Mueez Ajao
– Arsenal secured their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a narrow victory over Zurich at Emirates Stadium.
– Kieran Tierney’s thumping 20-yard drive into the bottom right corner ensured the hosts advance as Group A winners.
– While Arsenal’s margin of victory could have been more significant it proved an ideal night for manager Mikel Arteta.
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– The Spaniard was able to introduce Bukayo Saka after the break to allay any fitness concerns and also rest several key players prior to Sunday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea.
– The only complaint was that Arsenal did not put the result beyond doubt during a dominant first-half display in which Eddie Nketiah twice stung the palms of Zurich goalkeeper Yanick Brecher, and Fabio Vieira saw his goalbound effort blocked from close range.
– That ensured a nervy finale with Adrian Guerrero’s left-foot effort ruled out for offside and Ukrainian forward Bogdan Viunnyk seeing his rasping drive just fly wide of the top left corner as the visitors searched for an equaliser.
– However, the Gunners held on and have now won all eight of their matches against Swiss clubs in European competition.
🔝 of Group A 🙌
We progress directly through to the @EuropaLeague round of 16 ✅ pic.twitter.com/GcdhoGbnf9
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 3, 2022
