Result: Arsenal 4-1 Molde
Date: 05 November 2020
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Arsenal maintained their perfect start in the UEFA Europa League after thumping Molde 4-1 in Group B on Thursday evening.
The Gunners made four changes from the side that thrashed Dundalk, as they were boosted by the return of David Luiz alongside recalls for goalkeeper Bernd Leno, Willian and Dani Ceballos.
The hosts were on the front foot in the early exchanges but it was Molde opened the scoring in the 22nd minute courtesy of a moment of brilliance by Martin Ellingsen, who caught Leno off-guard with a stunning left-footed strike out of nothing from range.
Joe Willock thought he had levelled matters two minutes before the break after tapping in Nicolas Pepe's cross into a gaping net but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Arsenal eventually equalised in first-half stoppage time after Eddie Nketiah whipped in a teasing low cross looking for the boot of Willock, but Kristoffer Haugen got to the ball first and deflected the ball into his own net.
Sead Kolasinac should have given the Gunners a second goal eight minutes from the break after goalkeeper Andreas Linde spilled a cross into his path at the back post but the Bosnian struck his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Arsenal eventually took the lead in the 62nd minute after Willock found space to send in a dangerous cross at the near post that forced Sheriff Sinyan to score into his own goal.
Pepe extended the Gunners lead with 21 minutes remaining after unleashing a first-time low shot past Linde thanks to a cut-back by Bukayo Saka, who had just come on for Willian.
Willock made it 4-1 for the hosts in the last two minutes with a strike into the roof of the net after through ball from Pepe, as the Gunners remain at the top of Group B with nine points from three matches.
