Arsenal booked their spot in the UEFA Europa League last 16 with a 1-0 win over FC Zurich in their final Group A clash on Thursday night.
UEFA Europa League
Result: Arsenal 1-0 FC Zurich
Date: 03 November 2022
Venue: Emirates Stadium
The Gunners made five changes to the side that lost to PSV Eindhoven a week ago, as Ben White, Gabriel, Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Jesus were recalled while Mohamed Elneny returned from a long injury lay-off.
The hosts took some time to get going in the opening exchanges but made their intentions clear on 17 minutes after Kieran Tierney gave them the lead with a cracking volley after a rebound fell on his path unmarked in the box.
Mikel Arteta's charges gained momentum, as they pinned Zurich in their own half and Fabio Vieira had a good chance to double their lead on the half-hour mark after a cut-back by Eddie Nketiah found him unmarked in the box but his shot was crucially blocked in front of goal.
Bo Henriksen's troops were also up for the challenge, as they opened the game up with their own threatening attacks but Arsenal had another golden chance to make it 2-0 shortly before interval after Vieira latched onto a cut-back by Tierney free in the box but his low shot was blocked again by the tight-knit defence.
Arsenal had a quick start in the second stanza as Jesus latched onto a rebound from a free-kick unmarked at the back post two minutes in but his cushioned shot ricocheted off goalkeeper Yanick Brecher and sailed over the crossbar.
The Gunners took their foot off the pedal somewhat after Bukayo Saka replaced Jesus in a change of shape going forward and Zurich came very close to restoring parity on 68 minutes after Adria Guerreiro lashed home a rebound after shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale parried a low drive by Antonio Marchesano but his goal was disallowed for offside.
Following the scare by the Swiss outfit and the game on the edge, Arteta made an attacking change five minutes later, as Martin Odegaard replaced Vieira to add to the goal-threat upfront.
Zurich had the attacking urgency in the closing stages, with Arsenal absorbing the pressure and looking to kill off the game on counter-attacks.
The visitors threatened in stoppage time but Ramsdale snuffed out a dangerous cross by Marchesano, as the Gunners held on to secure top spot in Group A and booked their spot in the last 16.
Zurich, meanwhile, crashed out of the tournament after finishing bottom of the section.
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