Molde 0-3 Arsenal: Determined Nicolas Pepe scores to bounce-back from red-card disgrace and send Gunners to Europa League last-32… as academy graduates Joe Willock and Folarin Balogun also strike
- Arsenal travelled to Norway to face Molde on Thursday in the Europa League
- The first-half ended goalless with both sides going close, the Gunners on top
- Molde centre-back Sheriff Sinyan missed an open-goal sitter in the first 45
- Nicholas Pepe put in a determined display and scored the Gunners’ first
- Reiss Nelson bagged the second five minutes later in the 55th minute
- Folarin Balogun then scored his first goal for the Gunners’ first-team
It took 50 minutes but Arsenal hit full stride on Thursday, with a gritty Nicholas Pepe leading Arsenal to a dominant 3-0 victory over Molde and a spot in the last-32.
Pepe was sent-off in a 0-0 draw with Leeds for a petulant head-butt on Ezgjan Alioski on Sunday, and his drive to repay Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was clear in Norway.
The winger curled in an effort after 50 minutes following a tight first-half, before Reiss Nelson doubled the lead five minutes later with a tap-in – with both goals assisted by Joe Willock.
Folarin Balogun made it a perfect night for the Gunners’ Hale End academy graduates, scoring his debut first-team goal for the club.
More to follow…
Arsenal qualified for the Europa League last-32 on Thursday with two games to spare
