Mikel Arteta's Arsenal completed a convincing 3-0 win over Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday. 

Eddie Nketiah and Rob Holding gave Arsenal a first half lead, with Fabio Vieira rounding off the scoring late in the second half.

  • Story of the match

Arsenal had the first good chance of the game coming in the 9th minute. Kieran Tierney's low cross was touched back to Vieira by  Nketiah, but the Portuguese midfielder smashed the ball just over the crossbar.

It was the Gunners who broke the deadlock just past the 20 minute mark though. Arsenal flew down the pitch on the counterattack, with Tierney's shot from range smashing off the post, and the resulting rebound falling to Nketiah who made no mistake in scoring his second goal of the Europa League campaign.

Not five minutes later, Arsenal had doubled their advantage through defender Holding. The 27-year-old rose highest to meet Vieira's long cross, heading the ball into the bottom corner giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Granit Xhaka came close to a third for the North London side, with his free kick from the edge of the box being tipped over the crossbar by the fingertips of the Bodo/Glimt shot stopper.

The Swiss midfielder nearly turned provider on the cusp of half time, cutting the ball back to Vieira from the byline, but the 22-year-old's shot from just outside the box narrowly missed the target.

Arsenal came out for the second half in a similar fashion to how they ended the first, with Gabriel Martinelli making a fantastic run down the left before Xhaka forced a great save out of Nikita Haikin.

Bodo/Glimt grew into the game though, and were the better side for the first quarter of an hour of the second half. The Norwegian side made a number of chances, their best coming from winger Amahl Pellegrino, who was able to force a good save from Matt Turner after squeezing a good shot through a number of red and white shirts inside the box.

The Gunners nearly had their illusive third goal when Martin Odegaard slipped the ball through to Niketiah with 10 minutes to go, but Haikin was quick off his line forcing the striker to fire his effort well over the bar.

Arsenal finally added to their nights tally through Vieira who scored from close range after substitute Gabriel Jesus made a fantastic solo run, beating multiple players before threading a pass through to his teammate from the byline.

Gabriel Magalhaes nearly joined his defensive partner Holding on the scoresheet when he connected with a good corner, but his header bounced just over the crossbar.

Bodo/Glimt almost got a goal back in the dying embers of the game, but Turner was equal to Ulrick Saltnes' strong effort from close range.

The result sees Arsenal secure their fourth win in a row in all competitions, as well as top spot in Group A. 

The Gunners now look ahead to Liverpool's visit to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday in the Premier League, before flying to Norway where they once again face Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.

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