It's time to talk about Dundalk

Folarin Balogun

It's time to talk about Dundalk: Three talking points from Arsenal's 3-0 victory over the Irish Champions in the Europa League

By Adam Le Roux

Arsenal’s unbeaten start to their Europa League campaign continued on Thursday night with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Dundalk at the Emirates.

The visitors put up a dogged fight in the first half, until Eddie Nketiah grabbed the opener minutes before the interval. 

Joe Willock followed that one up with a second two minutes later, to see the Gunners head into the break two goals to the good, before Nicolas Pepe rounded off the scoring early in the second period.


It was an unfamiliar looking Arsenal side with Mikel Arteta making ten changes to the side that went down 1-0 to Leicester on Sunday, but a team worthy of the victory nonetheless. 


Here we take a minute to reflect on Thursday night’s performance, and what we can take away from it.

The young guns are alright

As Arsenal fans, we are used to seeing the next generation of talent performing in the early stages of European competitions, and last night was no exception. 


Nketiah and Willock were among the goals, while Reiss Nelson put in another eye-catching performance on the left side of the attacking three, even if he didn’t manage to find the net himself. 


Ainsley Maitland-Niles also put in another tidy shift at left-back, as he looks to regain his place in the Gunners’ starting line up in the Premier League, and will have done his chances no harm with his performance. 


Thursday was another reminder of how talented these three academy products are, and the potential they possess, which makes for an exciting future at the Emirates. 


There is no better sight than seeing one of your own flourish, and under Arteta they have the perfect mentor to get the best out of them individually and as a team, we just have to be patient and have faith in his decisions. 


NketiahWillock

Balogun finally makes the grade 

It’s a moment a lot of Arsenal fans have been waiting a long time for, and last night we finally got to see Folarin Balogun make his first appearance for the Gunners. 


The exciting 19-year-old prospect has been a name on a lot of people’s lips as they have seen the starlet rise through the ranks at the Emirates, but before yesterday we hadn’t got a glimpse of the young talent. 


The New York born striker had been resistant to signing a new deal in the summer, as he become frustrated with his limited chances in the first team, with Sheffield United said to have tabled a bid to lure him to Bramall Lane. 


But hopefully the lure of some more game time in an Arsenal shirt can convince the striker to stay, with the striker pleased to finally get on the pitch last night. 


"It's a moment I have been waiting for a little while so to finally get it feels great,” Balogun said.


“I can only thank Mikel and the staff for this opportunity and I look forward to doing it more often.


“It's been tough, I've been at a few other clubs doing trials and stuff like that, but I've been working my way through the academy and I think as time has gone on I've become a better player.


“I think that's shown in my performances and I think it's good now to get the recognition that my performances deserve.”

Rest is best

Mikel Arteta made no secret of where his priorities lay with his team selection on Thursday night, with Granit Xhaka the only survivor from Sunday’s Premier League action. 


With another crucial clash with Manchester United on the horizon this weekend, there would have been no better sight for Arsenal fans than to see their prized assets wrapped in cotton wool before the trip to Old Trafford. 


With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette both not needing to feature, both will be fit and fresh for the clash with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side on Sunday, as the Gunners looking to get back to winning ways in domestic competition. 

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