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Arsenal managed four victories in the group stage of four in the Europa League this season after defeating Molde 3-0 on Thursday night.
The visiting team started well on the artificial field, but wasted spikes undermined a good preparation game. Their patience finally paid off just after the break, when Nicolas Pepe, fresh off a controversial sending-off at Leeds United, sent the ball home to give Arsenal a vital lead. Reiss Nelson added a second minute later, turning home into an excellent low cross from Joe Willock. Folarin Balogun closed out the victory in style at the end, scoring his first European goal for the club in the process.
The victory firmly places Arsenal in control of Group B, confirming their place in the knockout stages of the competition.
Positive
The visiting side looked very threatening from wide areas, with Nelson and Pepe causing trouble driving forward. However, the new lineup, which involves a rear quarter instead of a five, could be a plan for moving forward. The Gunners struck a good balance overall, and with a slightly better finish, the win could have been closed even earlier. If they continue to enter dangerous areas with such regularity, targets shouldn’t be much of a problem down the road.
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Negative
When they managed to put themselves in dangerous looking positions, all too often this was wasted by a poor end product. The likes of Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette could not capitalize on the good play accumulated in the first half. The club’s recent goal drought probably isn’t helping matters, so Mikel Arteta will be delighted that they finished in style in the second half. Furthermore, Molde managed to create all kinds of problems for the visitors every time they managed to whip in a half decent center.
Manager rating out of 10
8 – Arsenal had not scored a goal in open play for 500 minutes before this clash, and it showed in the first half. Arteta did his best to try to rectify this by playing four at the back, with Lacazette, Nelson and Pepe all in attack. His side continued to look sharp offensively, and he finally got his payoff at the hour mark. The coach hopes his team has turned a corner, as part of his attacking game was magnificent.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players submitted after 70 minutes are not rated)
GK Runar Runarsson, 7 – The young stopper looked solid when called into action, including a good reaction stop in the first half.
DF Cedric Soares, 6 – Defensively secured, but in attack he failed to make the same impact as Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the opposite flank.
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DF Shkodran Mustafi, 7 – He performed very well in what is his third consecutive Europa League start. Much improved lately.
DF David Luiz, 7 – He read the game remarkably well and never stopped trying to drag his side forward in possession. The livewire defender was equally effective from the air.
DF Ainsley Maitland-Niles, 7 – He looked very dangerous along with Nelson down the left. His forward runs and clever bonding game opened the bottom line of the Molde on a handful of occasions.
MF Granit Xhaka, 7 – Kept it single in the middle of the park. His defensive contribution was most impressive, as he made several excellent blocks.
MF Joe Willock, 8 – Confident in possession, despite playing a deeper role than perhaps the young Englishman is used to. His beautifully weighted assist for Nelson’s goal completed an excellent night of work.
Nicolas Pepe scored Arsenal’s first goal en route to a comfortable victory in Molde. David Price / Arsenal FC via Getty Images
FW Reiss Nelson, 8 – Arsenal’s best player in the first half. The former Hoffenheim loan player scored his team’s second goal of the night after a clever timed run into the box.
FW Nicolas Pepe, 9 – The Ivory Coast international looked like a man on a mission tonight after his high-profile ejection last weekend. His straight run and painstaking follow-up finally paid off in the second half, when he expertly shot Arsenal’s first goal.
FW Alexandre Lacazette, 7 – Played deeper No. 10 position, seemingly freeing the 29-year-old, who seemed to enjoy the extra space he was awarded.
FW Eddie Nketiah, 6 – He looked strong and was constantly doing defensive stretch runs behind. Unfortunately for the England Under-21 international, he was seldom picked and missed most of the opportunities that eventually came his way.
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Substitutes
DF Rob Holding, 7 – Replaced Luiz for the second period after the Brazilian was injured. He was hardly wrong while on the field.
MF Dani Ceballos, 6 – Got well into midfield after replacing Xhaka at the hour mark.
DF Kieran Tierney, 6 – Added good energy on the left side.
MF Emile Smith-Rowe N / R – Provided the assist for Balogun’s late goal.
FW Folarin Balogun, N / R – Scored on practically his first touch of the game, following an excellent spinning spin.
Source: espn.co.uk
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