Arsenal inched closer to qualifying for the knockout stages of the Europa League with a slender 1-0 win at Bodø/Glimt on an artificial surface in Norway. Mikel Arteta named a strong side, with the likes of Saka and Ødegaard making their first European starts of the campaign.
Despite our 3-0 win at the Emirates last week, the Norwegians still caused us a few problems particularly in the second half, so perhaps this was the reasoning behind Arteta’s strong selection. Bodø began well, getting in behind us on a couple of occasions although Holding and Saliba kept them at arm’s length. But we struggled to find any sort of rhythm for the opening 20 minutes and it was Lokonga who produced our first attempt on goal firing wide after 15 minutes. On 24 minutes, we found a breakthrough. Some lovely combination play from Lokonga and Saka put the latter in on goal. He attempted a cross which was intercepted by a Bodo defender, but the ball freakishly rebounded back off Saka’s face and into the net with the ‘keeper wrongfooted. A scrappy goal, but they all count.
Bodø then had a great chance to get back on level terms as Pellegrino found himself one on one with Turner straight from a goal kick. He attempted to curl the ball past the USA international, but he got the finish all wrong and skewed his effort well wide. A let off for Arsenal.
The second half was a very low-key affair. Pellegrino had another decent chance to score but Turner got down well to make a good save. Arsenal didn’t create an awful lot; you got the sense that the artificial surface made a lot of the players uneasy as our usual slick passing didn’t always come off. Also, with these Astro pitches, there is always the danger of injury. Just one sharp turn has the potential to leave your foot lodged in the grass and cause ligament damage and it was clear to see the players had that in the back of their minds. Thankfully we came out of the game unscathed. I don’t think that it’s a coincidence that the only player who looked totally at ease with the pitch was Martin Ødegaard who of course played on artificial surfaces regularly growing up and playing in Norway in the early part of his career.
No one played particularly badly but, in all honesty, in general it was a dull game. However, we won which means we now have nine points out of nine from the three games so far. That puts us two points clear of PSV Eindhoven at the top of group A. We are also now five clear of Bodø/Glimt so if my maths are correct we will guarantee at least a play off place with a win against the Dutch outfit next week. But, of course, we will want to top the group in order to avoid that two legged play off against one of the eight sides dropping out the Champions League. As it stands those sides would be Ajax, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, AC Milan, Shakhtar, Sevilla (obviously) and Juventus. That’s quite a list. One you would rather avoid for sure.
Also, once again I would like to mention the heroic efforts of my 2nd team, Omonoia Nicosia who were mere moments away from securing an astonishing point and clean sheet at Old Trafford last night before a goal right at the end from the second most punchable man in football, Scott McTominay (behind Bruno Fernandes but that goes without saying) broke Cypriot hearts. Our goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, had an extraordinary game making twelve saves, some of which the likes of Manuel Neuer would have been proud of but he was sadly undone just moments from the end. Omonoia have now been eliminated from the competition although they can still gain a third-place finish and entry into the conference league play offs, so fingers crossed.
But now for Arsenal, the attention turns to a tricky away game at Leeds on Sunday at 2pm. Unfortunately, the game will not be televised in the UK so for the first time this season, I will have to trawl the dark depths of the internet looking for a dodgy stream that looks like its being filmed on a potato. Such fun. But hopefully we can maintain our place at the summit of the league.
COYG!
Nice review, 21CG. Not an easy game to pick highlights from. You make a good point re the pitch potentially being a reason for the relatively somnolent performance.
If we take 3 points out of PSV over the next 2 games it will still leave them needing to get a result away at Bodø in order to finish ahead of us. No tall order given they only managed a draw against them in Eindhoven.
An Excellent and never dull review of a thoroughly forgettable and as you said, dull match 21cg. We did well to get the result we did and move on down the road where real pitches await us.
cheers for the report, 21cg. now, if you’d been wearing your magic arsenal america bobble hat, you might have seen the same game, but warmish. here’s to three points and no injuries, two necessaries in this busy period!
Very fair and accurate report of tye game 21CG. Before the game this is exactly what I envisaged and hoped for . Imagine if we’d won 7-0 ( unlikely against a team unbeaten in 14 European games at home and playing on a very different type of surface ) . We’d all be saying why go so hard in a game we just needed to win. And win we did.
Bodø are a very decent side but I thought we held them pretty comfortably and didn’t need to engage more than second gear .
I thought it was a job well done and particularly Sambi and Turner did notably well.
I’ve been in touch with the Editor of the Gooner this afternoon . He had a wonderful time and was hosted in lots of Norwegian type activities . In fact he seemed sad to come. home ! He couldn’t speak highly enough of the Bodø fans and everyone he met there .
Job well done lads
Hey Scruz, when Nic comes back next week he’ll give the hat pride of place! Hopefully to be worn vs PSV. Pics to follow….
Thanks 21CG. I must admit I completely missed the game as I’ve been sick in bed for a few days with a bug I picked up, undoubtedly from a dipper, last weekend.
Looks like I didn’t miss much but it was a good result to get way out there on an artificial pitch. On to Leeds.
Matt. Hah. Alcoholic poisoning more likely. Nice report 21CG. One nil toThe Arsenal. That’ll do me.
he’d’ve gotten that from me, then, c100.
Good stuff 21CG. Job done. Thank Dennis their finishing was poor! Shame about Omonia- a great performance!
After about 20 seconds of black screen the Fleedwoods and Macs circa 1978 appear magically on screen so worth the wait.
When we play Wolves maybe it would be a good idea to t st his wrist
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63264339
You got as much of a silk purse out of a pig’s ear of a game as you could, 21CG. Some more clinical finishing on Bodø’s part could have changed the outcome, but, on the whole, we contained them well. They only managed one shot on target all game (but then so did we).
A good experience of the prosaic practicalities of away legs in European football for a young team.
That is a formidable list of potential CL dropouts. Any one of them would be a strong favourite to make the final.
Well done, 21CG, an electrifying report on a scintillating game.
Hyperbole ? Never in a gazillion years !
We are top of all the leagues ! 👍🏻👍🏻
>>>>>>>