Arsenal Vs FK Ostersunds: Highlights and analysis – Scraping their way through

Arsenal hosted FK Ostersunds in their Europa League last-32 tie on Thursday night. Here is the full recap, all the highlights and analysis of the 2-1 loss.

69 seconds. That was all it took for panic to ensue at the Emirates. An unheard of Swedish team were rivalling Arsenal after succumbing to a three-goal deficit after an insipid first 90 minutes. Yes, if you wanted any moment to define this shambolic mess of a football club, this was it. Although it was Arsene Wenger’s side who progress to the next round thanks to the 4-2 aggregate win, this was not a convincing display by any stretch of the imagination.

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From the first whistle, it was clear that Ostersunds would not be as passive as in the opening periods of the first leg. They were not sat as foolishly deep, they were energetic in midfield, pacy in the wide areas, and far more fluid and direct when they did get hold of possession. Ken Sema down the left flank was especially threatening, squeezing his way past Hector Bellerin on several worrying occasions. Unfortunately for Ostersunds, though, they lacked the cutting quality, whether it be their decision-making, the final pass, or the shot towards David Ospina’s goal, to find the early lifeline that they were looking for.

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That was until the 22nd minute. Sead Kolasinac, who was poor throughout the first half, conceded possession with a very loose first touch. Ostersund worked the play to the opposite flank, and as a pass squirmed into the central area, it slipped past Rob Holding, who was mistaken, or at least not committed enough, in stepping into the midfield to win the ball. That then exposed Kolasinac who had a vast space to cover on his own. The pass was slid down his outside channel, perfectly weighted into the path of Hosam Aiesh, whose angled far-post effort deflected off Calum Chambers and nestled into the far corner.

As soon as the replays ended, Ostersunds had the ball in the back of the net for the second time. Alex Iwobi lost the ball to a sliding challenge with a heavy touch. Ken Sema was picked out with a long, direct clearance, exploiting the advanced position of Hector Bellerin, who was hoping to sneak forward with his side in possession, and the powerful winger beat Calum Chambers easily with a stop-spin-and-go move, smashing his left-foot shot across the face of David Ospina and into the far corner.

Arsenal did have chances at the other end. Jack Wilshere had a shot blocked from the edge of the area before badly slicing a rebound from a cleared corner, while Danny Welbeck flicked on an inswinging Henrikh Mkhitaryan free-kick that was fortunately blocked by the goalkeeper. But Arsenal were lethargic, slow, ponderous and complacent. They created little, defended poorly, and deserved exactly what they got.

Thankfully for Arsenal, they were able to subside the first-half panic and swiftly in the second half. It was Sead Kolasinac who started and finished the move, but he owes a lot to  Ronald Mukiibi. Kolasinac collected the ball on the left flank. After playing the ball into the feet of Jack Wilshere, receiving the return and then bursting past a couple of defenders, Arsenal neatly worked the ball through Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Hector Bellerin on the opposite flank. Bellerin clipped a cross into the box, and after Mukiibi’s air-shot fell to Kolasinac, the ball was smashed into the corner of the net to deflate this Ostersunds uprising.

Arsenal were better in the second half. That is not to say that they were good, just better. They created a few more opportunities at one end — Danny Welbeck stupidly tried to chip the goalkeeper from a tight angle; Mohamed Elneny fired a shot on goal that was parried clear after a surging run from deep; Welbeck headed straight down the throat of the goalkeeper after some good work by Alex Iwobi, a chance that he should have done much better with — and were a little more robust at the other. There were moments of slight uncertainty. Dallying on the ball, misplaced passes, an open and exposed midfield. But, for the most part, it was improved, though not markedly.

Ultimately, Arsenal were able to see out the aggregate win. Ostersunds did have a dangerous chance from a whipped cross, while Joe Willock came on to see a shot well blocked at the other end. But there was a growing acceptance to hold the two-goal advantage and ensure progression into the last-16, something that looked rather uncertain as Sema slammed his shot past the sprawling hands of David Ospina.

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That, I guess, is all that needed doing. But there were far more worrying conclusions to be drawn here, especially with the Carabao Cup final on the horizon.

Highlights