The Balogun goal we've seen before
Folarin Balogun netted his first senior goal for Arsenal with his first attempt on goal for the club.
The 19-year-old was expected to leave last summer after rejecting the offer of a contract extension.
However, football.london understands that talks have now resumed and are now moving positively, with Arteta changing his mind on the New York-born forward after 'seeing more of the player in training'.
"I’m feeling really happy, it shows that all the hard work I’ve put in over the years is just starting to pay off," Balogun told Arsenal's official website.
"It’s important that I keep working hard to enjoy more moments like this.
"I didn’t think that particular [break for the goal] was going to be my chance, but I always try to stay ready and I’m happy that on this occasion it paid off.
"It’s been good [to be involved], it’s nice to see the boss showing faith in me. It feels like this is good experience for me, I just need to keep on learning, keep on adding to my game and I’m happy that I could contribute today."
Balogun's immediate impact drew comparisons with his fellow Hale End academy graduate Eddie Nketiah, who scored his first goal for Arsenal 15 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Norwich in the Carabao Cup.
From zero to hero in four days
Mikel Arteta labelled Nicolas Pepe's sending off at Leeds as 'unacceptable', saying the Ivorian 'let the team down'.
The opportunity for redemption can come by fast in football. Four days ago, Pepe was walking off the pitch with many not expecting him to be selected again for the foreseeable.
He looked hungry and desperate to score as soon as the referee blew his whistle at kick off. When the team play through Pepe and release him into space, the 25-year-old thrives and reminds everyone of his qualities.
Pepe's goal against Molde was another example of his magic left foot. Added to that, he made the most touches (80), most crosses (12), most touches in opp. box (11), most take-ons completed (9), most shots (6), most chances created (4) and most shots on target (2).
Furthermore, he has been directly involved in nine goals in his last 10 Europa League games for Arsenal (5 goals and four assists), scoring in his last three European matches.
That's what you call redemption.
The Hale End production line continues
Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Joe Willock, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson all started against Molde.
The Arsenal academy products grew up together and have experienced many of the same ups and downs in their careers so far.
Arsenal's Hale End academy continues to produce some of the best youngsters in the country, and it's testament to the academy scouts who have a consistent track record of identifying top talent for the future.
Willock now has the most assists in the Europa League (4) added to his two group stage goals which have helped establish him as the main man for the Gunners in Europe this season.
There are plenty more prospects coming through too. Ben Cottrell and Karl Hein were unused substitutes, while Emile Smith Rowe showed in his brief cameo appearance what he's all about by notching an assist for Balogun's late goal.
Nelson's new-found hunger
Injuries have paved the way for Reiss Nelson to become a regular in the Arsenal team.
A lack of creativity has prompted Arteta to try a number of options. Against Molde he deployed Alexandre Lacazette in the No.10 role and it worked relatively well showing some nice combination play with Nelson.
There were talks over Nelson filling that position but Arteta admitted that his future lies on the flanks.
"He's made some big steps in the last month or so," said Arteta.
"He's shown what he can do. Again, he's another player that wants to take you on all the time, he's very vertical, he's a great player when he runs in behind and he's very unpredictable. I really like these types of players to play in the wide positions."
Interestingly, Arteta revealed that Nelson has been asking for individual meetings with the manager in order to improve himself.
"Yes. We're doing a lot of work with him, obviously. He's so willing. He's asking for more all the time. He wants individual meetings. He wants to work on the pitch in certain aspects in which we think he can improve.
"He's training really really well, he's developing as well. He had a click and we needed that click. Now it's up to him but I must say that his last performances have been really good."
Nelson was in fine form against Molde and scored an excellent goal as the Gunners secured qualification to the knockout stage.
"Defensively, there are still things he needs to do better," says Arteta, but it is clear that he's on the right track and future opportunities are inevitable with such a congested fixture list.
Arteta's youth policy revealed
Arteta was asked whether he'll hand opportunities to more young players now that Arsenal have qualified for the knockout stages.
While he has blooded players in the competition this season, he is generally picked a team of experienced fringe players with selected youngsters being given their chances.
"For me to play them in friendly games is not a real chance," said Arteta referring to the dead rubber games Arsenal now face in the Europa League.
"You have to give them the right competition and you have to surround them with senior players and big players around them.
"Then you can assess whether they're at the level, whether they have the personality to play at this club, how they react to good and bad moments and this is what we are trying to do.
"To play the next game, they have to earn it, just like everybody else in the squad, because we want to finish first. I think we are using our young players well in the competition."
It will be interesting to see what team he plays for Arsenal's home match against Rapid Vienna next Thursday, with 2000 fans set to return to Emirates Stadium for the first time in seven months.
