Nacho Monreal and an own goal from Sotirios Papagiannopoulous put Arsenal in full control at the break, before Mesut Ozil added a third to effectively wrap up the tie ahead of next week's second leg.

Ostersunds played their part but in added-on time, Tom Pettersson squandered a chance to boost their slim chances of progression by missing a penalty.

The first chance of the game went to the returning Danny Welbeck, who headed wide of the far post after meeting Mohamed Elneny's cross, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan also had an effort cleared off the line by a defender.

However, from the resulting corner, the Gunners took the lead through Monreal, who converted from close range after Aly Keita had fumbled the ball into his path.

Mkhitaryan had a long-range effort parried away but Arsenal soon doubled their advantage when Papagiannopoulos diverted a cross from the Armenian playmaker into his own net.

However, going further behind turned out to be the catalyst for a revival from Ostersunds, who had Alhaji Gero force David Ospina into an acrobatic save with a volley from distance.

Saman Ghoddos then saw a low strike comfortably kept out by Ospina, who also had to be equal to a 20-yard free kick from Ken Sema.

Mkhitaryan curled a shot wide for Arsenal in added-on time but despite trailing by two goals, it was Ostersunds who had momentum heading into the break.

When the teams returned for the restart, the home side remained in the ascendancy but the chances dried up in front of goal, allowing Arsenal to eventually get back up the other end and effectively put the tie out of Ostersunds' reach.

Ozil picked up the ball around 30 yards from goal and after exchanging passes with Mkhitaryan, the German took a touch before firing the ball through Keita and into the net.

Ostersunds attempted to mount a response but unlike in the first half, they were unable to create any kind of a threat on the Arsenal goal, and the Gunners were content to play the ball around without showing much intent in the final third.

Elneny and Welbeck both sent long-range efforts off target and as Arsenal remained in control of the game, Arsene Wenger was able to introduce both Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah.

In added-on time, Ostersunds had the opportunity to score a consolation goal which would have kept the tie alive, but Ospina guessed right to save from Pettersson's penalty.

OSTERSUNDS FK (4-4-2): Keita; Mukiibi, Papagiannopoulos, Pettersson, Widgren (Bergqvist 73'); Edwards, Nouri (Tekie 46'), Mensah Sema; Ghoddos, Gero (Hopcutt 46')

ARSENAL XI (4-2-3-1): Ospina; Bellerin, Chambers, Mustafi, Monreal (Kolasinac 73'); Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan (Nelson 84'), Ozil; Welbeck (Nketiah 83')