Highlights: Molde 0-3 Arsenal
Arsenal ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in the second half away to Molde on Thursday night to book their progress to the knockout stages of this season’s UEFA Europa League with two games to spare.
The English Premier League side had the better of the possession and territory in the first half but it was the hosts who came the closest to scoring, only to fire an open goal all the way to the far post into the grounded Alex Runarsson.
Nicolas Pepe had fired a long range effort narrowly wide in the first half and then saw a 20-yard curler hit the underside of the crossbar 90 seconds before he opened the scoring in the 50th minute.
The Ivorian forward controlled a cross towards the back post, cut inside the defender and curled into the far post to give Molde goalkeeper Andreas Linde no chance.
Eddie Nketiah had an effort ruled out for offside but the Gunners were still able to double their lead within five minutes of going ahead. Reiss Nelson finished from six yards out by getting on the end of Joe Willock’s low cross from the right wing.
Three weeks ago Arsenal were 4-1 winners in the reverse fixture and won by the same margin at the Aker Stadium this Thursday when American teenage substitute Folarin Balogun finished well from Emile Smith Rowe’s low cross, on all things American – Thanksgiving Day.
Arguably, the margin should have been greater but for Nketiah missing close range headers in both halves.
Watch the highlights from Molde 0-3 Arsenal here:
