Pepe's misery, power of youth and Mo's time to crash the Partey - three things we learned from Arsenal's 4-2 win over Dundalk

Arsenal team Dundalk

Nicolas Pepe's misery, power of youth and Mo's time to crash the Partey - three things we learned from Arsenal's 4-2 win over Dundalk

By Will Jennings

Mikel Arteta and his team put their Premier League woes behind them as a youth-inspired victory in Dundalk secured them top spot in their Europa League group. 

Eddie Nketiah, Mohamed Elneny, Joe Willock and Folarin Balogun were the names on the scoresheet as the Gunners confirmed their place at the summit and – theoretically – booked themselves a more favourable draw in the knockout stages. 

Arsenal lie a lowly 15th in the top-flight table and just seven points above the drop after a dismal start to the season under Arteta. 

But, once again, their performances in cup competitions appear to be keeping their campaign afloat, with a third round FA Cup clash against Newcastle also lined up in the new year. 

The Gunners host Sean Dyche’s struggling Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday – and here are three things we learned after a rare night of success in County Louth. 


The power of youth 


Calum Chambers, Cedric Soares and the often calamitous Shkodran Mustafi all started but this was an Arteta side saturated with young talent. 

Icelandic goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson took his place between the posts while Nketiah, Willock and Emile Smith Rowe were all awarded starts. 

Arteta has long used the Europa League as a breeding ground for young players and his strategy reaped rewards in Ireland, with the prolific Nketiah, precocious Willock and 19-year-old Balogun all notching goals for the Gunners. 

Nketiah, 21, is now Arsenal’s top scorer in all competitions this season while Willock and Smith Rowe delivered imperious performances throughout. 

Much is often made of Arsenal’s big game fragility and susceptibility to collapses but make no mistake – the future look bright. 


Mo wants to crash the Partey 


Arteta fumed at Granit Xhaka for his sub-par performance in Sunday’s North London derby, while big money signing Thomas Partey faces a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Mohamed Elneny

And that opens the door for Mohamed Elneny to stake his starting claim at the Emirates, Arsenal’s forgotten midfield man but a player who always guarantees bundles of energy in the middle of the park. 

Elneny’s dynamism saw him get on the scoresheet in the 4-2 romp, with his goal being supplemented by consistent solidity and stellar distribution in front of the defence. 

The Egyptian rarely puts a foot wrong when called upon and is putting the recent displays of hot-headed Xhaka to shame. 

Arteta will be watching intently. With Partey now absent, could this finally be Elneny’s time to shine?


Pepe’s time is up 


Has there ever been as big a waste of £72million? Nicolas Pepe’s performances in an Arsenal shirt continue to underwhelm, while his unforgivable red card at Leeds should have been the final nail in his Emirates Stadium coffin. 

Arteta gave the Ivorian a slap on the wrists for that Elland Road horror-show but has since opened the door for a first-team return. 

And it has backfired spectacularly, with the former Lille winger once again failing to shine in a game where Arsenal’s attackers were given the freedom of Oriel Park to roam as they pleased. 

Nketiah, Willock, Bukayo Saka, Reiss Nelson and, quite possible, Smith Rowe are head and shoulders above the 25-year-old in terms of both footballing development and character. 

Pepe should be nowhere near the starting XI for Sunday’s crunch match in the capital. And with a hectic festive period looming, the players Arteta picks will need to pull their finger out to finally kickstart their Premier League season. 

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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