{"id":18314,"date":"2020-12-10T14:49:29","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T18:49:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=18314"},"modified":"2020-12-11T10:50:50","modified_gmt":"2020-12-11T14:50:50","slug":"arsenal-secure-comfortable-4-2-victory-over-dundalk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=18314","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal Secure Comfortable 4-2 Victory Over Dundalk"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
Arsenal’s Joe Willock celebrates scoring their third goal as Daniel Cleary, Chris Shields and Brian Gartland look on dejected (\u00a9INPHO\/Tommy Dickson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>Dundalk’s Europa League campaign finished pointless after they suffered a sixth defeat at a rainy Aviva Stadium this evening.<\/p>\n

Jordan Flores’ first-half goal and a consolation header late on from Sean Hoare were the only bright sparks for the Lilywhites, as Arsenal secured a comfortable 4-2 victory.<\/p>\n

Calum Chambers made his first Arsenal start in almost a year as manager Mikel Arteta\u2019s team showed 11 changes for the Europa League Group B finale away to Dundalk.<\/p>\n

Having recovered from a serious knee injury suffered last December against Chelsea, Chambers was recalled alongside Shkodran Mustafi and Pablo Mari.<\/p>\n

There were also starts for Mohamed Elneny, Joe Willock and Emile Smith Rowe, as well as club-record signing Nicolas Pepe, who was banned for the weekend Premier League defeat at Tottenham.<\/p>\n

Arsenal dominated the early proceedings and took the lead as Eddie Nketiah\u2019s smart finish broke the deadlock with just 12 minutes on the clock.<\/p>\n

The second goal followed soon after, this time Egypt midfielder Elneny scoring his first Arsenal goal in three years with a sumptuous finish from all of 25 yards out.<\/p>\n

Despite the one-way traffic, Dundalk halved the arrears as Flores flashed home a decent finish, although Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Runarsson will feel he should have done better.<\/p>\n

Arsenal started the second half with a similarly dominant performance and wrapped up the points as substitute Folarin Balogun teed up Willock for the third goal.<\/p>\n

With ten minutes to go, Balogun made it 4-1 with a crisp finish past Gary Rogers.<\/p>\n

A lovely header from Hoare gave Dundalk something else to cheer about in the dying minutes.<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>