Mikel Arteta 'really happy' with win over Bodo/Glimt but wants better
Mikel Arteta ‘really happy’ with 3-0 win over Bodo/Glimt… but insists his Arsenal side ‘can do much better’ ahead of crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool
- Mikel Arteta happy with team’s showing in Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt
- Arsenal won 3-0 after goals from Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding and Fabio Vieira
- Arteta however does believe his players can play to a higher level then shown
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was satisfied with a comfortable win and a clean sheet as he gave his fringe players a much-needed run-out in the Europa League.
Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding and Fabio Vieira fired much-changed Arsenal to a routine 3-0 victory over Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt.
Nketiah, yet to start in the Premier League this season, grabbed his second goal in two European appearances as he continues to make the most of his time on the pitch.
Eddie Nketiah opened the scoring for Arsenal in their Europa League game against Bodo/Glimt
Then defender Holding, who has only played two league minutes this season for the Gunners, headed a second before Vieira tapped in a late third following brilliant work from Gabriel Jesus on the byline to make it two wins from two in Group A.
It was the ninth victory out of 10 matches in all competitions this season for Arsenal, even if the performance was not exactly nine out of 10.
After the game Arteta said: ‘What I give them is that every game is difficult to win, we made a lot of changes and gave opportunities to players who deserve to play.
Mikel Arteta was pleased with the result but wants his team to play better in matches
‘I am really happy with the result, scoring three and a clean sheet – but I’m very conscious we can do much better.
‘We had spells that we were too rushed and we didn’t manage the ball and it became an open game. We were really effective in final third but the composure was lacking a little bit.’
Nketiah had already curled an early effort narrowly wide before he opened the scoring in the 23rd minute.
Nketiah (pictured) was praised by Arteta for his ‘phenomenal’ application on the pitch
Gabriel Martinelli did well to hold onto the ball in a congested midfield before eventually smuggling it out wide to Kieran Tierney.
The full-back launched a first-time drive which clattered the far post and fell to Nketiah to sweep into an unguarded net.
Arteta was pleased with the work put in by the English striker and was quick to praise his application on the pitch as ‘phenomenal’ as the decision to hand him a new contract last season continues to pay off.
The Spaniard said: ‘Eddie’s work rate, his attitude and his application is phenomenal and he has a natural ability.
‘I’m really happy to have him in the team, he has the quality to play as a starter and as a finisher. He could have scored a couple more, so you have to look at what you could have done better.’
Fabio Vieira netted the third goal for Arsenal on the night after Gabriel Jesus’s great work
Holding doubled Arsenal’s lead four minutes later with a far-post header from Vieira’s in-swinging cross.
The Gunners got a little sloppy after the break and back-up goalkeeper Matt Turner was forced to make a reflex save from Amahl Pellegrino to prevent Glimt from making a game of it.
Instead substitute Gabriel Jesus fed Vieira for the 84th-minute goal his performance deserved to set up Premier League leaders Arsenal nicely for Sunday’s visit of Liverpool.
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