Arsenal enjoyed a much more pleasant night than Manchester United on Thursday as they booked their ticket to the Europa League last 16 with a narrow 1-0 victory over FC Zurich.
Kieran Tierney scored the goal to send the Gunners through as group winners, unlike United, who'll now take part in a play-off round against a side demoted from the Champions League next February in a bid to continue their run in the competition.
Now knowing their schedule for the early part of 2023, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal's bigwigs can look further towards the future, with transfer plans for the January window reportedly in place already. Sitting top of the Premier League with just two games to go before the season pauses for the World Cup, the Gunners will want to capitalise on their new-found success in the transfer market.
Here's a round-up of the latest news from the Emirates.
Group stage ends on a high
Arsenal ensured last week's defeat to PSV Eindhoven was the only blot on their Europa League group campaign by beating FC Zurich 1-0 at the Emirates on Thursday. Kieran Tierney's excellent strike was enough to give Mikel Arteta and co all three points, but a number of other players put in noteworthy performances.
Eddie Nketiah played two thirds of the match out wide and looked bright in an unfamiliar role. Albert Sambi Lokonga added competition to the midfield with a solid display, although Fabio Vieira won't be replacing Martin Odegaard in the starting lineup any time soon.
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Tierney sends clear message
Kieran Tierney wants to make the left-back role his again after failing to nail it down this season. With Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu sharing the role in the Premier League, their 25-year-old Scottish colleague has been left to feature in their Europa League fixtures.
Tierney, however, hopes that his goal against Zurich will help change Mikel Arteta's mind. "I want to play every single chance I can get," the former Celtic star told BT Sport post-match. "But I'm going to keep working hard. The manager knows I'll give 100 per cent every single day, whether I'm starting or not – I'll support the team from the bench. If I need to come on, or if I start, I'll give everything."
Have your say! Should Tierney be Arsenal's starting left-back? Join the debate in the comments section.
Transfer plans in motion
It's almost the end of the year, so the January transfer rumblings are, naturally, beginning to sound. While Orlando City starlet Facundo Torres and Shakhtar Donetsk 's Mykhaylo Mudryk have been linked with moves to north London, another target has emerged.
Italian outlet Calciomercato claim that 22-year-old Swiss forward Noah Okafor of RB Salzburg is next on Arsenal's list. The Gunners will reportedly rival Leeds United for his sought-after signature and already lead the race, with Okafor memorably notably against Chelsea in September.
