Europa League: Group A

ARSENAL 1 (Tierney 17’)
FC ZURICH 0

NO one really thought that getting top spot in the Europa League group stage was going to be that difficult, did they? But Arsenal survived a nervy evening at the Emirates Stadium tonight (Thursday) as they eked out a 1-0 victory against FC Zurich.

The win – courtesy of a 20-yard stunner from Kieran Tierney – sends the Gunners straight into the last-16 of the competition, avoiding a play-off round in February against teams that finished third in the Champions League group stages.

Having lost 2-0 away to PSV Eindhoven just a week ago, Arsenal needed a win at home against an FC Zurich side that had already conceded 15 goals in Europe, the most of any team in the Europa League so far this season.

The north Londoners, however, still managed to make the night more difficult than it should have been as they produced a very cagey performance, enduring large spells where they failed to get a foothold in the game.

Mikel Arteta said that the battling display that Arsenal’s Swiss opponents put on was “expected”, adding: “It was difficult to get real momentum with the way that the game developed and we had to adapt. We had some big chances that we didn’t put away and we made the game more difficult in the last 15, 20 minutes. We didn’t control certain situations and we had to dig in which we did, and we found a way to win.”

Tierney scored the only goal of the game on 17 minutes with a superb well-placed half-volley from outside the box after Fabio Vieira’s initial shot was blocked.

The Gunners grew in confidence after taking the lead, with Eddie Nketiah and Vieira both coming close to doubling Arsenal’s advantage. The dangerous looking Vieira found himself in the box on two separate occasions with the goal in his sights but failed to convert as Zurich’s determined defenders continued to make vital blocks.

Nketiah almost calmed the nerves with a second goal just after the half-hour mark, but his header from a corner was well-saved by Zurich goalkeeper Yanick Brecher.

Despite bringing on Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey, Arsenal failed to pose any real threat going forward in a disjointed second half. It was in fact the visitors who found the back of the net through Adrian Guerrero, but the linesman came to the Gunners rescue as the goal was rightly flagged for offside.

Celebrating his first goal since Boxing Day last year, match-winner Tierney said: “It’s been coming – I’ve not scored in a while! I’ve been getting closer in the last few games and I’d just like to tell the boys it’s about time I scored.”

Arsenal will now look ahead to their crucial fixture away to Chelsea on Sunday as they battle to maintain their place at the top of the Premier League table.

Arsenal: Ramsdale, White (Tomiyasu, 73), Tomiyasu (Cedric, 88), Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Lokonga, Elneny, Vieira (Odegaard, 73), Nelson (Partey, 62), Nketiah, Jesus (Saka, 63)
Substitutes not used: Hein, Hillson, Martinelli, Saliba, Marquinhos, Zinchenko, Smith

FC Zurich: Brecher, Kamberi, Katic, Aliti (Santini, 89), Boranijasevic, Selnæs (Hornschuh, 77), Conde (Krasniqi, 82), Guerrero, Okita, Rohner (Marchesano, 45), Tosin (Viunnyk, 78)
Substitutes not used: Kostadinovic, Omerovic, Omeragic, Hodza, Mets, Sauter