Pepe stunner helps Arsenal to comfortable win over Dundalk as Mikel Arteta's youngsters impress
Sam Dean
·18-min read
Arsenal's English striker Eddie Nketiah celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 2 Group B football match between Arsenal and Dundalk at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 29, 2020. - AFP/GLYN KIRK
A night for Arsenal to answer a few questions and for the academy graduates to remind Mikel Arteta of their quality. The doubts over Arsenal’s creativity will not be erased by one victory in the Europa League, especially against a side of Dundalk’s comparatively meagure resources, but their attacking play here can certainly be seen as encouraging progress.
At the forefront of it all were three of Arsenal’s most talented youngsters: Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson. Willock and Nelson, in particular, have not had the first-team minutes they would have wanted this season, so this was an opportunity they seized with both hands.
Was it enough to play themselves into Arteta’s plans for Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford? Probably not, but they at least gave the Arsenal manager something to think about. Nketiah scored the first, Willock got the second and then went on to create the third for Nicolas Pepe as Dundalk’s defensive efforts were emphatically undone.
In many ways, just being here at the Emirates was an accomplishment in its own right for Dundalk. They remain a proud group of players, though, with no little quality in their ranks, and it would be nothing short of patronising to suggest they were simply happy to be playing a team of Arsenal’s might.
Indeed it was clear from the first few moments that rookie manager Filippo Giovagnoli had a tailored plan for the occasion, with the Irish side setting up in their shape and frustrating Arsenal from the opening few minutes. They had the first meaningful shot of the day, too, with Arsenal debutant Alex Runarsson diving low to save from Patrick McEleney.
Arteta’s side have struggled against deep-lying defences in recent weeks but, after a slow start here, their dominance of the ball soon meant there was an air of inevitability to the occasion. With Granit Xhaka deployed at centre-back, youngsters Nketiah, Willock and Reiss Nelson led the charge for the home side.
In the Dundalk goal was Gary Rogers who, at 39, is a year older than Arteta. He was as busy as expected, saving from Sead Kolasinac and Willock, but then paid the price for failing to clear a corner. Ever the predator, Nketiah was there to slam home the loose ball three minutes before the break.
Arsenal's English striker Eddie Nketiah celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League 1st round day 2 Group B football match between Arsenal and Dundalk at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 29, 2020 - AFP/GLYN KIRK
Rogers would have been disappointed with himself for the first but he could do nothing about Arsenal’s second, rifled into the roof of the net by Willock after Pepe’s shot had been deflected into his path. It was the least Willock deserved for a first-half performance full of energy and drive.
The young midfielder was involved again after half-time, finding Pepe on the edge of the box. Arsenal’s record signing had struggled in the first half but his subsequent control and finish, high into the top corner, was of the highest class.
There were just 257 seconds between the three goals, which ripped the hope out of Dundalk. Arsenal were then able to make changes, with Mohamed Elneny joining Xhaka at the back to form an unlikely defensive pairing.
Nelson continued to provide a constant threat for Arsenal as he dribbled at the Dundalk defence whenever he could. He was soon joined by another academy boy, the highly-rated Folarin Balogun, who came on for his debut. Dundalk battled on but both they and Arsenal ultimately seemed content to leave the score at three.
...you should now see Sam Dean's match report from The Emirates.
09:52 PM
FULL TIME: Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
Comfortably in the end, Arsenal win their second game from two and they will top Group B on goal difference as it stands. Molde — who won last week too — are 1-0 up at home to Rapid Vienna so will sit level on points with Arsenal.
09:50 PM
90+2 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
Three minutes of added time and it doesn't look like we'll see another? Or will we? Nelson with a cross from the right, Gartland clears. They've shipped three but you can still say Dundalk have defended decently tonight. Have made it harder for Arsenal than it might have been.
09:48 PM
89 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
I don't care if nothing else happened in this match, though, it would have been worth it just to see Pepe's goal. It. Was. Superb. Dundalk have had a bit of a rotten second half here but there is obviously just a gulf in ability and class between these two sides. Arteta will be pretty happy with what he's seen though, I think.
09:47 PM
86 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
Yeah, we're at the "petering out" point of this match now. As if to underline that, Elneny has a shot from nearly 40 yards away and, like almost every other long-range shot this evening, it's nowhere near the goal.
09:42 PM
83 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
Willian races to the byline, crosses and Boyle heads out for an Arsenal corner. It's a short one and it's poor, but at least Arsenal keep the ball. Tierney has a wild and looping cross but Colovic at the far post has to put it out for another corner, with a red shirt lurking behind him.
09:38 PM
78 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
Again, lovely build-up play from Arsenal, Nelson and Maitland-Niles involved. Tierney has a free shot from the left edge of the box but he fires over. Just not on top of it. It's a little easy for Arsenal at the moment. Wouldn't be surprised if this ends with another for them.
09:35 PM
75 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
I mean, this has been far from embarrassing from Dundalk. Three goals in six minutes is not great at any level of the game, though, and that was the game done really. Nelson makes a great burst through the middle for Arsenal, encouraging performance from him tonight.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10983790k) Reiss Nelson of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Europa League group B match between Arsenal London and Dundalk in London, Britain, 29 October 2020. Arsenal London vs Dundalk, United Kingdom - Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
09:32 PM
75 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
A rare foray into the Arsenal half for Dunalk. A free kick straight in front of goal but a loooong way out. Ronaldo-style distance. Hoban has a go but it doesn't have the direction or the power or... well, it was just a poor effort really.
09:31 PM
73 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
Kieran Tierney on, Granit Xhaka off.
09:29 PM
71 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
The fizz has gone out of the game a bit now. Dundalk have had to labour to this point and they're not meaningfully in this game in any way, after a decent first half our. Still, plenty of intent from Arsenal, decent effort from a fair few of their younguns tonight.
09:26 PM
67 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
Nketiah nearly there to poach a goal after a great ball in from the right, he can't get enough on it, challenging the keeper coming out. 20 minutes without a goal now, Dundalk have stemmed the flow of goals.
Nelson has been a bright spark for Arsenal so far this evening. Anyway, Willian comes on for Pepe and Ceballos on for Mustafi.
09:18 PM
59 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
A couple of replacements due for Arsenal, one of whom will be Willian.
09:14 PM
57 mins - Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
Telegraph Sport's Sam Dean, at the Emirates.
Arsenal academy boys really leading the charge here. Nelson sharp on the flanks, Nketiah scoring his customary poacher's goal & Willock showing plenty of energy in the middle.
Is Willock the only #AFC midfielder capable of breaking forward like this? Food for thought for Arteta
It's unravelling for Dundalk now. And quickly. Nice bit of tidy buld-up play started with Willock again, rolls the ball to Pepe on the edge of the box, who traps the ball with his left foot, rolls it forward a touch to create space and then SMASHES it into the top right corner! Wonderful stuff, that.
Arsenal 3 Dundalk 0
09:03 PM
Second half...
Slogget on for Murray for Dundalk.
09:00 PM
Telegraph Sport's Dan Zeqiri on Arsenal's first 45
Willock and Nelson probably the pick of that so far. I think Nelson offers a nice balance from the left, you could play Saka inside of him as the left No 8 or in Maitland-Niles’ role. Whoever it is, I would like to see just one striker more often.
Well, it was 40 minutes or so of Arsenal being average and Dundalk defending well but it all collapsed soon after.
08:44 PM
GOAAAAAAAL! The resistance well and truly ended...
Joe Willock with the goal now, neat finish...
Nketiah on the right slides it to Pepe, his shot is blocked on the edge of the box. It goes straight to Willock, who takes a fantastic touch with the outside of his right boot on the left of the box, he opens his body and sidefoots with his right, it flies past Rogers and into the top corner! Superb finish, though it would have been a bad miss.
Arsenal 2 Dundalk 0
08:43 PM
GOAAAAAAAAL! Arsenal have the breakthrough!
It's an error at the corner from veteran keeper Gary Rogers...
He comes out, flaps at it, doesn't connect with his punch, the ball bounces around and Nketiah thwacks it in from a couple of yards out...
Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Arsenal FC and Dundalk FC at Emirates Stadium on October 29, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. - Getty Images Europe
Arsenal 1 Dundalk 0
08:40 PM
39 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
The pressure is increasing from Arsenal but only incrementally. And it's not bringing about much. Another Arsenal corner almost brings a goal, though! The best chance so far. A shot from deep by Pepe picks up a couple of deflections and ends at the feet of Nketiah but he just can't get it away!
08:37 PM
36 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
Fair to say this has not been a scintillating first half, Arsenal trying hard to break through, have had a couple of openings but no real clear cut chances. Dundalk have defended well and tried to catch Arsenal on the break. As you'd expect, really.
08:35 PM
33 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
Willock battles through on the right, fires back a nice cross to Kolasinac near the back post... the header is at the keeper, who has to tip it over the bar.
08:31 PM
30 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
Nketiah almost finds a way through but the Dundalk defence snuff out the danger in front of goal before he can shoot. Dundalk counter well, though Murray fluffs his half volley. Still, the move results in a corner.
Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal takes on Andy Boyle of Dundalk during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Arsenal FC and Dundalk FC at Emirates Stadium on October 29, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors - Getty Images Europe /Mike Hewitt
08:31 PM
28 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
Is this a little too ponderous from Arsenal at the moment? Perhaps, but Dundalk are defending well at the moment in fairness. It has not been much more than lukewarm from Arsenal, though, however well the visitors have done.
08:27 PM
25 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
It's pretty much all Arsenal now, finding most of the joy on the left. Dundalk haven't been out of their half at all in the last five or ten. Now they do as Arsenal's move breaks down. Their own move breaks down with an awfulc ross by Mountney from the right. Waste.
08:24 PM
22 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
Arsenal carving out a few more openings here, Pepe leaps into the air to get his head onto a looping cross but his header itself loops over. Was a tough chance, though, and just couldn't get over it from about 10 yards out.
08:21 PM
19 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
Sead Kolasinac with some nifty play on the left, linking up with Nelson. The ball is loose before he can get a shot or cross away and Dundalk put it out for a corner.
08:19 PM
17 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
And there it nearly was, Willock with some lovely play on the right, but the ball across the six-yard box had nobody there to tap it in. Better.
08:18 PM
15 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
Not a great deal to talk about so far. Dundalk doing a decent job across the field, Arsenal have opened them up once or twice but to no great end. I do think it'll be a matter of time before we see a clear cut chance this half, though, as Arsenal settle into it.
08:14 PM
12 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
Pepe's time to have a long-range shot, the only type of real chances we've had so far. This is from the right edge of the box, with his left foot and it's nowhere near the goal, again, wide and high.
08:12 PM
10 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
Cannot exactly say that either side has found much fluency yet but it's the opening 10 minutes, it doesn't often happen. Cedric picks up a loose ball about 20 yards out, has a crack with his left foot and it's horribly sliced high and wide ... and not very handsome.
08:09 PM
6 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
You wonder about how the effect of games with no fans has on fixtures like this. Obviously would be an absolutely huge game for Dundalk usually and there would be plenty of talk about being "overawed" or something like that but does that lessen without the crowd? It must do. Still, Dundalk have definitely not been overawed in the opening few minutes.
08:05 PM
3 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
Close from McEleney! He has a crack from 25 yards out, it flies low along the ground and Runarsson has to deflect it behind for a corner with his right-hand...
08:03 PM
2 mins - Arsenal 0 Dundalk 0
Maitland-Niles, in midfield tonight, bursts through on the left... but it comes to nothing. Decent intensity in the game in the opening couple of minutes.
08:01 PM
Kick off!
It's on.
07:58 PM
The players are walking out at the Emirates
Decent kit from Dundalk. Black, like it.
07:55 PM
If now isn't the best time to post in this blog Half Man Half Biscuit's 'Bob Wilson Anchorman'...
...then when is? Former Arsenal "stopper" in the title and it also mentions Dundalk.
The immortal lines: Well I'd like to meet Stephenson the engineer And I'd like to meet Faraday and buy him a beer And I'd love to meet the bloke who had the bright idea of Bob Wilson – anchorman
07:50 PM
Here's Rogers' three men to watch tonight
07:47 PM
This is well worth a read before the game
Exclusive interview: Meet Gary Rogers – the veteran keeper who will be busiest man in Europe on Thursday night
Gary Rogers of Dundalk FC looks to punch the ball clear during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Dundalk FC and Molde FK at Aviva Stadium on October 22, 2020 in Dublin, Ireland. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in fixtures being played behind closed doors - Charles McQuillan
Sam Dean speaks to Dundalk keeper, 39-year-old Gary Rogers who is the League of Ireland's most capped player in European competitions. Read the full interview here.
07:28 PM
And the visitors...
This is the team that Filippo Giovagnoli has selected for tonight’s clash in north London.
There are three changes from MD1 with Andy Boyle, Cameron Dummigan and Patrick McEleney restored to the starting XI.
And welcome to our coverage for Arsenal vs Dundalk in Europa League, Group B tonight. Match kicks off at 8pm and Arsenal will be hoping to nab another three points to stay top of the group, following their 2-1 away win at Rapid Vienna last week.
Standing in their way are Irish side Dundalk, hardly European regulars but a side with enough European pedigree for this not to be a complete novelty. Indeed, they were last in this competition at this stage in the 2016/17 season when they took a point off AZ Alkmaar and beat Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Of course, you need no reminding of Arsenal's pedigree in this competition... but in case you do... they were knocked out in the round of 32 last time around and were defeated by Chelsea in the final the year before that.
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said it hurt him to leave defender William Saliba out of his Europa League squad, a decision that looks to have backfired with the club face mounting injury problems at the centre back position.
Saliba and Sokratis Papastathopoulos were not registered for the competition, and with Rob Holding, Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari and David Luiz all injured Arteta is left with Shkodran Mustafi and Gabriel Magalhaes as his only centre backs for Thursday's match against Irish side Dundalk.
"I feel really bad for William Saliba," Arteta told reporters. "Because we had so many central defenders, we decided to leave him out of the squad, which was really hurtful for me to do."
Saliba, who spent last season on loan at St Etienne, has yet to make his Arsenal debut but Arteta said the French teenager is making steady progress in training.
"He's feeling a lot more confident around the place, his language is improving and he's starting to understand much better what we're doing physically," he added.
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