Bukayo Saka grabbed the one objective of the sport as Arsenal beat Bodo/Glimt 1-0 on Thursday night to take care of their perfect start within the Europa League group stage to date.
THE LOWDOWN: SCRAPPY GOAL, SCRAPPY WIN
Mikel Arteta made seven changes from the aspect which beat Liverpool 3-2 final weekend and that tactical tweak certainly led to a unique Arsenal on the pitch.
Saka, William Saliba and Ben White have been amongst these to have maintained their locations within the staff and it was an electrical begin, with possibilities at each ends inside the opening 5 minutes.
Some intelligent interaction and a stroke of luck helped Arsenal to interrupt the impasse on the tip of an excellent one-touch play between Albert Sambi Lokonga and Saka, whose shot got here again off Bodo/Glimt keeper Nikita Haykin and hit the England worldwide within the chest earlier than touchdown behind the online.
A rejuvenated dwelling aspect got here out after half-time and practically drew stage within the 52nd minute, solely to see American goalkeeper Matt Turner make a superb save on Amahl Pellegrino’s shot from shut vary.
Bodo/Glimt didn’t sit again in any respect and confirmed their attacking intent all by means of the second half, however Turner typically needed to come off his line to make clearances and interceptions. In the tip, Arsenal held on for a victory and a clean sheet which all however secured qualification to the subsequent spherical.
THE VERDICT: THREE POINTS IS ALL THAT MATTERS
Arsenal have been removed from their scintillating greatest however, given the quantity of modifications made, it was fairly comprehensible to see a extra subdued efficiency. However, the second-string aspect have been in a position to ship the all-important goal of three factors, whereas additionally noting that it was a tricky venue at which to win on a man-made pitch within the Arctic Circle.
Prior to the match, Bodo/Glimt have been on a 14-game profitable streak at dwelling in European competitions however noticed the run come to an finish by the hands of Mikel Arteta’s males.
With qualification kind of sealed in Europe, Arsenal will now flip their focus again to the Premier League, the place victory over Leeds on Sunday will see them retain high spot for at the least one other few days.