IT’S JOB DUN
Joe leaves the Irish stewing
JOE WILLOCK staked his claim for more Arsenal action with a man of the match display against Dundalk.
The 21- year- old has yet to feature in the Premier League this season.
But he stole the show as the Gunners bounced back from defeat by Leicester to pummel Irish minnows Dundalk.
Eddie Nketiah set the ball rolling before Willock struck for the first time since June in a standout performance full of verve and drive.
And Nicolas Pepe’s virtuoso strike just after half time made the points safe for Mikel Arteta’s makeshift Arsenal team in this Group B mismatch.
Dundalk did plenty of running for rookie boss Filippo Giovagnoli, who doesn’t even have a UEFA Pro Licence.
But it was the hosts, after a slow start, who eventually provided the quality to warm up for their date with Manchester United via a comfortable European cruise.
Arteta solved his defensive injury crisis by dropping midfielder Granit Xhaka into the centre of a new- look back three. But debutant keeper Alex Runarsson had to be alert to tip away an early effort from Patrick Mceleney before Brian Gartland blocked an effort from Nketiah.
Dundalk may only be third in the Irish Premier Division, but they made life difficult for the Gunners.
With Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford on the horizon, Arteta went into this one with his big guns on the bench.
Sead Kolasinac did force keeper Gary Rogers to tip over a header from a corner and Nketiah stabbed wide from six yards after a spot of pinball in the box.
But it wasn’t until Rogers gifted them the opener that Arsenal came alive, with Nketiah prodding home after the keeper hit his own man trying to punch clear a corner.
Within minutes Willock doubled Arsenal’s lead when Pepe’s shot rebounded to him after a terrible backpass from Cameron Dummigan.
Dundalk managed four points in the 2016 group stage but this is only the second time in five years they have made it this far.
And Pepe killed off any faint hopes of a comeback just after the break by firing one into the top corner with his right foot from the edge of the box, after rolling the ball with his left.
ARSENAL ( 3- 4- 3): Runarsson 6; Mustafi 6 ( Ceballos 61, 6), Xhaka 6 ( Tierney 74), Kolasinac 6; Cedric 6, Willock 8, Elneny 6, Maitland- Niles 6; Nelson 6, Nketiah 7 ( Balogun 74), Pepe 7 ( Willian 61, 6).
DUNDALK ( 3- 5- 2): Rogers 4; Gartland 7, Boyle 6, Cleary 5 ( Hoare 53, 6); Mountney 6, Murray 5 ( Sloggett 46, 6), Shields 6 ( Gannon 63, 6), Mceleney 6 ( Flores 53, 6), Dummingan 5; Hoban 6, Duffy 5.
REFEREE: Filip Glova ( SVK) 6.