Can Arsenal make it three out of three? What to look out for when the Gunners play Molde

 

Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah

Three things to look out for as Arsenal face Molde FK in the Europa League group stage on Thursday night

Although most of us are still on cloud nine after a first Premier League win at Old Trafford in 14 years, we turn our attention once again to the Europa League on Thursday, as Norwegian champions Molde come to town. 

After two wins out of two in Europe so far this season, spirits are high heading into the midweek clash at the Emirates, as Mikel Arteta’s side go up against the other unbeaten side in Group B.

Both sides have already seen off Rapid Vienna and Dundalk in their opening two matches, leaving them level on six points going into this one. 


With qualification to the knockout stages already within touching distance, a victory here would be the perfect way to head into the upcoming international break.

We can’t be complacent 

Although we may have made the perfect start to our European campaign, we cannot take anything for granted against a side who have previous in surprising teams in this competition. 


This is just the third time that Molde have appeared in the Europa League group stage, but back in 2015/16 they managed to top a group consisting of Fenerbahce, Ajax and Celtic, before going down to eventual winners Sevilla in the knockout phases. 


Five years on and the Norwegian side are still a side to be wary of, with manger Erling Moe guiding his side to six consecutive victories in all competitions ahead of their trip to London.


Nicholas Pepe


A 2-1 victory over Dundalk got the Eliteserien side off to the best possible start in this year’s competition, before a crucial 1-0 win over Rapid Vienna last time out, with Ohi Omoijuanfo scoring the decisive goal on both occasions.


As good as Arsenal’s home record is in the early stages of this competition, having lost just one of their last nine group stage matches at the Emirates, we can’t rest on our laurels on Thursday and will have work hard to get all three points.

Rotation rotation rotation

That victory at Old Trafford will have taken a lot out of the squad both physically and emotionally, with a resolute team performance needed to protect Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s winner from the spot. 


With a chockablock calendar at the moment, we have seen that the Europa League is the perfect place to blood some young talent, as well as giving squad members a run out and the chance to impress.


Arteta made ten changes for the visit of Dundalk last week, and although things looked a bit clunky at times, particular in the attacking third, we can expect the boss to chop and change once again ahead of this one. 


The freshness of the frontline was plain to see at Old Trafford, with Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in particular benefiting from some time on the sidelines, and with Aston Villa up next on Sunday evening, we will no doubt see similar this time around. 


Cedric Soares, Alex Runarsson, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson all benefitted from much-needed game time against Dundalk, and know they will have a big part to play this season if the Gunners are to continue to progress in all competitions. 


Falorin Balogun

Bringing the best out of Balogun?

We finally got a glimpse of much-talked about prospect Folarin Balogun in last week’s 3-0 victory over Dundalk, with the 19-year-old coming on for the last 15 minutes to make his Arsenal debut. 


The contract rebel was rumoured to be in search of a move away from the Emirates over a lack of playing time, with Sheffield United said to have tabled a bid in the summer for the young starlet. 


But after finally getting the chance to perform in his late cameo last week, could the New York-born striker change his mind over wanting away? The Arsenal boss seems to think so anyway, and will be looking to keep hold of him in the future.


"He’s a player that I really like,” Arteta said. ”Obviously I’ve got this situation and I believe it's later than what I would like because I wasn’t here when everything started to develop but yes, he’s a player that I would like to give chances to.


"That’s why he was in the squad today and I showed him that yes, we count on him and we believe in him and if he wants, he’s going to have a future in the club.”


Thursday would be the perfect opportunity to get more minutes in the tank for Balogun, and give us all a glimpse of the talent we have heard so much about. 

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