Arsenal took on Ostersunds FK in the second leg of their last-32 Europa League clash at the Emirates having earned a 3-0 lead in the contest's opening fixture last week.
Ostersunds gave a workman-like Arsenal a scare in the first half when they grabbed two goals back courtesy of Hosam Aiesh and Ken Sema, leaving the Gunners in a nervous position going into the break.
Any fears of an upset were soon quashed after half-time, however, as Sead Kolasinac lashed home after 47 minutes, which all but wrapped up safe passage for Arsenal into the last-16.
Relive all of the action with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Good evening everyone and thanks for joining us as we bring you live coverage as Arsenal take on Ostersunds FK in the second leg of their last-32 Europa League clash at the Emirates Stadium. Graham Potter and his Swedish charges have a tough ask ahead of them tonight, as they try to overturn a 3-0 Arsenal lead from the first leg.
ARSENAL STARTING XI: Ospina; Bellerin, Chambers, Holding, Kolasinac; Elneny, Maitland-Niles; Iwobi, Wilshere, Mkhitaryan; Welbeck
ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Macey, Mustafi, Monreal, Xhaka, Willock, Nelson, Nketiah
OSTERSUNDS FK STARTING XI: Keita; Mukiibi, Papagiannopoulos, Pettersson, Widgren; Aiesh, Edwards, Nouri, Sema; Hopcutt, Ghoddos
OSTERSUNDS FK SUBSTITUTES: Andersson, Mensiro, Bergovist, Arhin, Tekie, Gerd, Islamovic
As expected Wenger has decided to field a much-changed side from the first leg given the home side's advantage here. There are starts for both Calum Chambers and Rob Holding in the heart of defence, while fellow youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles features in the middle with Mohamed Elneny.
Sead Kolasinac comes in at left-back, while Héctor Bellerín is over on the right. Going forward, Arsenal have Danny Welbeck leading the line, allowing Jack Wilshere, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi operating just behind. David Ospina continues in his Europa position in goal too.
For the visitors, the big news is that key man Hosam Aiesh finally returns to face Arsenal, having been left on the bench through fitness issues last time out. The Swedish side will also lead with Jamie Hopcutt and Saman Ghoddos in attack, the latter having drawn special praise from Wenger following the first leg.
Curtis Edwards maintains his place in midfield, as does Ronald Mukiibi at right-back, although both players are a yellow card away from one-match bans in the competition.
Tonight presents plenty of opportunities for Arsenal's second-string players to stake a claim going forward for the rest of the campaign, and they too will be hoping to impress ahead of Sunday's League Cup final against Manchester City.
It is worth noting that there is some strength and experience in this Arsenal side too, as the Gunners aim to reach the round of 16 unscathed and without any nerves. Looking at how things have panned out domestically, this tournament arguably presents the most realistic way of finding a route into the Champions League next term.
So where exactly are we at in this tie? The Gunners hold a dominant 3-0 lead from the first leg, putting them in a comfortable position with such an abundance of away goals on their side.
Ostersunds will be arriving at a ground where Arsenal have only lost one home game all season, leaving the odds firmly stacked against the Swedish side pulling off something special here.
Perhaps one slight chink in the home armour comes in the Gunners' recent games, whereby Wenger's men have failed to kept a clean sheet in their last five home matches. That has rarely bothered them, though, what with their riches going forward.
Historically, Arsenal's first-leg lead stands them in decent stead too. The Gunners have only been eliminated from one of their last six knockout contests in Europe when they have won the first leg. The last night of heartache came against Barcelona in the last 16 of the 2010-11 Champions League when they missed out on aggregate.
Europe appears to have been the facilitator towards Arsenal's upturn in home form too. Having lost 5-1 to Bayern Munich last March, the Gunners have now only lost one of their last 27 matches at the Emirates, winning 22 and drawing four.
The Gunners have decent form in the second-tier of European cup football when on home soil. Arsenal currently find themselves unbeaten at home in eight UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League matches. The club's last defeat came courtesy of a 3-2 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach at Highbury during the 1996-97 season.
Wenger's sides have tended to do well against the few Swedish opponents that they have faced over the years. The Frenchman has overseen wins in Arsenal's two home European matches against Swedish opposition, beating IFK Gothenburg in March 1980 and AIK in September 1999.
Another slight fillip for the Gunners comes in that statistics that no side from Sweden has won an away European match in England since Osters IF overcame Spurs in the 1995 Intertoto Cup. Since then travelling sides have suffered four defeats and two draws on English soil.
Wenger already made things clear a little earlier in the week that Mkhitaryan would start tonight as he continues to get more minutes under his belt as part of this Arsenal side. The Armenian has remarkable form in this tournament. Since the start of last season, only Aritz Aduriz has played a part in more Europa League goals than Mkhitaryan, with the new Gunners man scoring eight and assisting for six.
The winger has also played an important role domestically too and shown glimpses of the promise he offered while at Borussia Dortmund. Mkhitaryan has created four goals in his first four Arsenal matches, three of those coming at the Emirates against Everton.
Wilshere will be captaining the Gunners this evening...
#CaptainJack 👊 pic.twitter.com/XKazR26Obn
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) 22 February 2018
Despite being heavily behind in this game, tonight represents a real milestone for this Ostersunds side, who have perhaps produced one of the most remarkable stories in European football in recent years. Having taken over in 2011, English coach Graham Potter has lifted the club from the fourth tier of Swedish football and into the top-flight and recently led his side to their first-ever Swedish Cup last term.
Ostersunds finished their 2017 Swedish Allsvenskan season in November. Potter managed to leave them in fifth place, which represents the highest final placing in the club's history in the league. In fact, they were just 14 points off eventual champions Malmo!
Such has been the standout rise of the club, Potter is thought to be being monitored by a number of teams across the continent, with one report suggesting that he is on the radar of Premier League strugglers West Bromwich Albion.
As a measure of just what they have achieved in this tournament, Ostersunds represent the first Swedish club to qualify for the knockout phase of the current incarnation of the Europa League. There have been four others, AIK, Elfsborg, Helsingborg and Malmo, but they have all been eliminated at the group stage.
What is even more remarkable is that FK's three victories this group stage matched the number managed by those four clubs put together... To get where they are tonight, Ostersunds beat Galatasaray over two legs during the qualification stages for this showpiece. That tie saw the Swedish side win 2-0 at home and draw 1-1 away in Turkey.
Curtis Edwards and Jamie Hopcutt will be enjoying their time here tonight. Both players have experience playing in England too.
Ostersunds were formed just a month after Arsene Wenger was appointed Arsenal boss in 1996, and now look where they stand! This really is a special occasion for the club, who have average attendances of about 1,000 back home.
The Swedish side enjoyed a memorable time during the group stages. Potter's men came runners-up behind Athletic Bilbao, with only a better head-to-head separating the teams on 11 points.
Keeper Aly Keita and winger Ken Sema had both been doubts for this fixture, but they'll be delighted that they've managed to earning starting spots at the Emirates. Hopcutt was impressive off the bench last week too so it'll be intriguing to see how he benefits from getting the nod from the get-go.
PREDICTION! Right, just under 15 minutes to go until kickoff and it's time to make a prediction. For all of the beauty and romance in this contest, Arsenal should see themselves through by a healthy margin. Wenger has made a number of changes, but the Gunners will still have far too much quality for the visitors. Hopefully they can find themselves a goal away from home, but I can't see past a drubbing here.
Last week represented the only prior contest between the two teams so there's not too much head-to-head history to inspect prior to kickoff.
In each of the other two seasons that Arsenal have faced a team from Sweden, they have actually gone on to reach a European final though. They have, however, then proceeded to lose both those finals on penalties after goalless draws.
The Gunners first dbeat IFK Göteborg 5-1 on aggregate in 1979-80, but then lost the final on penalties to Valencia. The smaller matter of twenty years later, Arsenal lost a shoot-out against Galatasaray in Copenhagen, having beaten AIK twice in the tournaments group stages.
Heading into this game, Potter has admitted that his side will need something special in London this evening: "You need one of the biggest football miracles to go through, so we have nothing to lose. The only thing you have is the regret of not giving it everything. It is a wonderful opportunity for the players and myself to have this experience."
Wenger took a diplomatic approach, even suggesting that Arsenal still have to focus on the Premier League as their main source of Champions League football next term: "We have to focus on the Premier League. The Europa League is one of the priorities we have. But ideally we want to come back to the Champions League through the Premier League."
Here's a quick recap of the starting XIs as we await the start of the game. Visitors to the Emirates are being treated to a light show of all things....
ARSENAL STARTING XI: Ospina; Bellerin, Chambers, Holding, Kolasinac; Elneny, Maitland-Niles; Iwobi, Wilshere, Mkhitaryan; Welbeck
OSTERSUNDS FK STARTING XI: Keita; Mukiibi, Papagiannopoulos, Pettersson, Widgren; Aiesh, Edwards, Nouri, Sema; Hopcutt, Ghoddos
The players are just taking up their positions across the pitch and then we'll be away!
KICKOFF! The visitors get things moving at the Emirates...
A much better start than last week for the visitors, who scramble forward and feed the ball into Hopcutt. Chambers has to back-pedal under pressure, but Bellerin comes across to cover.
Arsenal make their first inroads down the left channel with Kolasinac on the overlap. The full-back looks to drive towards goal and earn his side a corner, although Mukiibi does brilliantly to make ground and see the ball out for a goal kick.
SHOT! A fast start from the away side... This time Sema comes in off the left and gets the better of Bellerin. The winger turns a ball back across the box for Hopcutt, who cannons his effort into the body of Chambers.
Arsenal are just starting to get a collective foot on the ball, as they work possession inside the visiting half. Wilshere aims to break beyond the last man, but the long through-ball from Chambers is overhit and Osterunds take the goal kick.
The hosts are beginning to take up some awkward positions in between the lines as Welbeck is almost slipped through behind. The visitors then reply with a wonderful break of their own, as Ghoddos slips in Nouri first-time to leave Arsenal all at sea, only for the midfielder to find himself unable to bring the ball under control in front of Opsina's watch.
Ostersunds are showing plenty of steel in the opening exchanges. Welbeck dithers on the ball on the edge of the box, leaving the visitors to nip in and steal possession. The counter comes to nothing, but it's a strong signal of intent from the Swedes.
The Gunners have had plenty of the ball although not too much has come off for Wenger's men going forward. Iwobi is shackled on the left side of the box, leading the youngster to try something spectacular that sees his shot sail high and wide of Keita's goal.
The first real piece of quality from Arsenal now as Bellerin crosses from the right flank. Ostersunds are able to clear for a corner with some neat defending, but the resulting kick is taken short and then worked back towards Opsina - cue boos from the Emirates.
This isn't necessarily the start home fans would have expected, especially already being 3-0 ahead on aggregate. Arsenal have been sloppy in the final third, as displayed by Mkhitaryan who wonders hopelessly offside to receive a simple ball down the right flank.
Ghoddos and Aiesh combine positively down the right channel, leaving Holding to come across and make a strong interception to stop the danger in its tracks. The Arsenal man has cut his head open in the exchange, though.
The Gunners finally spring into action as Mkhitaryan breaks free on the right and soon cuts inside to find Wilshere. The skipper aims to fire from distance, but his eventual shot is deflected away for a corner. The resulting kick looks promising, although the referee has seen an infringement somewhere from an Arsenal shirt.
GOAL! ARSENAL 0-1 OSTERSUNDS (CALUM CHAMBERS, OWN GOAL)
GOAL! ARSENAL 0-2 OSTERSUNDS (KEN SEMA)
What have we just witnessed? In the 22nd minute, Arsenal go to sleep at the back, allowing Aish to creep in at the back post and latch onto a neat through-ball across the pitch. The playmaker fires towards goal and his effort may just take a slight deflection off Chambers on its way into the far corner. From the kickoff, the visitors soon break forward again, leaving Sema to produce some wonderful skill to advance inside the area, and he soon gets his head up and fires a memorable finish across the face of goal and in it at the far post.
That was a dreadful passage of play fro Arsenal, who have shown very little energy in this first half. Ostersund certainly deserve something so far, but they could not have dreamed of both of those goals.
The visitors are now approaching this contest with real belief and vigour after the second goal. It was a fantastic finish from Sema from the second, but you do have to question the defending on both goals. Both Holding and Chambers were dragged all over the place by the away side in the build-up.
The picture on Wenger's face at the moment... He has some real work to do with his players at the break. They're pressing and tackling like they're already through into the last-16.
The second goal has not left the visitors naively excited either. They're approaching proceedings with particular calm as they aim to settle the game with just the one goal required to see them into extra-time at the moment.
Ghoddos has been nothing short of brilliant so far. The forward spins his man on the counter to find a teammate on the overlap, but Kolasinac does well to recover. Arsenal need to be very careful here.
Pettersson makes a brilliant intercept to thwart Mkhitaryan only for the Ostersunds man to be penalised. From the set piece, Wilshere feeds Bellerin on the overlap, leaving Edwards to make a vital tackle before the full-back can cross.
Arsenal have not done too much to respond to the goals and the Gunners are looking short of a leader or two in order to pull this side together.
Arsenal aim to respond with Petterson off the field for stitches, but again the visitors show great courage to step up and press, allowing Papagiannopoulos to dispossess Mkhitaryan on the edge of the box.
Arsenal come again, this time as Wilshere leads a move on the edge of the area. The skipper looks for the return over the top, but the pass is under hit and Ostersunds hoof clear.
CHANCE! Arguably the first proper sighter for Arsenal, as a ball is swung into the middle, leaving the knockdown to fall kindly for Wilshere. He has to hit it first time and the ball goes flying high and wide without troubling Keita.
YELLOW CARD! Maitland-Niles takes one for the team as he goes into the book for a cynical challenge on Nouri in order to stop the counter attack just short of Arsenal's box.
Ghoddos is the man standing over the set piece and he can only send a rather tame bending effort up and over the wall, allowing Opsina to dive to his left and make a fairly easy save.
We're going to have two minutes of additional time in the first period...
HALF TIME: ARSENAL 0-2 OSTERSUNDS
What a truly strange half of football at the Emirates, where Ostersunds have given themselves the chance of pulling off something historic in the Europa League.
The visitors have been by far the better side and are fully deserving of their lead. Both the goals were taken brilliantly and the away side have seemingly capitalised on an Arsenal side half asleep after a 3-0 win in the first leg.
For all of the brilliance from Ostersunds, this Arsenal side have a lot to answer for following the first half. Wenger's charges have been stuck in first gear, pressed poorly and moved the ball merely at walking pace. The Gunners boss has a lot of work to do at the break to sort this mess out.
It'll be interesting to see if Wenger makes changes or whether he leaves the same players to sort out the mess that they've had a hand in creating. Potter will be delighted with his side's application.
SECOND HALF! We are back underway at the Emirates. Arsenal have made a change as Maitland-Niles is hauled off for Granit Xhaka.
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-2 OSTERSUNDS (SEAD KOLASINAC)
And there was me getting excited... Arsenal start with the perfect response in the second half. The hosts make good progress down the right where the ball is chipped into the box for anyone of a number of players. Ostersunds make a real hash of their defending, with Ronald Mukiibi's miss-kick allowing the ball to drop kindly for Kolasinac, who thumps in a timely volley to make it 2-1.
Welbeck does brilliantly with his movement to break beyond the last man, but his finish is a woeful one from a tight angle and Arsenal let Ostersunds off the hook.
SUBSTITUTE: Ostersunds are forced into a change of their own now, as Aish is replaced by Tesfaldet Tekie.
The visitors need two now for qualification and they continue to press ahead in the final third despite Arsenal's sucker punch. Sema is the threat again down the left, but Arsenal do well to see the danger away for a corner.
SAVE! From the corner, Osterunds work the ball towards the back-post for the run of Nouri, leaving Opsina to leap off his line and make a miraculous save down low to keep out a third for the visitors.
Mkhitaryan drops deep to pick up the ball and drive forward. The winger opts to play in Iwobi on the overlap, but the youngster cannot quite keep the ball in play and Ostersunds settle for the goal kick.
Iwobi finds himself over on the right now and he is able to show a wonderful turn of pace to accelerate down the channel, only for Widgren to offer something of his own with a well-timed recovering tackle.
The Gunners have been better in the early stages of the second period, although things are still slightly pedestrian. Ostersunds are being given plenty of time on the ball as they work possession inside their own half.
Despite a number of players being rested, this isn't the best preparation heading into Sunday's League Cup final either.
Edwards has enjoyed himself this evening and he is marshalling the midfield superbly for the away side. When Arsenal do win the ball, however, Welbeck has been unable to make it stick and help setup the counter.
Ostersunds are offering a smart press when Arsenal have the ball and Tekie almost takes full advantage when he is slipped in inside the box, although Bellerin makes a smart interception.
CHANCE! That should be a second for Arsenal, as Iwobi makes room for himself before picking out Welbeck in the middle. The striker should do a lot better with his header, though, as his effort is planted straight at a grateful Keita in the away goal.
Hopcutt and Ghoddos have been quieter in the second half, but they combine this time only for the latter's shot to cannon off Chambers and away for a corner.
SUBSTITUTION: Dino Islamovic comes on to make his debut for the visitors as Mukiibi leaves the field.
We are just starting to see glimpses of this game opening up as we head into the final 15 minutes. Nouri is finding some room inside the Arsenal half to operate and the Gunners will need to be cautious they do not afford him too much room with the ball.
SUBSTITUTE: Arsenal make a change now as skipper Wilshere is subbed off in place of youngster Chris Willock.
Tekie has been impressive since his introduction and this time he is given far too much space on the edge of the box, allowing the substitute to earn his side a corner with a deflected effort.
Sema is still causing some issues too as Ostersunds go in search of a third. Welbeck tries to recover and make a tackle but comes undone. It's only when Chambers retreats that Arsenal can finally clear the danger by winning a cheap free kick.
YELLOW CARD! Edwards goes into the book now as he kicks the ball away in a bid to waste a bit of time. The midfielder has otherwise been impressive this evening.
CLOSE! Arsenal get the chance to turn in a delivery from a corner, which sees Chambers rise highest only to head over the bar with Keita unmoved.
CLOSE! Almost for the visitors as we head into the final embers of the game. A great ball is swung in from Ghoddos, who sees Islamovicat turn the ball beyond the far post under pressure from Chambers.
Both sides are still trying to attack, and it's Arsenal who advance this time through Kolasinac, but Papagiannopoulos watches the ball well and is able to prevent the cross from becoming dangerous.
This game is moving from end to end still and another goal might not be too unlikely. Both sides are just lacking that quality touch in the final third.
SAVE! Arsenal come again with another counter and Welbeck should really level the scores, but the striker can only firmly into Keita, who makes a strong save with his feet.
Three minutes of additional time at the Emirates...
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 1-2 OSTERSUNDS FK
So Arsenal suffer a shock defeat, but they will still find themselves in the draw tomorrow. This will certainly irk Wenger, who gave fringe players a decent chance to shine tonight. As for Potter and his charges, this victory will arguably be the biggest in the club's history and they were fully deserving away from home tonight.
There might be just a slight consideration of what could have been for the visitors, but they gave their all here and had offered the unthinkable at one point tonight. Wenger will certainly be having words with his players after this and they have some work to do in order to get themselves going again before Sunday's League Cup final. That's going to be all from me tonight, thanks for joining us!
Written by
Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd
