Arsenal secure Europa League top spot after Kieran Tierney goal seals win over FC Zurich

Gunners endure nervy finish against spirited Swiss side at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday

Arsenal's Kieran Tierney scores the only goal of the game against FC Zurich in the Europa League match at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, November 4, 2022. Reuters

Arsenal's Fabio Vieira goes for the spectacular against Zurich but fails to connect with ball. AP

Kieran Tierney celebrates with Arsenal teammate Mohamed Elneny after scoring. Getty

FC Zurich's Fidan Aliti earns a yellow card for this challenge on Arsenal's Fabio Vieira of Arsenal. PA

Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus battles for the ball with Lindrit Kamberi of FC Zurich. Reuters

Arsenal attacker Eddie Nketiah heads at goal. AFP

Zurich goalkeeper Yanick Brecher saves Eddie Nketiah's second-half header. Getty

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney after having his shirt ripped in second half. AFP

Zurich's Nikola Katic is shown a yellow card by referee Erik Lambrechts. AP

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. AFP

Arsenal substitute Bukayo Saka has a cross charged down by FC Zurich's Fidan Aliti. PA

Soccer Football - Europa League - Group A - Arsenal v FC Zurich - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - November 3, 2022 Arsenal's Kieran Tierney celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS / David Klein

FC Zurich goalkeeper Yanick Brecheris beaten by Kieran Tierney's strike in the first half. AFP

Kieran Tierney was the Arsenal match-winner against FC Zurich as the Gunners progress from their Europa League group in first place and avoid a potentially tricky knockout round play-off tie.

Arsenal needed to match the result of Group A rivals PSV Eindhoven to secure top-spot and Tierney’s fine finish was just enough to see off a spirited Zurich side 1-0.

PSV won away to Bodo/Glimt so a victory at the Emirates Stadium was required as Mikel Arteta’s side – showing seven changes from the 5-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday – failed to fire.

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.

Like United at Real Socieded, Arsenal hit the front with 17 minutes on the clock as Fabio Vieira saw two shots blocked – the ball breaking kindly for Tierney to arrow home from the edge of the penalty area.

The breakthrough gave Arsenal the impetus but Vieira saw an effort blocked by an unwitting Gabriel Jesus after Eddie Nketiah seemed to be pulled back in the area, although Belgian referee Erik Lambrechts was unmoved.

Zurich forced Aaron Ramsdale into meaningful action for the first time as Jonathan Okita’s shot took a deflection, the England goalkeeper reacting well to shift his weight and save low to his right.

At the other end, Tanick Brecher in the Zurich goal went one better as he tipped an Nketiah header away at full stretch.

Arsenal failed to add to their lead before the break with Jesus seeing a close-range shot turned behind by Brecher soon after the restart.

With PSV 2-1 up in Norway, Arteta called for the calvary as Bukayo Saka – an injury doubt before the game – and Thomas Partey came off the bench just after the hour.

The lead was a slender one and hearts were in mouths for a couple of seconds after Adrian Guerrero had fired home, only for the offside flag to cut short celebrations in the away end.

Arteta responded with further alterations as Takehiro Tomiyasu and captain Martin Odegaard were also introduced.

But the nerves began to creep into the home fans as Arsenal failed to add to their narrow lead, Zurich pushing forward and penning Arsenal into their own half.

Tomiyasu limped off injured to add to the late drama but the hosts eventually saw out the remainder of the contest to take their place at the top of Group A.

"We just had to show fight and hunger because Zurich came here with so much of that. We knew they would and we knew it would be tough with the man-to-man way they played," Tierney told BT Sport. "It's just a shame we didn't score more. It's hard to say why – we won 5-0 three days ago."