Thursday, October 13, 2022 at 8:39 PM• Mart van Mourik • Last update: 20:49

Arsenal did excellent business in Group A of the Europa League on Thursday evening. On a visit to FK Bodø/Glimt, manager Mikel Arteta’s team was 0-1 too strong without playing big. Halfway through the first half, Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game. Thanks to the win go the Gunners with nine points from three matches currently leading the group. Later in the evening, PSV, which collected four points in two matches, can chase second place at home against FC Zürich (zero out of three) at the expense of Bodø/Glimt (four out of four).

Arteta chose to make major changes and changed his starting eleven in no fewer than seven places compared to the Premier League game that was won with Liverpool (3-2). Ben White, William Saliba, Martin Ødegaard and Saka were the only names who also appeared in the grid against the Norwegians. Gabriel Jesus was, as announced, not in the match selection at all and was given a rest. Bodø/Glimt started the European encounter with confidence, having won in the fourteen previous home games.

In the opening phase, in which the game waved up and down, the home team immediately had to deal with a setback: in the twelfth minute of play, basic strength Ulrik Saltnes had to leave the field injured. After that, Arsenal quickly took matters into their own hands and the pressure on the enemy goal was definitely increased halfway through the first act. Although Bodø/Glimt held out for some time, the defense succumbed to pressure from the Londoners in the 24th minute. With beautiful combination football, Saka made his way through the defense via the right flank. The effort that followed was initially parried by goalkeeper Matt Turner, but in the rebound Saka made the opening goal with his chest: 0-1.

In the second act, Arsenal took their foot off the accelerator and the Norwegians were given several opportunities to score the equalizer just before the end of the hour. However, Ola Solbakken and Runar Espejord, among others, lacked fortune in the completion. The visitors, who failed to produce a single shot on goal after the break, managed to secure the lead until the final whistle. Next Thursday, Arsenal and PSV will make up for the mutual match from the second round that was canceled after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.