Arsenal can seal their place in the Europa League knockout stage when they take on Molde on Thursday, LIVE on talkSPORT 2.
Things aren’t going to plan for Arsenal domestically but matters in Europe are going swimmingly, having amassed a maximum nine points from their three group games, including a 4-1 win against the Norwegian side at the Emirates Stadium earlier this month.
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And Mikel Arteta’s men can proceed to the next stage of the competition with two games to spare. However, they’ll be required to better Rapid Vienna’s result against minnows Dundalk in order to achieve this.
There’s pretty much no danger that the Gunners will fail to reach the last 32 of the competition but Arteta will want the team to seal their qualification as group winners and as quickly as possible so their full attention can be turned to catching up in the Premier League.
They’re currently 12th in the top flight, with their latest result seeing them play out a goalless draw at Leeds, a match which saw Nicolas Pepe receive a red card for a petulant headbutt on Ezgjan Alioski.
Pepe is suspended for Arsenal’s next three domestic matches and Arteta described his behaviour as ‘unacceptable’.
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But the Arsenal boss suggested Pepe could be given a chance to redeem himself for the Europa League clash.
“No, it is absolutely not (the end of his Arsenal career after the red card). It’s not about that and I don’t like that type of statement.
“I will give Nico my full support all the time. He knows where he has to improve and we all know his qualities.
“He has some responsibility, I have a lot of responsibility, which is to get the best out of him and get the best position for him, the best areas where he can do what he can do with the ball.
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“I cannot fault his effort at all. You see the way he strives for the team, the way he’s working, it’s been the best since he’s been at the club.
“But there have been some aspects he can do better in because he has the ability. That’s where I’m going to put the pressure on him to deliver what he can do. To say it’s a threat for him to finish his (Arsenal) career, it is not at all like that.
“He has reacted the right way after that (sending off) and hopefully I can see a player that shows that every week.
“It is in his hands. He is a player I really like, that I know what he can give, and it is completely up to him.”
Arsenal team news
David Luiz will return to the Arsenal squad having missed the goalless draw at Leeds following the birth of his daughter.
Forward Pepe is available for the European fixture, but Bukayo Saka (dead leg) and Willian (calf) have not travelled to Norway.
Thomas Partey is also sidelined with a thigh injury, while Mohamed Elneny and Sead Kolasinac are unavailable following positive COVID-19 tests. Gabriel Martinelli’s knee injury makes him a long-term absentee.
Predicted Arsenal line-up to face Molde
Listen to full commentary of Molde vs Arsenal LIVE on talkSPORT 2, kick-off 5:55pm
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