Result: Molde 0-3 Arsenal
Date: 26 November 2020
Venue: Molde Arena
Arsenal booked their spot in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League with two matches to spare after thumping Molde 3-0 in Group B on Thursday evening.
The Gunners manager Mikel Arteta made wholesale changes, with only Joe Willock, Granit Xhaka and Nicolas Pepe remaining in the line-up from the draw at Leeds United.
The game started with a frantic pace, as Reiss Nelson came close to giving Arsenal an early lead in the 13th minute after exchanging passes with Alexandre Lacazette to have a clear sight of goal but his strike at the near post was saved by goalkeeper Andreas Linde.
Molde had a wonderful chance to go ahead themselves two minutes later after Eirik Hestad played a good ball across that needed just a tap-in but Sheriff Sinyan did not connect well with the cross, striking his shot wide from close range with the net gaping.
Mikel Arteta's charges had the momentum and better chances in the closing phase of the first stanza, while the hosts were a threat on counter-attacks in an open game although neither could break the deadlock before the halftime.
However, Pepe finally put the visitors ahead five minutes into the second stanza with a powerful strike that found the top corner after controlling a cross well on his stride.
Eddie Nketiah found the back of the net for Arteta's troops three minutes thereafter with a close-range strike from the rebound after Linde spilled Ainsley Maitland-Niles' shot but the goal was disallowed for offside.
The Gunners were not to be denied two minutes later as Nelson eventually made it 2-0 for Arsenal with a close-range finish off brilliant cross by Willock.
After a quiet spell in the half, Folarin Balogun got the third goal for Arsenal in the last seven minutes with a cracking low finish after a square pass from fellow substitute Emile Smith Rowe as the English side qualified for the knockout phase with two matches to spare.
