Arsenal are top of their Europa League group after a 1-0 win over Bodo/Glimt. The game got off to a quick start for the Gunners as Eddie Nketiah nearly got on the end of a Bukayo Saka cross before a foul was called.
Like the conditions in the Arctic Circle though, the game went a little cold, but Arsenal were able to edge in front. Bukayo Saka got the ball in the right channel of the box and hit a shot that deflected off a Bodo/Glimt defender. Luckily for the England international, the ball cannoned off his chest and trickled into the net. It was a goal befitting of the low quality contest.
Glimt began to grow in to the match after that and spurned two decent chances through Amahl Pellegrino. Ola Solbakken and Runar Espejord could then easily have put the hosts in front in the second half, but lashed over the goal of Matt Turner who was once again unconvincing on the ball. The Gunners held on though for what will be an important three points. Here football.london takes a look back at some of the moments you may have missed from the game.
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Pre-match fireworks
The buzz around Bodo in the days leading up to this game has been massive and you can tell that this is probably the biggest game in the club's history.
With that in mind the Norwegian champions put on a pre-match show worth of the occasion. Fireworks were on full display and a welcome addition of warmth on what was a freezing night in the Arctic Circle.
Vieira orders Nelson around
It was a big night for Reiss Nelson who was making his first start for Arsenal since January 2020. With Emile Smith Rowe out and Marquinhos not trusted to start you got the feeling this was going to be a huge chance for him.
It took him a little while to get up to the pace of the game though and early on his positioning seemed to be just a little off. This was noticed by his teammate Fabio Vieira who, playing in the left eight role instead of his usual right eight, was seen shouting at the 22-year-old to tell him where to stand.
Arsenal struggle with pitch
With the Arctic conditions it's no surprise that Bodo/Glimt need an artificial pitch to survive the winter months. That does present it's challenges though, however Martin Odegaard was keen that the players "don't talk about it too much" in the build up.
It was impossible to miss the impact it had on the game across the night though. Ben White in particular was a victim as he struggled to keep pace with a through ball from Bukayo Saka down the right flank when the ball simply wouldn't hold up on the plastic turf.
Turner's half time drill
It was another mixed night for Matt Turner. On the rare occasions he was asked to make saves he looked solid enough, but on the far more regular occasions that he was asked to use his feet then there was plenty to be desired.
Interestingly enough at half time though, just before the rest of the Arsenal players came out for second period, Aaron Ramsdale could be seen warming the USMNT 'keeper up with a catching drill. It didn't help his feet, but maybe was designed at getting him focused after a relatively quiet opening 45.
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