Bodo/Glimt 0-1 Arsenal: Bukayo Saka scores as Gunners near Europa League progression

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Arsenal's Bukayo Saka scores against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa LeagueBukayo Saka has now scored three goals in his past two games, after a brace against Liverpool on Sunday

Arsenal took a big step towards qualifying for the Europa League knockout stage with a slender win at Bodo/Glimt.

The winner came after Bukayo Saka combined with impressive midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga and his toe-poked effort hit a defender before ricocheting back off his chin and past the helpless goalkeeper.

Bodo/Glimt came into the game with a 14-game winning streak at home in Europe and they were spurred on by a boisterous crowd, but they were guilty of missing a number of clear-cut opportunities.

Amahl Pellegrino skewed wide when through on goal in the first half, while Runar Espejord placed over when eight yards out in the second.

It was far from vintage Arsenal on the artificial pitch in Norway, as shown by the fact they had to bring on Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli after an hour, but the result, combined with the fact he was able to rest key striker Gabriel Jesus and defender Gabriel, will delight manager Mikel Arteta.

The win leaves Arsenal five points clear of third-placed Bodo/Glimt, who have played a game more because the Gunners' fixture against PSV Eindhoven last month was postponed owing to policing issues following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The rearranged match with second-placed PSV takes place next Thursday, when a win will guarantee Arsenal's progression.

Saka impresses again as much-changed Arsenal get job done

Saka was mightily impressive in the Gunners' 3-2 win over Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday and you could see the confidence flooding out of him in Norway.

He was lively from the start, getting in behind the Bodo/Glimt defence and firing across the six-yard box after two minutes but neither Eddie Nketiah nor Reiss Nelson gambled.

The 21-year-old continued to persist, though, and it was his driving run, rather than the relatively slow and patient build-up that had gone before, that cut open the hosts' defence.

He got a huge slice of fortune with the deflection, but it was reward for his endeavour and once again highlighted his importance to this ever-improving Arsenal side.

There were five changes from last week's 3-0 home win over the same opposition, and seven from the team that beat Liverpool, but the result and resolve they showed to keep Bodo/Glimt out in the second half is another example of the more gritty and disciplined side that is being moulded by Arteta.

Rob Holding made a key interception in the first half, while Lokonga completed 97% of his passes and made more interceptions than any other Gunners player.

With a potential Premier League title challenge on the cards, Arteta will be keen to get top spot wrapped up as early as possible so he can rotate players and avoid the extra play-off round in February.

Player of the match

SakaBukayo Saka

with an average of 8.17

Bodø/Glimt

  1. Squad number88Player nameSalvesen

  2. Squad number3Player nameSampsted

  3. Squad number12Player nameHaikin

  4. Squad number22Player nameLode

  5. Squad number8Player nameGrønbæk

  6. Squad number32Player nameMvuka

  7. Squad number7Player namePellegrino

  8. Squad number14Player nameSaltnes

  9. Squad number11Player nameEspejord

  10. Squad number77Player nameBerg

  11. Squad number18Player nameMoe

  12. Squad number9Player nameSolbakken

  13. Squad number5Player nameWembangomo

  14. Squad number10Player nameVetlesen

  15. Squad number4Player nameHøibråten

Arsenal

  1. Squad number7Player nameSaka

  2. Squad number3Player nameTierney

  3. Squad number12Player nameSaliba

  4. Squad number8Player nameØdegaard

  5. Squad number16Player nameHolding

  6. Squad number23Player nameSambi Lokonga

  7. Squad number4Player nameWhite

  8. Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu

  9. Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli

  10. Squad number30Player nameTurner

  11. Squad number34Player nameXhaka

  12. Squad number24Player nameNelson

  13. Squad number14Player nameNketiah

  14. Squad number21Player nameFábio Vieira

  15. Squad number5Player namePartey

  16. Squad number27Player nameMarquinhos

Line-ups

Bodø/Glimt

Formation 4-3-3

  • 12Haikin
  • 3Sampsted
  • 22Lode
  • 4HøibråtenSubstituted forMoeat 89'minutes
  • 5Wembangomo
  • 10VetlesenBooked at 66mins
  • 77Berg
  • 14SaltnesSubstituted forGrønbækat 12'minutes
  • 9Solbakken
  • 11EspejordSubstituted forSalvesenat 76'minutes
  • 7PellegrinoSubstituted forMvukaat 89'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Faye Lund
  • 2Sery Larsen
  • 6Amundsen
  • 8Grønbæk
  • 16Konradsen
  • 18Moe
  • 23Hagen
  • 27Sørli
  • 29Zugelj
  • 32Mvuka
  • 88Salvesen

Arsenal

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 30TurnerBooked at 90mins
  • 4WhiteSubstituted forTomiyasuat 70'minutes
  • 12Saliba
  • 16Holding
  • 3Tierney
  • 23Sambi LokongaSubstituted forParteyat 84'minutesBooked at 89mins
  • 21Ferreira Vieira
  • 7SakaBooked at 30minsSubstituted forXhakaat 59'minutes
  • 8ØdegaardSubstituted forOliveira Alencarat 70'minutes
  • 24NelsonSubstituted forMartinelliat 59'minutes
  • 14Nketiah

Substitutes

  • 1Ramsdale
  • 5Partey
  • 6Gabriel
  • 11Martinelli
  • 17Cédric Soares
  • 18Tomiyasu
  • 27Oliveira Alencar
  • 31Hein
  • 34Xhaka
  • 47Edwards
  • 72Smith
  • 89Ibrahim

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Bodø/Glimt 0, Arsenal 1.

  2. Second Half ends, Bodø/Glimt 0, Arsenal 1.

  3. Matt Turner (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  4. Foul by Nikita Haikin (Bodø/Glimt).

  5. Corner, Bodø/Glimt. Conceded by Marquinhos.

  6. Matt Turner (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.

  7. Offside, Arsenal. Matt Turner tries a through ball, but Marquinhos is caught offside.

  8. Substitution, Bodø/Glimt. Joel Mvuka replaces Amahl Pellegrino.

  9. Substitution, Bodø/Glimt. Brede Moe replaces Marius Høibråten.

  10. Thomas Partey (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.

  11. Foul by William Saliba (Arsenal).

  12. Lars-Jørgen Salvesen (Bodø/Glimt) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  13. Foul by Marquinhos (Arsenal).

  14. Brice Wembangomo (Bodø/Glimt) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Substitution, Arsenal. Thomas Partey replaces Albert Sambi Lokonga.

  16. Corner, Bodø/Glimt. Conceded by William Saliba.

  17. Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).

  18. Patrick Berg (Bodø/Glimt) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. William Saliba (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Foul by Lars-Jørgen Salvesen (Bodø/Glimt).

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