Mikel Arteta’s young Gunners are coming of age. After a 1-0 win away to Bodo/Glimt, Arsenal sit a distant first in their Europa League group. They are also top of the Premier League. This side is playing with real purpose and even on a night where things did not go all their own way, they showed enough maturity and composure to get a result. It feels like the English football ecosystem is waiting for the old Arsenal inconsistencies to creep in. But this victory was more evidence that it is class rather than form that we are seeing from Arteta’s team this season.
The pace was relentless from the word go, with both sides going close early. First, Bukayo Saka caught Nikita Kaikin off his line. His cross flashed across the face off an empty goal but nobody was on hand to turn it home. Then at the other end, Amahl Pellegrino raced in behind the Gunners defence to tee up Ola Solbakken, who could not get enough on the end of it.
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Arsenal settled after this frenetic opening and went on the attack. Martin Odegaard passed for Albert Sambi Lokonga to slash his shot wide. Sambi Lokonga turned provider then with a neat give and go to Saka, whose shot deflected back off himself and past Kaikin for the opener.
Saka ballooned another chance over at the far post, but Bodo/Glimit were still alive in the tie. Pellgrino, a constant thorn in Arsenal’s side, broke through again and looped a presentable opportunity wide. Ultimately the first half was one of quiet control from Arsenal while the home side had sporadic moments of magic.
Pellegrino offered a quick reminder of the threat he posed as the second half commenced. Latching onto a through ball he drew Matt Turner into a strong save. Solbakken was rushing alongside him and perhaps would have been a better option than the shot, but it was a fine attempt that lifted the crowd.
Bodo/Glimt warmed to their task and Solbakken made a good run in the right channel. Cutting inside, the Norway international fired a shot just over the bar. By now the noise inside Aspmyra Stadion was constant and the fans sounded buoyant. It wasn’t quite enough to suck the ball into the Arsenal net though. A chested pass to Runar Espejord saw him blast an incredibly presentable chance over from close range.
Sensing a momentum shift, Reiss Nelson and Bukayo Saka were substituted in favour of Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli. Mikel Arteta was turning to his trusted, ever-present lieutenants to stem the tide after an unconvincing start to the second half. The home side still had their moments though. Pellegrino fired an excellent through-ball to Hugo Vetlesen, who could not quite get it under control to shoot.
This won’t end up on any end of season highlight reels for Arsenal, even if they do go on to win major prizes. But it was a professional display against a spirited side. In the past you can envision a European away day like this posing a problem to a Gunners side that often undulated wildly in performance from week to week. But Arteta has got these team producing game after game. England and Europe, or at least the parts of it that are in UEFA’s secondary cup competition, beware.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
