Arsenal ended their Europa League group stage matches with a win over Dundalk. Goals from Eddie Nketiah, Mohamed Elneny, Joe Willock and Balogun was enough to hand Arsenal their six wins in their last six Europa League matches, keeping their Europa League campaign at 100%.
The Gunners started the game in the front-foot and could have been ahead in the third minute when Maitland-Niles header from a Nicolas Pepe’s cross was saved by Rogers. The early chance indicated what was to come as Arsenal continued to press their hosts off the ball.
The Gunners were rewarded for pressing high when in the 12th minute Nketiah lifted the ball over Rogers after picking up a clearance from Boyle.
The visitors doubled their lead six minutes later through a powerful strike by Mohamed Elneny. The Egyptian found the top corner with a magnificent strike from 25 yards out after being found by Smith Rowe with a simple pass.
The game continued to be played at a fast pace with Arsenal nearly making it three two minutes later, with a combination of Maitland-Niles and Rowe releasing Pepe to score, only for the Ivorian to smash over the bar.
Dundalk responded to Arsenal’s pressure by scoring their own first goal of the game through a Jordan Flores goal in the 22nd minute. The English midfielder combined with Michael Duffy to score past Runarsson in the Arsenal goal.
Both sides tested themselves further in the first period, with Arsenal coming closest to scoring, but they had to settle for a draw in the first-half.
The second-half began the same as the first started, with Arsenal pressing higher up the pitch to win back possession and put the ball into dangerous positions. Their industry eventually yielded a third goal for them when in the 67th minute, substitute Balogun held off the challenge of Gartland before laying off to Joe Willock to restore Arsenal’s two-goal cushion.
The youngster was on hand to score his own goal and put Arsenal in a more commanding position with a brilliant finish after Pepe released him.
The hosts reduced the deficit in the 85th minute through a Hoare goal from a Jordan Flores free-kick.
But the goal mattered little as the youthful Arsenal side ensured the Gunners ended the group stages with maximum points.
