Arsenal beat Dundalk 4-1 in Dublin to end Group B with 100 per cent record — the first time they have won six consecutive major European matches since November 2005
Thursday, 10th December 2020 — By Steve Barnett
Europa League: Group B
DUNDALK 2 (Flores 22, Hoare 85)
ARSENAL 4 (Nketiah 12, Elneny 18, Willock 67, Balogun 80)
ARSENAL wrapped up their Europa League Group B campaign with a flawless record after overcoming Dundalk in muddy conditions at the Aviva Stadium tonight (Thursday).
The goals were shared around with Eddie Nketiah, Mohamed Elneny, Joe Willock and Folarin Balogun all finding the back of the net in what was essentially a friendly, with the Gunners having already qualified as group winners.
With nothing riding on the match Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was able to change his entire starting XI in Dublin, naming a raft of youngsters in his squad.
And they rewarded Arteta in style as they helped inspire Arsenal to a 4-1 victory. It was the first time since November 2005 that the north Londoners have won six consecutive major European matches.
“The group stage in general is really positive,” said Arteta after the final whistle. “It’s never easy to win six games in Europe. I think we’ve been really consistent and performing well.”
Nketiah opened the scoring early on after showing the kind of battling spirit often missing in Arsenal’s league offerings so far this season. He charged down Andrew Boyle’s attempted clearance, raced into the box and dinked a clever finish over the onrushing goalkeeper.
Within minutes it was 2-0 courtesy of a screamer from Elneny. The midfielder collected a pass from Emile Smith Rowe, took a touch, and then unleashed a beautiful curling effort into the top corner from all of 25 yards.
Dundalk got themselves back in the game with an equally impressive strike midway through the half. Ex-Wigan midfielder Jordan Flores played a quick give-and-go with Michael Duffy before sending a thunderous, diagonal effort into the far corner.
It could so easily have been 2-2 at the break. Patrick McEleney swung in a dangerous cross from the right that managed to find Darragh Leahy at the far post. The defender looked destined to score, but Calum Chambers did just enough to help deflect the ball over the bar.
The pressure of yet another faltering result was lifted off of Arteta’s shoulders in the 67 minutes. Teenager Balogun held the ball up well inside the Dundalk penalty area before laying it off for Willock to fire through, rather than past, goalkeeper Gary Rogers.
Not content with an assist, Balogun added his name to the scoresheet in emphatic fashion. The 19-year-old striker picked up a pass from Nicolas Pepe and nonchalantly curled a shot into the bottom corner.
Balogun’s performance off the bench was one that left Arteta fielding questions as to whether of not the young forward will be signing a new contract at the club.
The Spaniard explained: “Well, we’re having discussions with the player, he knows we want to retain him at the club.
“We’re trying to resolve it in the best possible way. We want him to stay he said to me he wants to stay at the club, so hopefully we can reach an agreement and extend his contract.”
Dundalk: Rogers, Hoare, Boyle (Gartland, 45), Cleary, Gannon (Mountney, 54), Shields, Flores, Leahy, McEleney (Colovic, 77), Duffy (Wynne, 77), McMillan (Kelly, 53)
Substitutes not used: Corcoran, Sloggett, McCarey, Dummigan
Arsenal: Runarsson, Chambers, Pablo Mari, Mustafi, Soares, Smith Rowe (Cottrell, 77), Maitland-Niles, Elneny (Ceballos, 62), Willock (Azeez, 83), Nketiah (Balogun, 62), Pepe
Substitutes not used: Macey, Saka, Holding, Hein
