in Germany for the Gunners
Of the five defeats Wenger's side have suffered this season, this was the least damaging after qualifying for the last-32 stage with two games to spare.
Yet a much-changed Gunners line-up failed to build on the afterglow of victory over neighbours Tottenham on Saturday as they were beaten again in Germany.
They were hammered 5-1 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League in February 2017 and November 2015, as well as losing 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund in September 2014.
Wenger changed the entire starting XI from the north London derby, forward Danny Welbeck returning from a groin injury after missing the past seven games.
Arsenal's side, which featured Olivier Giroud and Jack Wilshere, had only 16 Premier League starts between them this season, and it was a lacklustre performance against the Bundesliga's bottom club.
Coquelin twice went close to scoring his first goal for four years, the French midfielder fizzing a shot narrowly wide from 20 yards before another effort bounced off the foot of the Cologne post.
Welbeck lasted 45 minutes before he was replaced at the start of the second half by Alex Iwobi.
"Medically, the risk was too great to play him for longer than that," added Wenger. "He was ready to stay on and frustrated to come off, but he's in good shape.
"Welbeck, Giroud and Wilshere all looked dangerous, but we were lacking the accuracy and finishing."
Teenager Nelson turns on the style
One of the few positives for Arsenal was another eye-catching display by Reiss Nelson.
The 17-year-old has impressed in the Europa League and Carabao Cup this season, and again caught the eye after replacing Calum Chambers midway through the second half.
In one sublime move, Nelson danced his way around three defenders before forcing a save from Timo Horn, who also stopped a long distance effort by Wilshere in the closing stages.
Man of the match - Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
Paying the penalty - the stats
- Arsenal have conceded three penalties in their past five away games in all competitions (Watford, Manchester City and Cologne).
- This was the 11th away game that Arsenal have lost in all competitions in 2017 - their most in a calendar year since 2010 (also 11).
- Arsene Wenger's side failed to score in a European away game for the first time since September 2014 (0-2 v Borussia Dortmund), ending a run of scoring in 13 consecutive games.
- Indeed, Arsenal have failed to net in consecutive games in European competition for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign (0-2 defeats v Napoli and Bayern Munich in the Champions League).
What's next?
Arsenal have three Premier League games - starting with Burnley away on Sunday (14:00 GMT) - to negotiate before they round off their Group H campaign at home to Bate Borisov on 7 December (20:05 GMT).
Line-ups
Köln
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Horn
- 4Sörensen
- 5MarohSubstituted forRauschat 38'minutes
- 22Meré
- 24KlünterBooked at 56mins
- 20Özcan
- 8Jojic
- 23Horn
- 15CórdobaSubstituted forOlkowskiat 56'minutes
- 13OsakoSubstituted forLehmannat 73'minutes
- 19GuirassyBooked at 88mins
Substitutes
- 16Olkowski
- 18Kessler
- 31Risa
- 33Lehmann
- 34Rausch
- 38Nartey
- 40Bisseck
Arsenal
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 13Ospina
- 2DebuchyBooked at 49minsSubstituted forNketiahat 84'minutes
- 4Mertesacker
- 16Holding
- 21ChambersSubstituted forNelsonat 67'minutes
- 34Coquelin
- 35Elneny
- 30Maitland-Niles
- 10Wilshere
- 23WelbeckSubstituted forIwobiat 45'minutes
- 12Giroud
Substitutes
- 17Iwobi
- 32Akpom
- 54Macey
- 61Nelson
- 62Nketiah
- 65Sheaf
- 69Willock
- Referee:
- Vladislav Bezborodov
- Attendance:
- 45,300
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home31%
- Away69%
- Shots
- Home4
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away7
- Corners
- Home1
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, 1. FC Köln 1, Arsenal 0.
Post update
Foul by Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
Post update
Pawel Olkowski (1. FC Köln) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Timo Horn.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Eddie Nketiah.
Post update
Foul by Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
Post update
Frederik Sörensen (1. FC Köln) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Jack Wilshere.
Booking
Sehrou Guirassy (1. FC Köln) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Sehrou Guirassy (1. FC Köln).
Post update
Offside, 1. FC Köln. Konstantin Rausch tries a through ball, but Sehrou Guirassy is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah replaces Mathieu Debuchy.
Post update
Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Milos Jojic (1. FC Köln).
Post update
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Salih Özcan (1. FC Köln).
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Jannes Horn (1. FC Köln) because of an injury.
Comments
Join the conversation
So says a Spurs fan on an Arsenal HYS
Let's just see where we all stand at the end of the season, when the medals are being handed out...
As the spuds have a habit of not winning anything. at. all.
Posted by
N17
on
1 minute ago
Oh dear oh dear, Goons get beat by a perfume, worse that that this perfume is bottom of the Bundesliga, they didn't even play the kids, can't stop giggling
And we beat your Giants in Europe. It means that you are worse then Arsenal and Cologne.
Posted by
N17
Spuds played 3 times in Champions league history. This makes them Giants in Europe. Oh dear oh dear. Nobody can match with them.
Posted by
N17
Giants in Europe Spuds could not beat Arsenal like Cologne did. What kind of Giants they are ? Oh dear oh dear .
You would know all about Thursday nights!
When Alli took a dive the other week, as per, Ashley Young said to him come back when you win the prem, these arnt AFC supporters
Smell the failure
Spuds have worst record over 20 years in Europe compared to Gunners,won 5 times, failed to show 19+years Haha
You posted your s8!t perfume joke @87 and then @143.
Don't be so needy.
N17
You are lucky that now is champions league not European cup where real champions played. There was no chance for you to play with them.