Arsenal win comfortably at home against Dundalk Dubliners in the UEFA Europa League

A cool performance from Arsenal saw them breeze past Dundalk with a 3-0 victory. Goals from Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock and Nicolas Pepe secured the three points for the Londoners.

On a cool Autumn night in London at another COVID-empty stadium, Dundalk battled hard against Arsenal in their second Europa League tie. They blocked and tackled like their lives depended on it and successfully held out until just before half time.

A quickfire double in the 42nd and 44th minutes from Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock paved the way for the English Premier League giants to overcome the brave Lilywhites.

The 2019 League of Ireland Premier Division Champions felt hard done by going in at half time two goals down. A couple of individual errors having left them with a two-goal deficit after they had stifled Mikel Arteta’s men for the majority of the first half.

Joe Willock fires high into the net to score Arsenal’s 2nd goal just before half time (Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency))

Arsenal secured the 3-0 win immediately after half time with an impressive goal from Ivory Coast striker Nicolas Pépé, who curled the ball into the top corner of the net from 20 yards out to give the Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers no chance.

Although their goal was under siege from the Gunners for most of the rest of the second half, Dundalk must be commended for withstanding the pressure and not conceding any more goals.

Dundalk leave London empty-handed, but with their heads held high. They will go again next week in search of their first points in this Europa League group away to Rapid Vienna.

Meanwhile, Arsenal go on to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon and are expected to bring many of their A-list players back, having rested a number of them against minnows Dundalk.

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