NACHO ON A ROLL
Monreal leads charge towards the last 16
SURROUNDED by ice and snow, Arsenal managed to avoid one almighty slip-up in Sweden last night. Questions remain over whether Arsenal have the fortitude to do it on a blustery night at Stoke.
They can, however, do it on a glacial Europa League evening in Ostersund, where Arsene Wenger’s men made light of the finger-numbing conditions to virtually guarantee a place in the last 16.
Nacho Monreal got the ball rolling with his third goal in six games and Arsenal didn’t look back, scoring another two to ensure Wenger has the opportunity to rotate his squad for next week’s second leg that falls four days before the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.
Ostersunds will reflect on what might have been on the biggest night in their 21-year history. In the end it was men against boys and Tom Pettersson even missed an injury-time penalty which would have given his side a glimmer of hope.
‘They looked very nervous at the start and we took advantage,’ said Wenger. ‘We started well, controlled the game and played against a side that is good. They beat Hertha Berlin, drew with Athletic Bilbao, quality teams. Once we scored we were in control. Perhaps we didn’t push enough in the final third in the second half but overall we played a serious game. Job done.’
With a route into the Champions League at stake, there was plenty riding on this for Arsenal. Their hopes of qualifying through the Premier League appear over and the strength of Wenger’s XI — Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both started — underlined the growing importance the manager attaches to the Europa League.
Danny Welbeck, starting in his preferred central striking position, squandering two good early chances before Monreal fired the Gunners ahead after 13 minutes.
Sotirios Papagiannopoulos had cleared Mkhitaryan’s effort off the line following a dreadful defensive mix-up. But Monreal scored from the resultant corner, tapping home after goalkeeper Aly Keita meekly spilled Alex Iwobi’s effort.
This was a fluent and potent opening from the Gunners, albeit against a team who should consider themselves fortunate to be on the same pitch as some of Arsenal’s players. Indeed, the Swedes looked star-struck, which perhaps explained the countless defensive errors they made in the opening 20 minutes.
Mkhitaryan forced a good save from Keita with a rasping 20-yard effort before his cross was turned into his own net by Papagiannopoulos in the 24th minute.
Effectively, that was game over, though Ostersunds rallied with Salisu Gero, Saman Ghoddos and Ken Sema wasting opportunities to halve the deficit.
Wenger had not felt the need for his team to train on a 4G pitch before last night, trusting his players’ superior technical ability would allow them to adapt.
At best it indicated Wenger’s unwavering confidence in his players; at worst it reeked of arrogance. ‘People wondered why we didn’t practise before but I think the warm-up is a good tool to adapt to the speed of the ball,’ said Wenger.
‘What is important here is the technical ability, the accuracy of the passing and we adapted very well because we have a good technical 11.’ Indeed they did. Ozil added a third in the 58th minute, firing through Keita following Mkhitaryan’s pass.
Arsenal cruised home, though Ospina was forced into a lastgasp penalty save after Hector Bellerin fouled Tesfaldet Tekie. OSTERSUND (4-3-3): Keita 5; Mukiibi 5, Papagiannopoulos 6, Pettersson 5, Widgren 6 (Bergqvist 73min, 6); Edwards 5.5, Nouri 5 (Tekie 46, 6), Mensah 6; Sema 6, Ghoddos 7, Gero 6 (Hopcutt 46, 5). Subs not used: Andersson, Alesh, Sonko Sundberg, Islamovic. Booked: None. Manager: Graham Potter 6. ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ospina 7.5; Bellerin 6.5, Chambers 6.5, Mustafi 6.5, Monreal 7 (Kolasinac 73, 6); Elneny 7, Maitland-Niles 7; MKHITARYAN 8 (Nelson 84), Ozil 7, Iwobi 7; Welbeck 6 (Nketiah 82). Subs not used: Macey, Holding, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Willock. Scorers: Monreal 13, Papagiannopoulos 24 og, Ozil 58. Booked: None. Manager: Arsene Wenger 7. Referee: David Borbalan (Spain) 6. Attendance: 8,009.