Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Arsenal vs Dundalk in Europa League Group B.
The English side are looking to build on their victory in Vienna last time out, whilst Dundalk aim to get off the mark after losing at home to Molde.
TEAM NEWS
The players are out on the pitch preparing for kick-off. First, the pleasantries.
Quirky fact: Manager Filippo Giovagnoli is unable to take a place in the Dundalk technical area as he doesn’t hold a UEFA coaching license.
KICK OFF
We are underway at the Emirates.
2 Mins
Start as you mean to go on.
Arsenal instantly take control of possession and have Dundalk camped across their own box. Could be a long night for the Irishmen.
4 Mins
First chance of the night goes to Dundalk.
Runarsson gets his hands on the ball for the first time.
That got Dundalk excited!
7 Mins
Nketiah goes down in the box but nothing giving from the referee.
Dundalk look comfortable with the ball. They did take the lead against Molde so they are not here to just make up the numbers.
Embed from Getty Images10 Mins
Good calm start for Dundalk. An early goal could have been disasterous for them. Will be interesting to see if the 10 changes made for Arsenal stop them from getting going…
11 Mins
Cedric Soares pulls the trigger as the ball drops for him on the edge of the box. The NFL isn’t visiting their neighbours Tottenham this year. Shame, becasue the Portuguese would have scored a field goal!
13 Mins
Another chance for Arsenal. They are starting to put pressure on now. Pepe gets the shot away but it was a poor decision in the end with team-mates sitting square.
The winger follows up with a shocking corner.
15 Mins
Interesting that Mikel Arteta has decided to show the world his side’s tactics…
18 Mins
Good chance for Arsenal. Much more inspiring during this move.
Willock plays a beautiful ball across the face of the goal, but where was Nketiah? Should have been a goal.
Embed from Getty Images21 Mins
Nelson looks dangerous on the Arsenal left. A few tricks help him weave his way into the box but Dundalk manage to deal with the threat.
23 Mins
First big chance of the night. Pepe will surely think he should be doing better. Kolasinac gets his cross in from the left and to his credit, Pepe does well to rise above his defender.
He was always leaning back though and puts his header over the bar.
24 Mins
Pressure starting to build now. Nelson misses the post by a whisker.
Credit to Dundalk though, they are happy to play on the ball… when they have it.
26 Mins
A rare advancement toward the Arsenal box for Dundalk.
Mountney couldn’t keep his cross down from the right-hand side and the ball sails out for a goal-kick.
Embed from Getty Images30 Mins
Only one shot on target so far – the early McEleney effort for Dundalk.
Make that two as Sheilds lets rip from 20 yards. It deflects away for a corner.
34 Mins
Good save from Rodgers. The Dundalk keeper tips Kolasinac’s header over the bar after a cross from Willock.
Ping-pong in the box from the corner but still nothing coming for the home side.
36 Mins
Hard work for Arsenal so far. A stagnant attack so far letting them down. You wonder whether a certain Mesut Ozil would be of aid here…
Embed from Getty Images38 Mins
Willock is the class of the pitch so far. A really bright outing for the youngster almost gets better but a daisycutter is easy pickings for Rodgers.
39 Mins
HOW has Arsenal not scored?
More ping-pong in the six-yard box, and Nketiah should have scored. It falls for him on a plate but he can only prod it wide.
Let off for Dundalk.
42 Mins – GOAL: Nketiah
What an awful way for Dundalk to concede.
A goalkeeping error I am afriad. Rodgers flaps at a corner, the ball hits Cleary’s back and drops for Nketiah who was not to be denied.
Floodgates open?
44 Mins – GOAL: Willock
No one deserves it more. Willock is played in by way of fortune. Pepe’s deflected shot lands at his feet but take nothing away from the eventual finish.
Clinical as you like. Dundalk need half time.
HALF TIME
For 40 minutes, Dundalk would have been very happy. Things went south quickly though as Arsenal take the advantage into the break.
Arteta’s team-talk must be very different now to what it was five-minutes ago.
Embed from Getty ImagesElsewhere in Europe…
Leicester City managed to take all three points away to AEK with a 2-1 victory.
Tottenham however, they suffered a nightmare defeat in Belgium, losing 1-0 to Royal Antwerp
Rangers are currently level at 0-0 with Lech Poznan in Group D
Embed from Getty ImagesCan Arsenal further stamp their authority on the game or can Dundalk fight back?
SECOND HALF – GOAL: Pepe
I didn’t even have a chance to type out the beginning of the half!
Pepe scores a beauty though. The ball comes to him on the edge of the box and he nonchalantly rolls the ball out of his feet before rifling a strike into the top right corner.
Lightning start from Arsenal.
49 Mins
Great chance for Dundalk goes begging.
Duffy swings in a free kick from the right hand side, but nobody could connect with a header.
Good spirit being shown from the Irish here.
50 Mins
McEleney goes down holding his groin. He has been the best player on the pitch for Dundalk so if he has to go off, it will be a great shame.
He limps to the side of the pitch…
53 Mins
Back underway after the stoppage, it does look to be a game finisher for McEleney.
56 Mins
Another chance for Arsenal and another one they should have taken.
A better ball across the box from Maitland-Niles would have seen a fourth goal.
Embed from Getty Images61 Mins
At least the Dundalk social media team can see the funny side!
62 Mins
The game has fallen into somewhat of a lull. Very reminiscent of the opening half-an-hour of the game.
66 Mins
Shut up shop time for Dundalk? They are still very well organised. Willock makes a mazing run but captain Gartland makes a good tackle.
68 Mins
I am not quite sure how Nketiah has managed to connect with the ball in from the right and not score. Maybe Rodgers did enough to put the Arsenal striker off.
Should be four.
70 Mins
Great save from Rodgers!
Maitland-Niles hits a fizzing shot but it was well parried by the Dundalk stopper.
ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE
Rangers have taken a 1-0 lead against Poznan. Big goal for the Scottish side.
Embed from Getty Images75 Mins
Free kick opportunity for Dundalk. Fairly central and around 30 yards out.
Not good enough from Hoban. Floaty and wide.
76 Mins
A good spell this for Dundalk. A forray into the box for the first time in a long while. Someone needed to pull the trigger though!
77 Mins
A lovely run from Nelson. No end product unfortuantely but he and Willock have looked lively all night long.
78 Mins
20 attempts for Arsenal but only six on target. Cause for worry?
80 Mins
Nelson has summed up Arsenal’s night perfectly in one move; brilliant but left wanting more. The ball is expertly worked into the box and Nelson has the chance to strike it.
He instead lays in back to Tierney who, from an acute angle, sees his shot soar over the bar.
83 Mins
Give credit to Dundalk, they have not just lay down and rolled over. We have seen flashed of play from them, maybe even enough to harbour thoughts of points in the future?
84 Mins
Willain has been a different class since coming on. This time, he is able to pull the strings on the edge of the box, but the ball is well defended for a corner.
85 Mins
Nelson again looking lively on the edge of the area. He can’t find the target with his effort as he cuts in from the left.
The only thing his performance is missing is a goal.
Embed from Getty Images88 Mins
Still chances falling for Arsenal, still chances being missed by Arsenal.
Tierney’s effort is blocked before Elneny blasts over.
90 Mins
Three minutes of time added on.
90 + 3 Mins
One last chance for Arsenal to add to their tally, but another cross is cleared away by Dundalk.
FULL TIME
A professional display from Arsenal to take three points with a 3-0 victory but Dundalk will leave with their heads held high.
A spirited performance will give them plaudits but really, tonight was always about Arsenal’s youngsters.
Willock and Nelson auditioned for their places in the Premier League game against Manchester United – two superb performances in a much changed Arsenal team.
Thank you for following coverage of this evening’s match. Both sides will be in domestic action this coming weekend. Goodnight.
