Pepe’s Redemption Song

Molde 0 – 3 Arsenal (Europa League Group Stages)

After our constipated recent outings in the Premier League, we once again used the Europa League to rediscover how to play attacking football: and the key factor was a good dose of the runs.

We passed and moved, passed and moved with positive intent for much of the game and, crucially, we did it with runners off the ball. A stark contrast with our EPL form where we pass and stand still, pass and stand still, pass back to the ‘keeper.

Overall it was an encouraging performance with good outings from some of the young starters and pleasing cameos.

As expected, Mikel Arteta made numerous changes from the team that ground out a dour nil-nil at Elland Road.

Runarsson started in goal again, David Luiz (back from celebrating the birth of his baby girl) and Mustafi were at CB, with Cedric and Maitland-Niles as the fullbacks. Xhaka, Willock and Nelson were in MF behind a front three of Pepe, Nketiah and Lacazette.

Although we ran out comfortable winners it was not all plain sailing and in the first half (just as in the fixture at the...