Ostersund boss Graham Potter hopes Arsenal win Europa League after claiming famous victory at Emirates

Arsenal may have knocked Ostersund out of the Europa League but the Swede’s manager Graham Potter hopes to be cheering them all the way to the final after the Gunners’ last 32 aggregate win.

Eight years after Potter joined them as a fourth division side Ostersund enjoyed perhaps the greatest result in their history as they overcame Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Hosam Aiesh and Ken Sema scored in two first-half minutes to raise hopes of a remarkable comeback before Sead Kolasinac struck for the Gunners moments after the interval, effectively ending Ostersund's charge for the last 16 even though the Swedes outclassed their hosts throughout the second leg.

The victory in London was not enough to overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg but that scarcely spoiled the delight for former Birmingham City and Stoke defender Potter.

“I’m incredibly proud of the performance,” he said. “We talked about trying to play well, trying to win the match and hoping for the miracle. We got two out of three.

“The manner of our performance, the courage of our players, the quality of the football, the intelligence of their play was of a real good level.

“We congratulate Arsenal for going through. We hope that they go on to win the competition. But from our perspective we’ve gone toe to toe with them except maybe for those 20 minutes of the first game. We’ve shown that we’re a good side, we’ve shown what we’re about.

“I’ve got nothing but admiration for our players and fans. To perform as we did is a matter of great pride to me.

“Of course I’d like them to [win],” he added. “If you’re going to get knocked out you’d like to get knocked out by the team that wins the competition.

“As an English guy I want them to do well. Good luck to them.”