Arsenal do just enough to see off a fighting Ostersunds to progress

Arsene Wenger thought he had the luxury of resting some of his key players ahead of their League Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday due to their commendable aggregate lead, although Jack Wilshere was a surprise inclusion, given many would expect him to feature in Sunday’s finale.

However, that really depended on Ostersunds ability to stage a comeback, as the ‘Gunners’ looked like a sure bet to progress with a 3-0 aggregate lead going into the second leg. Although, it wouldn’t last long.

- Ostersunds fight back -

The visitors started the match the livelier side, posing dangers down both flanks through Hosam Aiesh and Ken Sema, which would prove the decisive factor in the opening half.

In the 22nd minute, Aiesh broke free down the right wing and charged toward the Arsenal goal.  As he fired his shot across the face of the goal, it took an important, but slight, deflection off Calum Chambers’ boot to steer it into the back of the net and pull one goal back for the Swedish outfit.

However, the deficit would shrink again 69 seconds through Sema. A great ball over the top of the ‘Gunners’ defence left them woefully exposed and sent the winger racing towards Chambers, who was subsequently left for dead, before Sema rifled his shot across goal and into the bottom far corner.

The Emirates was understandably stunned as they saw a 3-0 aggregate lead obliterated to 3-2 in just over a minute, leaving the home side desperately searching to find a goal to restore their breathing room. Although all they could muster was frustration.

Despite their best efforts, Arsenal could only create half-chances through long-range shots from Wilshere and Alex Iwobi as the Ostersunds defence coped well, with head coach Graham Potter going into the half-time break delighted with his team’s performance.

-Arsenal punish the Swedes -

However, it wasn’t long after the restart that Arsenal gave themselves some breathing room, after capitalising on a defensive error by Ronald Mukiipi.

Hector Bellerin lofted in a ball from the right which the Ostersund defender embarrassingly air-kicked to set up Sead Kolasinac, who had no trouble firing it into the back of the net to restore some of the ‘Gunners’ lead.

It was a big blow for the visitors who were looking to build on their first half momentum but their misery would be compounded 5 minutes later when star performer Aiesh had to be replaced after picking up a hamstring injury.

They tried to fight back though and were awarded with a great chance in the 54th minute as they played a short corner to Brwa Nouri just outside the box. He proceeded to whip it in and after a slight touch off Hopcutt’s head, it falls at the feet of a poaching Mukiipi who is free on goal. David Ospina was quick to react, closing down the danger to scoop the ball into his hands.

From then either side would exchange chances as Arsenal looked to put the tie to bed while Ostersunds searched for a glimmer of hope of progressing into the Round of 16.

It would be to no avail though as the home side's class proved too much for the visitors to overcome. The scoreline finished with an Ostersunds win at the Emirates, but a 4-2 aggregate victory for the Premier League outfit to see them through to the next stage, although it wasn’t quite as comfortable as they would have liked.

Graham Potter and his team can still walk away with their heads held high though because they are the first Swedish side to win an away European match in England since Östers IF beat Tottenham in the 1995 Intertoto Cup - a small consolation for their effort.

As for Arsenal, Arsene Wenger side can now turn their attention to that League Cup battle on Sunday, which will undoubtedly be a much tougher encounter.