Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal for 'digging in' and overcoming Zurich to seal place in Europa League last-16... as he backs Gabriel Jesus to end goal drought after EIGHT games without scoring

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Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal for 'digging in' and overcoming Zurich to seal place in Europa League last-16... as he backs Gabriel Jesus to end goal drought after EIGHT games without scoring

  • Arteta admitted that his Arsenal players were 'a bit leggy' on Thursday night
  • He made seven changes from the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday
  • Defender Kieran Tierney was the surprise match-winner with a first-half strike 

Mikel Arteta praised his Arsenal side for 'digging in' and seeing off Zurich to advance as winners of their Europa League group.

The Gunners secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory on Thursday night, Kieran Tierney the surprise match-winner with a fine first-half strike that settled the contest.

Needing to match PSV Eindhoven's result away to Bodo/Glimt Arteta's side - showing seven changes from the 5-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday - failed to fire.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised his players for seeing off FC Zurich on Thursday night

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised his players for seeing off FC Zurich on Thursday night

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised his players for seeing off FC Zurich on Thursday night

But, after Manchester United had only been able to seal second place in their group earlier in the evening, the win means Arsenal will avoid the likes of Barcelona, Juventus and Sevilla as they receive a bye into the round of 16.

'We expected a really tough match,' said Arteta.

'We watched how they changed since the new manager arrived, it was difficult to get any real momentum, we had to adapt.

'We had some big chances that we didn't put away and we made the game more difficult in the last 20 minutes.

Kieran Tierney scored his first goal in 11 months as Arsenal held on to claim victory

Kieran Tierney scored his first goal in 11 months as Arsenal held on to claim victory

'We didn't control certain situations and we had to dig in, which we did. We found a way to win and we are top of the group.'

Arteta also insists he believes Gabriel Jesus' goal drought will soon come to an end as the Brazilian has now gone eight games without finding the back of the net.

'That's going to change,' added the Spaniard.

'He is getting the chances, contributing to the team an awful lot, helping us to win matches with the way he competes for every single ball is incredible.

Tierney's ferocious strike from outside the box nestled in the bottom corner

Tierney's ferocious strike from outside the box nestled in the bottom corner

'It will come. He needs to be patient. He's been through these spells in the past and he needs to learn those lessons and not stop doing the things he does so well because that will maintain the level of him and the team.'

Arteta admitted that his Arsenal players were 'a bit leggy'.

He added: 'Yes I think we had the chances to the win the game in the first half to get the game to a much more comfortable position, but we didn't do that, we gave them some hope and belief especially in the second half. We got a bit leggy and gave them one or two chances but we managed to not concede a goal and keep the clean sheet and win the game.

'We had been rotating, I think we are the team that had been rotating most in Europe. I think today we had to do that, first of all because players deserve chances and deserve minutes and the second one is because of the amount of games that we play, it is impossible to maintain the rhythm, intensity and players feet with he schedule.'

Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah both missed chances to wrap up the win in the second-half

Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah both missed chances to wrap up the win in the second-half

Zurich had a late goal ruled out and winger Jonathan Okita felt the visitors applied themselves well.

'In the last 10 minutes we tried to push a little bit, but of course it's not easy,' he said.

'Arsenal are a good team and we tried to do our best. We gave 100 per cent today and we're happy with our performance.

'We had a difficult start to the season and the fans have always been with us, supporting us, pushing us, singing all the time. Today you could see how they sang for the whole game.'

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