LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Kieran Tierney of Arsenal celebrates with team mates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League group A match between Arsenal FC and FC Zurich at Emirates Stadium on November 3, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Arsenal 1-0 FC Zurich: 3 talking points as Gunners clinch group
by Adam Schultz
Arsenal secured a nervy 1-0 win over FC Zurich at the Emirates on Thursday night as a first-half Kieran Tierney strike was enough for the Gunners to clinch Group A.
Mikel Arteta named a heavily rotated squad, as expected. Mo Elneny made his first start since August after picking up a thigh injury. Oleksander Zinchenko was on the bench as he returned along with Bukayo Saka. Reiss Nelson started after his two-goal heroics against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
Despite a poor start, Arsenal took the lead after 16 minutes through Tierney, who crashed home from the edge of the area. The rest of the half never hit any real heights as the Gunners had several chances to double their lead but were rebuffed by Zurich each time.
The second half was a tense affair as Arsenal couldn’t kill the game off. But, they managed to hold on to secure a one-nil win which saw them top Group A as a result.
Arsenal 1-0 FC Zurich: 3 talking points as Gunners clinch group
The game provided plenty of talking points, here they are.
1. Arsenal win the group… barely
Well, it wasn’t pretty, but Mikel Arteta’s side got the job done….just. With the win, Arsenal tops Group A and will now go straight through to the Round of 16.
🔝 of Group A 🙌
We progress directly through to the @EuropaLeague round of 16 ✅ pic.twitter.com/GcdhoGbnf9
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 3, 2022
It also means they avoid the bigger teams in the competition and avoid an extra two midweek matches for the Round of 32.
Continued on the next slide…
top Group A as a result</a>.</p>
<h2>Arsenal 1-0 FC Zurich: 3 talking points as Gunners clinch group</h2>
<p>The game provided plenty of talking points, here they are.</p>
<h2>1. Arsenal win the group… barely</h2>
<p>Well, it wasn’t pretty, but Mikel Arteta’s side got the job done….just. With the win, Arsenal tops Group A and will now go straight through to the Round of 16.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🔝 of Group A 🙌</p>
<p>We progress directly through to the <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/04/arsenal-1-0-fc-zurich-3-talking-points-gunners-clinch-group/"https://twitter.com/EuropaLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@EuropaLeague round of 16 ✅ <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/04/arsenal-1-0-fc-zurich-3-talking-points-gunners-clinch-group/"https://t.co/GcdhoGbnf9">pic.twitter.com/GcdhoGbnf9
<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/04/arsenal-1-0-fc-zurich-3-talking-points-gunners-clinch-group/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1588288796235530240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>November 3, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/04/arsenal-1-0-fc-zurich-3-talking-points-gunners-clinch-group/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>It also means they avoid the bigger teams in the competition and avoid an extra two midweek matches for the Round of 32.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/04/arsenal-1-0-fc-zurich-3-talking-points-gunners-clinch-group/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Talking Point #2 </a>
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<img decoding="async" class="wp-image-130659 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/04/arsenal-1-0-fc-zurich-3-talking-points-gunners-clinch-group/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1244467341.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1244467341.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1244467341-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Kieran Tierney was the unlikely match-winner on Thursday. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>2. Tierney is back</h2>
<p>The Scottish full-back is his normal self again. After several injury setbacks, Tierney produced a vintage performance against Zurich.</p>
<p>His overlapping runs, the lung-bursting surges forward, and his crossing into the box were all a feature, especially in the first half. His goal was well-taken as well.</p>
<p>Tierney is back.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/04/arsenal-1-0-fc-zurich-3-talking-points-gunners-clinch-group/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Talking Point #3 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-130658 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/11/04/arsenal-1-0-fc-zurich-3-talking-points-gunners-clinch-group/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2286,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1419527934.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2286" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1419527934.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1419527934-768x549.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Mohamed Elneny made his first appearance since August. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3. Efficient return for Elneny</h2>
<p>Playing in just his second game of the season, the Egyptian was back to his industrial self. Starting in the midfield to allow Sambi Lokonga to play further forward, Elneny was neat on his return.</p>
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<p>As expected, he didn’t last the full 90, but he was calm and composed in possession at the Emirates. As usual, he didn’t set the world alight, but he was typically efficient and his return is a welcome one.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
