Arsenal traveling to Arctic to defeat the undefeated Bodo/Glimt
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 13.10.22. | 12:47
Due to a special circumstances concerning the stadium and the weather, Bodo has 14 out of 14 record at home
Little Bodo/Glimt failed to win a third consecutive title in Norway. The crown went to Molde, but the team from the far north of the continent, near the Arctic (only 90km away), is playing an important role in international competitions this season as well. A draw at the start of the Europa League in Eindhoven against PSV (1:1) opened the door for Kjetil Knudsen's team to win next to dominant Arsenal in Group A. A big advantage of Bode is the Aspmira stadium, especially when the end of the year is approaching and the weather is colder. The data that the yellow and black have 14 consecutive victories in Europe must also worry Mikel Arteta's machinery before today's duel in the fourth round.
Mikel Arteta has had his say on the artifical pitch at Bodo/Glimt's Aspmyra Stadion for this evening's game. 🔴#AFC #Arsenal #Arteta pic.twitter.com/siMTfWAxNE
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) October 13, 2022
Seven days ago Gunners recorded an easy 3:0 win at the Emirates, but now they are traveling to a ground in which all teams lost: Valur, Pristina, Žalgiris, Roma, Zorija, CSKA Sofia, Celtic, AZ Alkmaar, and Roma again with Jose Mourinho in the first match of the quarterfinals of the Conference League, and then this season Key Klasvik, Linfield, Žalgiris and Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League qualifiers and Zurich in the first duel of the group stage in Evropa League. The last club that can boast of having beaten Bode on its ground is Legia at the start of the Champions League qualifiers last year.
The secret is in a specific surface with artificial grass, cold weather, and strong wind, where football players in yellow and black jerseys feel like fish in water. Last season, for example, Mourinho's Roma was defeated by as much as 6:1 in the group stage of the League Conference. In 2022, only Molde managed to beat Bode on Aspmir in Elitseria.
Bodo/Glimt asking home fans not to wear any Arsenal gear at Thursday's Europa League game.
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) October 12, 2022
"There are many Arsenal supporters in Norway and many have both Glimt and Arsenal close to their hearts."
Suspect a few Odegaard jerseys may be stuffed away in cupboards for a day or two.
Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus remained in London for this match, while Oleksandr Zinchenko, Emil Smith Rowe, and Mohamed Elneny are also sidelined due to injuries. It is expected that the Spanish coach could spare the main players - Martin Odegaard, Bukaya Sako, Thomas Partney, Gabriel Martinelli, Granit Xhaka... Arsenal didn’t field the strongest team even in London, so there is no reason for Arteta to risk his best players on cold artificial turf now. The starting line-up will probably include the likes of Vieira, Nketiah, Lokonga, Holding, and goalkeeper Turner...
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