Friday, March 29, 2024

Key moments:

  • Full-time: Östersunds 0-3 Arsenal
  • Ospina saves injury-time penalty
  • Özil makes it 3-0 (59)
  • Half-time: Östersunds 0-2 Arsenal
  • Papagiannopoulos scores own goal (24)
  • Monreal opens the scoring (13)
  • Arsene Wenger makes five changes to lineup

20:05: That’s all from the action and reaction in Sweden, on a night where Arsenal will certainly be the happier of the two teams.

The second-leg takes a place at the Emirates Stadium next Thursday night, with Arsenal 3-0 up on aggregate.


20:03: Arsene Wenger has spoken about of his delight after the result: “They (Ostersund) were maybe a bit cautious at the start and we took advantage of it. I feel that at 2-0 at half-time, it was important for us not to concede a goal and win the second half.

“I felt there was more to score one or two more in the second half but we were in control and once we went 2-0 up… overall we won in a comfortable way.


19:59: Mesut Özil played a huge part for the Gunners tonight.


19:55: A good result for Arsenal, which should see them comfortably into the next round.

The Gunners were on the front foot right from the start of the game and, although Östersunds did have a few chances, the Londoners’ never looked like letting this one slip. With a bit more composure in the final third, the scoreline could have been higher – but Arsenal should be happy with their night’s work.

Östersunds will likely leave the match a little deflated, despite being beaten by the better team. The Swedish side lost the game in the opening half an hour and will be disappointed to not have got on the scoresheet with that injury-time penalty. They should be proud of their efforts, though.


19:53: Job done for Arsenal. The goals came from Nacho Monreal, an own goal from Papagiannopoulos and a second-half finish from Mesut Özil. Ospina saved well from the penalty spot in injury-time.


19:52: The referee blows for full-time. Östersunds 0 Arsenal 3.


1952: (90+1) The Arsenal Twitter page reacts to Ospina’s penalty save:


19:51: (90+1) Ospina has saved it! Peterson stepped up and hit the ball to the right of the ‘keeper, who got down well to stop and hold the ball. Tame penalty.


19:50: (90+1) Ghoddos plays a clever ball through to Tekie and he is adjudged to have been brought down by the sliding Bellerin. This will surely only be a consolation for the home side.


19:50: (90+1) Penalty to Östersunds! 


19:49: (90) Two minutes stoppage time have been added on.


19:48: (89) Nelson goes down in the penalty area and looks at the ref, who indicates no penalty.


19:46: (87) Mustafi carelessly gives the ball away on the edge of the area, but gets away with it as Hopcutt places his shot wide of the target.


19:42: (83) Final substitution for Arsenal as the game is beginning to fizzle out. Henrikh Mkhitaryan comes off for young midfielder Reiss Nelson.


19:41: (83) Bellerin wins a corner for Arsenal with seven minutes left to play.


19:40: (82) Substitution for the Gunners as Welbeck is replaced by Nketiah.


19:38: (80) Welbeck does well to keep the ball in play before cutting in side and drifting a shot just past the far post. Unlucky. It remains 3-0 to Arsenal.


19:37: (79) Sema beats Bellerin down the left-hand side and gets into a good position, but his cross then sails over everyone.


19:33: (75) Ghoddos makes a beautiful cruyf turn last Bellerin, who then brings him down. This boy can play and will have a few suitors for his signature after tonight.


19:30: (72) Substitutions for both sides. Monreal, who scored the opening goal for Arsenal, is replaced by Kolasinac. Meanwhile, Ostersunds make their third and final change as Doug Bergqvist comes on for Dennis Widgren.


19:29: (71) Arsenal work their way into the Östersunds area before the ball is laid into the path of Monreal, who is denied a second goal by an unfortunate block from Mkhitaryan


19:27: (69) Poor challenge from Papagiannopoulos on Özil in the middle of the park, which surprisingly didn’t result in a yellow card.


19:25: (67) Elneny sends the ball jsht over the bar with a drive from 20-yards.


19:24: (66) Arsenal are firmly in control now. Fair play to the Östersunds fans, though, as they are still cheering their team on.


19:20: (62) That goal was Mesut Özil’s fifth of the season for the Gunners and surely will end the tie.


19:17: (59) Özil takes a good touch to set himself in the box following a pass from Mkhitaryan. The midfielder got it out of his feet and drove the ball beyond Keita, who got something on it but it wasn’t enough to prevent it from going in.


19:17: (59) Gooooooal. Özil puts Arsenal 3-0 up. Game over, surely. 


19:16: (58) Penalty shout for Östersunds! Mustafi again looks to have got away with one, as he dangled a leg and looked to have brought down Ghoddos in the penalty area. Nothing given.


19:15: (57) Elneny sends in a cross for Arsenal, which Keita flaps at before Papagiannopoulos clears. This ‘keeper is a bit dodgy.


19:12: (54) Sema gets down the left flank and wins a corner for the home side off Bellerin.


19:10: (52) A long-range effort from Mensah is blocked by Iwobi and goes out for a corner to Östersunds.


19:07: (49) It’s been a slow start to the second half, with Arsenal controlling the possession but doing little with it.


19:03: Kick-off! Arsenal get us back underway. 


19:02: Substitutions for the home side at half-time. Graham Potter has made two changes as Jamie Hopcutt and Tesfaldet Tekie replace captain Brwa Nouri and Salisu Gero.


18:54: Monreal is in some form for a defender right now…


18:50: Anyone associated with Arsenal has to be happy with that scoreline at half-time.

The Gunners dominated the opening half an hour and thoroughly deserved their 2-0 lead, which could have been more. Östersunds will be disappointed with the way they started the match and the sloppy goals they conceded. However, they should be pleased with how they ended the half.

This tie is certainly not over yet, but Arsenal are in the driving seat.


18:48: Monreal’s early goal after shaking keeping from the Östersunds number one gave Arsenal a 1-0 lead, before an own goal from Papagiannopoulos made it 2-0.


18:46: Half-time! Östersunds 0 Arsenal 2. 


18:46: (45+1) Chance for Arsenal. Mkhitaryan gets the ball out of his feet but puts his curling effort over the bar. That could have been a huge goal on the stroke of half-time.


18:45: (45) One minute of added time has been allocated.


18:44: (44) Arsenal nearly broke with Özil but Mensah made a superb sliding tackle to halt the attack.


18:43: (43) Another chance for the home side, as Ghoddos picks the ball up and puts his left-footed striker just wide from 18-yards. He is the key man for his side.


18:42: (42) The resulting free-kick from Sema is sent right down the throat of Ospina and the ‘keeper saves comfortably.


18:41: (41) Free-kick go Östersunds. Gero goes down under a challenge from Maitland-Niles on the edge of the area. That one will go down as soft.


18:39: (39) The Gunners once again counter on the Swedes but Welbeck finds himself in an offside position after receiving the ball.


18:34: (34) Arsenal break on the counter but Welbeck skies his effort over the bar.


18:33: (33) Ghoddos shows good strength in midfield before driving forward and forcing Ospina into a save. This is much better from Östersunds.


18:31: (31) The Swedish side have pushed higher up and are zipping the ball around much better now and looking threatening. Maybe this tie isn’t over yet.


18:29: (29) Another chance for Östersunds! This time Ospina had to pull off an excellent save after a thunderous drive Ghoddos. Corner ball.


18:28: (28) Östersunds finally get the ball into Arsenal box, which results in a comfortable save from Ospina from a Gero header.


18:24: (24) Once again Östersunds are caught trying to play out from the back. It was Mkhitaryan who profited this time and he crossed the ball in to the box which then diverted into the net off a defender’s arm. Papagiannopoulos own goal.


18:24: (24) Goal! It’s 2-0 to Arsenal. 


18:22: (22) Here is a look at Monreal’s opening goal for Arsenal:


18:20: (20) The Östersunds ‘keeper is receiving treatment from the physio. His side could do with a minute to regroup.


18:18: (18) Shots on target so far: Östersunds 0 Arsenal 3


18:16: (16) Arsenal go close again! Great effort from Mkhitaryan, which is pushed away by the goalkeeper this time.


18:15: (15) This is relentless from Arsenal. Östersunds can’t get their foot on the ball and the Gunners push forward once again.


18:13: (13) From the corner, Iwobi’s shot is unconvincingly parried by the goalkeeper and Monreal steals in to put his side in front. Who knows what the left-back was doing there, but it’s 1-0 to the Gunners.


18:13: (13) Goaaaaaaal! Nacho Monreal puts Arsenal 1-0 up. 


18:12: (12) Huge chance for Arsenal! Östersunds are caught out with the ball at the back by Özil, who lays the ball back to Mkhitaryan and his shot is heroicly blocked on the line. Corner ball.


18:09: (9) Östersunds are sitting deep and inviting the Gunners forward.


18:07: (7) Chance for Arsenal! Welbeck rises at the back post but can’t direct Elneny’s cross goalbound.


18:05: (5) Mustafi is very lucky to get away without a card, as the referee gives a throw to Arsenal rather than a free-kick against the German.


18:03: (3) The home sides fans are in full voice in the opening minutes, but Arsenal are dominating the possession so far.


18:00: Östersunds get the game underway at kick-off. 


17:58: The teams are out ahead of kick-off in Sweden. Arsenal will be hoping to take an advantage back to London with them.


17:50: Arsene Wenger gives a brief pre-match interview:


17:27: Here is an amazing stat for you:

1st October 1996: Arsene Wenger was named as Arsenal’s new manager

31st October 1996: FK Östersunds was founded (via BT Sport)


17:20: Sky Sports’ Charlie Nicholas has made this prediction ahead of the game:

This is a painful one for me because it looks an easy tie and even a big win does little to ease the absolute farce of Saturday’s derby defeat. There can be no excuses here.

They’ve got a cup final 10 days afterwards and they could go here and get embarrassed if they don’t win. They should get this tie done this Thursday with a strong side.

Danny Welbeck will have to step up given Lacazette is injured and Aubameyang is ineligible. I’d actually play a front two with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mesut Ozil behind and accept that we’re not going to defend.

I’m going for Arsenal to win by three goals and if they don’t win by that margin, it will be a disappointment as the second leg comes right before the Carabao Cup final.

CHARLIE PREDICTS: 0-3, Welbeck to score first


17:07: Arsenal have named their captain for the Europa League tie.


16:59: Östersunds have also named their team!

Starting XI: Keita, Mukiibi, Papagiannopoulos, Pettersson, Widgren, Edwards, Nouri, Mensah, Sema, Ghoddos, Gero.

Subs: Andersson, Tekie, Bergqvist, Hopcutt, Aiesh, Sonko Sundberg, Islamovic.


16:57: The Arsenal team news is in!

Starting XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Chambers, Mustafi, Monreal, Iwobi, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Welbeck.

Subs: Macey, Holding, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Willock, Nelson, Nketiah.


Hello and welcome to this live feed of Arsenal’s trip to Sweden to face FK Östersunds, where a comprehensive match commentary will be provided of the Europa League round of 16 tie (6pm kick-off).

The Gunners come into the game as the favourites and will be viewing this competition as their best opportunity of reaching the Champions League next season, given their current position in the Premier League.

However, this tie is not a foregone conclusion, as Graham Potters’ side who are playing in Europe for the first time in their history, will fancy their chances of causing an upset on their 4G pitch.

Stay tuned for all the action and reaction!

Sports journalism masters graduate from the Real Madrid Graduate School. I have covered various different sports over a number of years - particularly football - and my personal work is displayed on this site.

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