What to look out for when Arsenal travel to Molde

What to look out for as Mikel Arteta takes his Arsenal side to Molde in the Europa League

By Adam Le Roux

With the mood seemingly getting darker and darker at the Emirates in recent weeks, Arsenal have the perfect opportunity to temporarily pull themselves out the doldrums with a midweek trip to Molde.

The 0-0 draw with Leeds saw the Gunners draw a blank for the fourth time this season, and sees their run of not scoring from open play extend to over seven hours of Premier League football.

Nicolas Pepe’s red card at Elland Road summed up what was another miserable weekend for Mikel Arteta’s side, whose miserable run sees them with just one win in their last five league matches.

The Europa League had been a major release for the Gunners this season, with three wins out of three so far in the competition, and victory in Norway could seal qualification to the knockout stages with two games to spare.

Pepe’s shot at redemption

There is no Arsenal fan in the world that could defend Nicolas Pepe’s actions on Sunday afternoon, as the Ivory Coast international was dismissed for a petulant head butt on Leeds’ Ezgjan Alioski.

Whatever had happened in the build-up to the confrontation, the winger let himself down in the stalemate with Marcelo Bielsa’s side, and incurred the wrath of his manager in the dressing room after the match.

But, in a way, the 25-year-old’s misdemeanour could play into Arteta’s hands in the coming weeks, with his domestic suspension coinciding with another busy spell of European fixtures for the Gunners.

With Molde, Rapid Vienna and Dundalk all in store within the next three weeks, the Ivorian will have the perfect chance to redeem himself in the triple threat of midweek fixtures. 

And after the Arsenal boss had a private meeting with the Gunners’ record signing on Tuesday, he will be itching to set the record straight after losing his head in Leeds.

The European stage has been a happy hunting ground for Pepe this season, with two goals in his three appearances in the competition this season, including a sublime effort with his weaker right foot in the 3-0 victory over Dundalk in October.

And with no Premier League action for him to focus on, Thursday night’s game will be the former Lille-man’s chance to shine, with all Gunners fans looking for a response from the wide man.

Down to the bare bones

After the two-week international break, the fixtures are coming thick and fast for the Gunners before the new year, with the trip to Norway the first of 11 in the next 32 days.

The last thing any team needs is a lengthy injury list heading into the next manic month, but with another two players leaving the field with knocks at Elland Road, the Arsenal treatment room is looking busier than ever.

Bukayo Saka and Willian were both unable to complete the 90 minutes in Yorkshire, with the Brazilian forced off with a muscular injury at half time as Reiss Nelson came on in his place.

Saka was also forced off with a knock, with Arteta removing the 19-year-old to be replaced by Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the closing stages despite coming on as a substitute himself earlier in the game.

"He was in pain” said the Spaniard. “We're going to have to assess with the medical staff how bad it is, but it looked like a pretty bad challenge and he was in pain so we decided to take him out straight away.”

With Mohamed Elneny and Sead Kolasinac still ruled out because of positive COVID-19 tests while on international duty, as well as Thomas Partey’s ongoing injury troubles, it leaves the boss a little light for Thursday’s trip.

Nelson deputised admirably when he took to the pitch on Sunday, while Joe Willock will be hungry for more game time after getting his first Premier League action of the season in the 0-0 draw.

Arteta will no doubt have one eye on the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates this Sunday when he selects his team, and will be hoping whatever team he puts out remains unscathed.

Licence to experiment

The lack of available players could give the Spaniard the chance to try something different in Norway, with the Gunners on the brink of qualification to the knockout phases.

Willock has been in goalscoring form in the competition so far this season with two goals on his last two games in Europe, and with Pepe’s domestic suspension, it could be the Englishman’s chance to prove he fits into Arteta’s future plans. 

With the midfield area looking decidedly light, the 21-year-old could be deployed in a deeper role than we are used to seeing on Thursday night, or even on the left side of an attacking three in place of the injured Saka.

David Luiz could also return to the fold against Molde, after the birth of his child over the weekend, with the Brazilian also known to have filled in at centre midfield in the past.

Arteta has been known to tinker with his tactics throughout his spell in charge of Arsenal, and with results not going his way at the moment, he may be tempted into another change on Thursday to accommodate the players at his disposal.

And with the Gunners’ baron spell continuing in front of goal, the opportunity could be there for a place in the starting lineup against Wolves on Sunday for anyone who performs well in Norway.