Nicolas Pepe put his red card against Leeds United behind him with the opening goal against Molde as Arsenal secured their place in the last 32 of the Europa League.
The Ivory Coast forward curled a powerful strike into the top corner after a difficult week following his dismissal at Elland Road.
Reiss Nelson doubled the Gunners’ lead shortly after with a tap-in from close range as Arsenal progressed to the knockout stages with two games to spare.
Substitute Folarin Balogun, 19, scored with his first touch to cement victory for Mikel Arteta’s side in Norway.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Molde
- 1Linde
- 20Wingo
- 6GregersenSubstituted forKnudtzonat 85′minutes
- 5Sinyan
- 3RisaSubstituted forHolmgren Pedersenat 82′minutes
- 17Aursnes
- 16HussainSubstituted forBollyat 61′minutes
- 19Hestad
- 7Wolff EikremSubstituted forBrynhildsenat 81′minutes
- 11Ellingsen
- 10JamesSubstituted forOmoijuanfoat 61′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Moström
- 12Craninx
- 14Knudtzon
- 15Christensen
- 22Brynhildsen
- 26Ranmark
- 27Holmgren Pedersen
- 30Bolly
- 99Omoijuanfo
Arsenal
- 13Rúnarsson
- 17Cédric Soares
- 20Mustafi
- 23David LuizSubstituted forHoldingat 45′minutes
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 19Pépé
- 28WillockSubstituted forTierneyat 75′minutes
- 34XhakaSubstituted forCeballosat 62′minutes
- 24Nelson
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forSmith Roweat 75′minutes
- 30NketiahSubstituted forBalogunat 82′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Bellerín
- 3Tierney
- 8Ceballos
- 16Holding
- 32Smith Rowe
- 33Macey
- 38Balogun
- 41Cottrell
- 44Hein
- 66Azeez
Live Text
Match ends, Molde 0, Arsenal 3.
Second Half ends, Molde 0, Arsenal 3.
Attempt blocked. Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dani Ceballos.
Offside, Arsenal. Cédric Soares tries a through ball, but Folarin Balogun is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Fredrik Aursnes (Molde) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Henry Wingo.
Substitution, Molde. Erling Knudtzon replaces Stian Rode Gregersen.
Foul by Folarin Balogun (Arsenal).
Stian Rode Gregersen (Molde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Molde 0, Arsenal 3. Folarin Balogun (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emile Smith Rowe.
Substitution, Arsenal. Folarin Balogun replaces Eddie Nketiah.
Substitution, Molde. Marcus Holmgren Pedersen replaces Birk Risa.
Substitution, Molde. Ola Brynhildsen replaces Magnus Wolff Eikrem.
Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
Sheriff Sinyan (Molde) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Mathis Bolly (Molde) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Fredrik Aursnes.
Substitution, Arsenal. Kieran Tierney replaces Joseph Willock.
Substitution, Arsenal. Emile Smith Rowe replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
Joseph Willock (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Stian Rode Gregersen (Molde).
Attempt missed. Rob Holding (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Nicolas Pépé with a cross following a corner.
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