The young Arsenal Boys do the job against the Irish team: Arsenal vs. Dundalk Match Review

Full-time result

ARSENAL FC – Nketiah (42), Willock (44), Pepe (46):  3 – 0 Dundalk

The Gunners secured a much needed 3 points to stay on top of their Europa League group, amidst resting most of their first-team players.
In a game where Mikel Arteta gave first-team football to a host of fringe Arsenal players, the Gunners secured their second victory in Europe and a clean sheet. Alex Runarsson made his first start for Arsenal in the goalpost.
Arsenal’s new-look Line-up made a solid start to the game, putting much pressure on the Irish team, but couldn’t break down their opponents until the 40th minute when poor goalkeeping calculation from the Dundalk goalkeeper gifted Eddie Nketiah with a tap-in from an Arsenal corner. Less than 2 minutes later, Joe Willock got the second for the Gunners after latching on to a blocked Nicholas Pepe shot and finished off in the roof of the net. Arsenal got their third goal immediately after the restart through Nicholas Pepe who curled a right-footed into the net from the edge of the Irish team’s penalty box to seal a much-deserved victory for the Gunners.

Young Guns

Match Review: Arsenal vs. Dundalk

on our performance before and after the goals...

I’m really pleased with the way we went about the game. It’s always a danger that you feel it could be a comfortable game and then you make it really complicated. That wasn’t the case. I think our attitude from the beginning was spot on. We knew they were going to use a really low block and what we had to do, I think we did it better [than against Rapid Vienna]. We were insistent in the way we attacked. We generated a lot of situations in the box and we got the right goals in the right moments. After that, we could manage the situation. Overall, the fact that we gave the chance to a lot of players who haven’t played many minutes this season is something that’s really positive because they showed that they are well prepared, they are at it and they are ready when we need them.

~ Mikel Arteta

This weekend they have a tough test with a visit to Old Trafford to take on long-time foes, Manchester United.

COYG!!!

Match Preview by Patrick Alexander