Arsenal 1-0 FC Zurich: Kieran Tierney’s first aim of season sufficient for Gunners to seal high spot

Kieran Tierney’s elegant first-half strike was sufficient to make sure Arsenal held onto high spot in Europa League Group A as FC Zurich have been overwhelmed 1-0 on a nervy night time on the Emirates Stadium.

Tierney saved his composure to spear a end from the sting of the field shortly after the quarter-hour mark, however it would not open the floodgates for Mikel Arteta’s aspect, who end their group-stage marketing campaign with simply eight targets from their six video games.

Zurich got here near equalising when Adrian Guerrero’s end was dominated out for offside however the outcome means the Gunners are actually unbeaten in 14 house matches in all competitions, with PSV now dealing with a play-off in opposition to a third-place finisher within the Champions League.

Zurich’s failure to raised Bodo/Glimt’s outcome means it’s the Norwegians who end third in Group A, qualifying for the Europa Conference League knockout-round play-off, the place they’ll face a gaggle runner-up from that competitors.

Attention now turns to home motion for Arteta, with Arsenal trying to consolidate their place on the Premier League summit once they go to Chelsea on Sunday, however they’re set to be with out Takehiro Tomiyasu after the full-back was pressured off with an damage within the closing phases.

“We always try to start faster but there’s always the opponents who look to make it as hard as possible,” the Gunners boss stated. “We knew it was going to be powerful. We struggled to get momentum and we’ve to adapt as we did not management sure conditions and we’ve to dig in. We discovered a technique to win.

“Losing football matches is part of it, as it happens, but it’s how you react to that, analyse what happened and come back stronger as a team. We’ve done that in the last two games and now it’s onto Stamford Bridge.”

How Arsenal completed high canine

The Gunners knew they might high Group A in the event that they matched PSV Eindhoven’s outcome away to Bodo/Glimt – or if the Dutch membership didn’t win – however they took the lead in opposition to the run of play on 17 minutes.

Reiss Nelson, recent from his double within the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest, mixed with Ben White down the appropriate earlier than Fabio Vieira’s blocked shot landed kindly for Tierney to direct a exact shot low into the underside nook.

It was the Scotland full-back’s first aim of the season, and Arsenal got here near doubling their benefit 5 minutes later when Vieira arrange Eddie Nketiah for a 25-yard drive that was parried to security by Yanick Brecher.

Zurich arrived in North London in poor type; their comeback victory on Matchday 5 in opposition to Bodo/Glimt ended a run of 13 video games with no win throughout all competitions, however they adopted up that success with one other defeat final Sunday in opposition to Sion.

The guests threatened sporadically within the opening interval, with Jonathan Okita’s deflected shot drawing a wise save from Aaron Ramsdale earlier than Fidan Aliti’s header from a set-piece failed to hassle the Arsenal goalkeeper.

The Swiss membership, who had solely gained one in all their earlier 17 away video games in main European competitions – by no means beating an English membership on their travels – must have fallen additional behind when Vieira latched onto Nketiah’s intelligent pull-back however his shot was blocked by Gabriel Jesus, standing in an offside place.

Vieira was all the time concerned, having one other tame shot blocked by Guerrero earlier than the interval, and moments after the restart it was Jesus who can be denied by Brecher’s starfish save from point-blank vary. It is now eight video games with no aim for the Brazilian.

“It’s going to change,” Arteta vowed afterwards. “He’s getting the chances, he’s contributing to the team an awful lot. The way he competes is incredible.

“He must be affected person because it’s occurred previously. He must study from these classes and never cease doing the issues which are serving to the crew. That will preserve the extent of him and the crew.”

PSV were doubling their lead in Norway, meaning anxious faces in the stands, and those concerns were almost realised when Guerrero found the net after Ramsdale had kept out Antonio Marchesano’s first-shot back across goal.

The offside flag came to the rescue of Arsenal, who had summoned Bukayo Saka from the bench in search of the killer insurance goal. Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey were also introduced. Arteta wanted the comfort of a second, but this turned into a disjointed second-half display.

With PSV home and hosed against Bodo/Glimt, Zurich manager Bo Henriksen sensed a famous point which would have meant his side snatching the Europa Conference League play-off berth.

He summoned Bogdan V’Yunnik from the bench and it was his crisp shot which arrowed simply huge of Ramsdale’s put up inside the ultimate 10 minutes.

Arsenal held on for the victory, that means they’ll head straight to the final 16 after Christmas, however it might come at a price. Tomiyasu was a late introduction, however would get replaced earlier than the ultimate whistle with a hamstring damage which might severely impression his possibilities of going to the World Cup with Japan.

“We don’t know [the full extent of the injury],” stated Arteta. “He felt something and we didn’t want to take a risk. Unfortunately it happened to Tomi today but the rest have to be ready as we’re going to need everyone. We don’t know yet.”

Tierney’s winner retains Arsenal rolling, for now. And onto Chelsea and Aubamayeng on Sunday.

Arteta: Winning helps successful

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, chatting with BT Sport:

“It’s job done. It is not easy to win that many games in Europe. I don’t think it was the prettiest game we have played but we manage to win it.

“I believe we had possibilities, particularly early within the sport and on the finish of the primary half to get it right into a extra snug place. We did not do this. We didn’t management the sport properly sufficient, particularly within the second half. At the tip we have been a bit leggy I believe. We gave them one or two possibilities however managed to not concede and maintain a clear sheet and win.

“We have been rotating. I think we are the team that have been rotating the most in Europe today. Players deserve chances and minutes and also the amount of games we play means we cannot maintain the intensity and players being fit.

“We have all of the video games and fixtures in our minds to attempt to be aggressive on a regular basis. Today was actually vital. We understand how vital it’ll be with all of the groups enjoying in February. Winning helps successful. The ambiance within the dressing room is a lot better after a win than a loss.

“It does bother him for sure [Gabriel Jesus not scoring for eight games]. When he scores two he wants to score four. Today he had a couple of good chances. But what he generates for the team is amazing. Last week he gave three assists. Today he was involved in every action again. The goals will come.”

Analysis: Vieira impresses however Tomiyasu provides to damage woes

Sky Sports’ Ben Grounds on the Emirates Stadium:

“Takehiro Tomiyasu pulled his shirt up over his head in frustration. The Japanese full-back had been a late substitute in this tetchy affair but he would not last long on the pitch, replaced by Cedric Soares due to a muscle injury which adds to the growing concerns now facing Arteta.

“Arsenal are high of the Premier League pile, they clung onto high spot within the Europa League, however his squad is now being stretched. For a lot of this opening chunk of the season the Spaniard has had a beginning XI you could possibly nearly learn out from reminiscence, however having made seven alterations forward of an important London derby on Sunday, he’s left once more choosing up the strolling wounded for Chelsea.

“The return of Saka for a second-half cameo was as welcome as it was necessary, given how Arsenal toiled and failed to put an obdurate but limited Zurich to bed. Tierney’s goal was a thing of beauty and worthy of winning any match and it is the avoidance of two additional games in a play-off that will delight Arteta the most.

“Fabio Vieira impressed within the opening interval, and arguably ought to have added to Arsenal’s lead, together with his three pictures yielding a game-leading xG of 0.35. He additionally accomplished three key passes and had 5 touches within the Zurich field.

“Defensively he won the ball three times, once of which came in the final third. The Portuguese was involved in eight of the Gunners’ attempts tonight (4 shots, 4 chances created). It was an all-action display which will give Arteta hope that the depth is there to compete on multiple fronts once the season resumes after the World Cup.”

Henriksen: Arsenal have the standard to be champions

Zurich boss Bo Henriksen stated: “We did what we could and tried our best. We could’ve got a point. In the first half, Arsenal created a lot of chances but our defensive work was very good. We gave it our all and in the end we could’ve got a point.

“We wanted the luck with the aim that was offside, however we additionally wanted a little bit bit extra high quality ultimately. It’s one thing we’re working at however we regarded like a crew, which we have been doing over the previous seven video games.

“It’s about time Arsenal started to look like a championship team again. They have the quality and they can score out of nowhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s the left-back or the right-back. We knew that from the beginning. Fair play to Arsenal, they’re a good side and I hope they go on to become champions in England.”

Gunners retaining it clear – Opta stats

• Arsenal have saved a clear sheet in all three of their house group-stage video games in a single European marketing campaign for the primary time for the reason that 2008-09 UEFA Champions League.
• Zürich have misplaced all six of their away video games in opposition to English sides in all European competitors.
• Arsenal have completed high of their group in all 5 of their participations within the UEFA Europa League, with no aspect successful a gaggle extra usually for the reason that rebrand of the competitors in 2009-10 (FC Red Bull Salzburg additionally 5).
• Kieran Tierney scored his third aim within the UEFA Europa League (2 for Arsenal, 1 for Celtic), with solely Kris Commons (6) netting extra amongst Scottish gamers within the competitors since 2009-10.

What’s subsequent?

Saturday twelfth November 7:30pm


Kick off 7:45pm

Arsenal have three extra video games earlier than the World Cup. They journey to Chelsea on Sunday November 6; kick-off 12pm. They then welcome Brighton within the Carabao Cup on Wednesday November 9; kick-off 7.45pm.

The Gunners’ closing Premier League sport earlier than the match sees them journey to Wolves on Saturday November 12, stay on Sky Sports; kick-off 7.45pm.

Zurich may even play two additional league fixtures earlier than the World Cup, returning to motion on January 21.