Arsenal confirmed top spot of their Europa League group as Kieran Tierney’s first-half strike noticed them dispatch Zurich 1-0 on Thursday night time.
The defender opened the scoring after a tense opening and the hosts held their Swiss opponents at bay for the rest of the sport to win Group A and render PSV Eindhoven’s victory at Bodo/Glimt irrelevant.
It means Mikel Arteta’s aspect progress straight to the final 16 and can keep away from a knockout play-off towards a Champions League droput.
Arsenal had received 12 consecutive video games on the Emirates heading into Thursday night time, although have been barely cagey as they chased the victory that might win Group A.
A Zurich nook discovered its strategy to Jonathan Okita, who smashed over earlier than the offside flag was raised. However, that transient menace was extinguished as the Gunners took the lead by left again Tierney.
A considerably scrappy build-up noticed Fabio Vieira have two photographs blocked earlier than the ball discovered the Scotsman, whose arrowed effort flew into the underside nook.
Arsenal upset Zurich’s rhythm and a sloppy move from Cheick Oumar Conde allowed Mohamed Elneny to search out Eddie Nketiah, whose strike from 20 yards was crushed away by Yanick Brecher.
The house aspect’s aptitude started to come back out, with Gabriel Jesus flicking properly into Nketiah’s path earlier than Vieira arrived on the scene. The Portuguese midfielder’s shot hit Jesus and fell to Reiss Nelson, however his effort was blocked.
Okita confirmed his menace for the guests and a deflection off Elneny had Aaron Ramsdale scrambling in direction of the underside nook to make the save. Nketiah was quickly denied on the different finish of the pitch, having a agency header saved by Brecher, whereas Vieira had an try cleared by Guerrero with Brecher stranded.
Arsenal weren’t overly stretched in the course of the opening components of the second half, with common starters Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard and Takehiro Tomiyasu approaching as substitutes to assist shut the sport out.
The end was just a little tenser than house followers would have hoped as they did not discover a killer second purpose, however they finally reached full time with their 1-0 lead intact and their place within the ultimate 16 of the Europa League secured.
Arsenal participant ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Aaron Ramsdale – 7/10 – Had one blunder when a move aimed for Holding went out for a Zurich nook. Needed on just a few events to carry out some eye-catching saves and deserved the clear sheet.
RB: Ben White – 6/10 – Created an honest opening for Saka. Passing was just a little askew typically however defensively sound.
CB: Rob Holding – 6/10 – Very good within the air and received 4 tackles. Zurich solely threatened in patches, so not a tricky outing.
CB: Gabriel – 6/10 – Another good show from the Brazilian, although he’ll face harder duties.
LB: Kieran Tierney – 9/10 – Arrived on the scene to slam within the recreation’s solely purpose. An attacking menace on the left and recovered the ball ceaselessly in defence.
CM: Fabio Vieira – 8/10 – Influence grew on Arsenal’s attacking play and he was concerned within the build-up to Tierney’s strike with a few blocked photographs. Made 4 key passes.
CM: Mohamed Elneny – 6/10 – Workmanlike within the center from Elneny, who made a few tackles.
CM: Albert Sambi Lokonga – 6/10 – Adventurous with the ball at his toes and saved issues ticking over.
RW: Reiss Nelson – 7/10 – Looked fairly assured off the again of two league objectives and contributed in defence, making three tackles.
ST: Gabriel Jesus – 7/10 – Just a few moments of pretty interaction together with his ahead line went unrewarded. Always regarded to dribble past his marker the place doable.
LW: Eddie Nketiah – 6/10 – His aspect’s most correct shooter on the night time with two efforts on the right track. Somewhat irritating however may need added one or two to Arsenal’s tally on one other night time.
SUB: Bukayo Saka (63′ for Jesus) – 6/10 – One alternative from White’s move simply escaped his grasp.
SUB: Thomas Partey (63′ for Elneny) – 7/10 – Zurich discovered it more durable to construct assaults as soon as Partey was launched.
SUB: Martin Odegaard (73′ for Vieira) – 6/10 – The membership captain bought on for the ultimate 20 minutes.
SUB: Takehiro Tomiyasu (73′ for White) – 6/10 – Took a knock and was changed after getting remedy on the pitch.
SUB: Cedric (88′ for Tomiyasu) – N/A – On for the ultimate jiffy.
Manager: Mikel Arteta – 7/10 – Would have wished a extra deadly attacking show however in the end the job was finished with a 1-0 victory. Arteta’s focus will now shift to Sunday’s conflict with Arsenal.
Zurich participant ratings (3-4-1-2)
GK: Yanick Brecher (7); CB: Lindrit Kamberi (6), CB: Nikola Katic (7), CB: Fidan Aliti (6.5);, RM: Nikola Boranijasevic (6); CM: Ole Selnaes (6.5), CM: Cheick Oumar Conde (7), LM: Adrian Guerrero (6); AM: Jonathan Okita (6); ST: Fabian Rohner (6), ST: Aiyegun Tosin (6).
SUB: Marc Hornschuh (5), Bogdan Vyunnyk (5), Bledian Krasniqi (N/A), Ivan Santini (N/A)
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