BEVERLY HILLS, November 05, (THEWILL) – Arsenal’s Joe Willock headlined an impressive display with a late strike after two own goals helped the North London side fight back to a 4-1 win over Molde in the UEFA Europa League.
As Arsenal enjoyed a fine spell in the opening minutes, Norwegian centre back Martin Bjornbak was on hand to clear after English striker Eddie Nketiah dinked an effort beyond Molde goalkeeper Andreas Linde. However, Arsenal were lacklustre as the half progressed and fell behind 22 minutes in.
Bernd Leno’s casual kick was nodded to central attacking midfielder Magnus Wolff Eikrem. Eikrem wasted no time and picked out Ellingsen with an incisive first-time pass. The unmarked midfielder bent a clinical left-footed strike into the far corner from 25 yards.
Arsenal seemed to have been roused and finally raised the tempo. Nketiah had a goal ruled out when it appeared to be Willock who was marginally offside. Then, the pair combined at the end of a brilliant rapid counter-attack just before half-time that caused a forced error as Kristoffer Haugen put the ball through his own net at full stretch.
Early in the second half, defender Sead Kolasinac missed an open goal from close range when Linde palmed a cross into his path. But, two goals in the space of seven minutes put Arsenal in command.
Gambian centre back Sheriff Sinyan scored another own goal after the lively Willock played a one-two and knocked the ball across the six-yard box. Then, Pepe also got on the score sheet when he fired in first time from just inside the penalty area after Bukayo Saka picked him out.
Pepe then turned provider for Willock, who lashed home a deserved fourth clinically in the closing
stage.
Molde were disciplined in the first half as the Gunners lacked a spark, but the home side had that extra quality to turn it around in the second half as coach Mikel Arteta’s decision to make nine changes from the team that defeated Man U did not backfire.
Arsenal’s next opponents in the Premier League at Emirates Stadium on Sunday is Aston Villa while Molde take on Kristiansund, also on Sunday.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
