AFTV News

What does Balogun's new contract mean for Arsenal? By Peter White While the rumblings of Spotify supremo Daniel Ek’s potential takeover continue to generate optimism around the Emirates, there was further reason to smile this week after youngster Folarin Balogun committed his future to the club.  Though this season’s on-the-pitch endeavours have flattered to deceive in the main - with Friday night’s limp defeat at home to Everton another example of how far the Gunners have fallen in recent years - news of Balogun’s new contract served as a lift ahead of Thursday’s crucial Europa League outing.  The 19-year-old - who scored against Molde and Dundalk in the continental competition during the current campaign - isn’t expected to play a significant role in the upcoming semi-final against Villarreal, but there is a feeling that he could be a key figure in Arsenal’s gradual rise back up the ranks.  Balogun has been with the north London club since he was nine years old and he h...

                                 “It’s important that I keep working hard to enjoy more moments like this.": All the best quotes following Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Molde in the Europa League By Adam Le Roux Arsenal secured qualification for the Europa League group stage with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Molde on Thursday night, with Nicolas Pepe, Reiss Nelson and Folarin Balogun all on the scoresheet in Norway. The victory over the Eliteserien champions was the Gunners’ fourth consecutive win in the competition and sees them progress to the last 32 with two games to spare. After going into the interval goalless, the visitors eventually broke the deadlock five minutes after half-time, as Sunday’s villain Pepe used his trusty left foot to curl into the top corner. Nelson made it two just five minutes later, as the 20-year-old turned in Joe Willock’s low ball in from the right, before academy graduate ...

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 Pe...

Three talking points from Arsenal 4-1 Molde By Peter White Arsenal’s bright spell of form continued on Thursday night, with a comfortable 4-1 win over Molde extending their 100 per cent record in the Europa League at the halfway stage of Group B. Martin Ellingsen beat Bernd Leno from 25 yards to put the visitors in front midway through the first half, but Kristoffer Haugen put past his own goalkeeper to level terms on the stroke of half-time, and a Sheriff Sinyan own goal, plus strikes from Nicolas Pepe and Joe Willock, sealed the points. Victory leaves the Gunners three points clear of the Norwegians and favourites to qualify for the knockout stages, while acting as the latest sign of the improvements boss Mikel Arteta has made to the team during his tenure as manager. With attentions quickly turning back to the Premier League and Sunday’s visit of Aston Villa, here are three talking points from their latest win. Why isn’t there VAR in the Europa League? Despite eventually taking the ...

  Mikel Arteta praises his Arsenal side after 4-1 Europa League victory over Molde By Adam Le Roux Mikel Arteta was delighted with the reaction shown by his players to come from a goal behind to defeat Norwegian champions Molde 4-1 in the Europa League on Thursday.  Arsenal fell behind for the second time in their three matches in Europe this season, when Martin Ellingsen’s long-range strike caught Bernd Leno off guard midway through the first half.  But the youthful side Arteta put out reacted with gusto, as an onslaught on the visitors’ goal finally saw Kristoffer Haugen put into his own net just seconds before the half-time whistle.  After going into the break all square, the hosts turned on the gas in the second half, with another own goal from Sheriff Sinyan giving them the lead, before Nicolas Pepe and the impressive Joe Willock rounded off the scoring.  And Arteta was left impressed by the mentality of his side to fight back from the one-goal defic...

  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 hav...