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Match Report: Dundalk 2 – 4 Arsenal

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Dundalk (1) 2 Arsenal (2) 4

UEFA Europa League, Group B, Matchday 6 of 6

Oriel Park, Carrickmacross Road, Cambrickville, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland

Thursday, 10th December 2020. Kick-off time: 5.55pm

(3-4-3) Alex Rúnarsson; Calum Chambers, Shkodran Mustafi, Pablo Marí; Cédric Soares, Joe Willock, Mohamed Elneny, Ainsley Maitland-Niles; Nicolas Pépé, Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith-Rowe.

Substitutes: Bukayo Saka, Dani Ceballos, Rob Holding, Matt Macey, Folarin Balogun, Ben Cottrell, Karl Hein, Miguel Azeez.

Scorers: Eddie Nketiah (11 mins), Mohamed Elneny (18 mins), Joe Willock (67 mins), Folarin Balogun (80 mins)

Yellow Cards: Cédric Soares, Joe Willock

Arsenal Possession Percentage: 52%

Referee: Goran Pataki (Croatia)

Assistant Referees: Goran Pataki (Croatia), Bojan Zobenica (Croatia)

Fourth Official: Igor Pajac (Croatia)

Referee Observer: Georgi Yordanov (Bulgaria)

Attendance: A minimal amount of attendees (circa 3,000) due to coronavirus restructions

Firstly, congratulations to Dundalk, who won the FAI Cup with a 4-2 victory over league champions Shamrock Rovers on this very ground four days ago. However, as far as tonight’s match is concerned, we are champions of the group, and our opponents cannot qualify, so there should be some scope here for squad experimentation, if Mikel Arteta should so desire. Either way, the match should be interesting, if nothing else, as we are looking to win six consecutive major European matches (excluding qualifiers) for the first time since November 2005. Let’s go!

On an extremely heavy pitch that was cutting up quite badly early on, we controlled proceedings with almost no problems at all in the opening stages of the match. Despite the players slipping and sliding everywhere, our passing remained accurate, and Emile Smith-Rowe, Nicolas Pépé along with Eddie Nketiah, gave the Dundalk defence plenty of problems quite early on. As soon as the eleventh minute, Eddie Nketiah charged down an attempted clearance by Andrew Boyle and found the net (despite the best efforts of defender Daniel Cleary to kick it clear), which makes him the highest Arsenal scorer this season so far. After a bit more midfield movement, Mohamed Elneny hit an absolute screamer into the roof of the net to make it two-nil to Arsenal after just eighteen minutes play. To give the home side their dues, they didn’t give up, and continued to press us well, which led to Dundalk getting one back after twenty-two minutes, when Jordan Flores hit a ball into the top corner of our net, leaving Alex Rúnarsson grasping for air. The goals made the match more competitive, with both sides launching attacks in which a few players were desperately unlucky not to score, and with ten minutes to go before the break, Cédric Soares almost got a third when his twenty yard shot was pushed around the post by goalkeeper Rogers. The home side didn’t give up though; on the stroke of half-time, a cross by Patrick McEleney found Darragh Leahy in the six-yard box, but fortunately Calum Chambers was there to block the shot, which let us off the hook in the final seconds before the break.

We started the second half strongly, and were unfortunate not to score on one or two instances, although Dundalk did hit us cold on the break seven minutes after the restart, but fortunately we managed to get enough bodies back to quell the danger. As the match was drifting into nothing but huff and puff, Mikel Arteta introduced Dani Ceballos and Folarin Balogun for Mohamed Elneny and Eddie Nketiah just after the hour and as soon as they were on the pitch, an excellent Cédric Soares free-kick was palmed away by goalkeeper Gary Rogers. A little while later, some sterling work by super teenager Folarin Balogun who held the ball up well inside the Dundalk penalty area before laying the ball off neatly for Joe Willock to finish the job expertly; his first goal of the night, our third. Fairly plain sailing for us now, and after Emile Smith-Rowe being substituted for Ben Cottrell, with just ten minutes of the match remaining, a beautiful fourth goal came from young Folarin Balogun when he slotted the ball past Gary Rogers after collecting an inch-perfect pass in the penalty area from Nicolas Pépé. In an order to consolidate, Ben Azeez replaced Joe Willock, and then out of nowhere, Sean Hoare scored Dundalk’s second of the night with a strong header. In injury time, Calum Chambers put the ball into the Dundalk net, but it was disallowed for offside; it made no difference, as the referee called proceedings to a close a couple of minutes later.

So that was the end of the Group B matches in the Europa League for this year; eighteen points from six matches, a full house. Although this dead rubber of a match lacked importance, it was by no means a foregone conclusion. Good as we were, Dundalk had their moments too, and it got a bit scary at the back at times, but in the end everyone came through. Back to big boys’ football on Sunday night with the arrival of Burnley to the Emirates, and all the worries and doubts will start up again, no doubt. There surely cannot be any one of us who wouldn’t love to be able to transfer those Europa League points to our current Premier League tally. But life ain’t like that.

Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as this season is going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners. Our next match: Burnley at the Emirates on Sunday, 13th December at 7.15pm (Premier League). Be there, if you can. Victoria Concordia Crescit.

Steve

Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless (Rangemore Publications, ISBN 978-1-5272-0135-4) is now available on Amazon.

Pires criticism of “lack of former players” in coaching positions at Arsenal is LAZY

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Morning all.

Bits and pieces of Arsenal news floating around this morning.

The headline grabbing news is that Robert Pires has apparently bemoaned over Arsenal not relying “on former players” and has said he volunteered for a job at Arsenal.

“Arsenal not employing ex-player” rears its head every few months.

From Thierry Henry to Patrick Vieria, Tony Adams to Dennis Bergkamp. It is an easy article to write and often ignores the truth.

Almost every senior position at Arsenal is currently taken by an ex-player.

On top of those currently employed, Arsenal have a rich history of ex-players coaching.

There are also lesser known players currently employed by the club. The likes of Adam Birchall and Greg Lincoln.

Maybe instead of complaining about not getting an opportunity at Arsenal, Pires should look within.

Instead of using Arsenal’s facilities as a free gym for the last 5 years, maybe he should have got himself down Hale End, took his coaching badges and started off coaching the youth teams. That is how Freddie Ljungberg did it.

When Mikel Arteta was still an Arsenal player, he was down Hale End running coaching sessions. Gaining experience.

In the recent past, we have had Henry turn down a post at Arsenal. He wanted to be U23 Manager on a part-time basis so that it did not interfere with his lucrative £2million a year Sky contract.

Tony Adams last managerial job was in La Liga, managing Granada back in 2017. He lost 7 out of 7 games, they were relegated and he was sacked.

Whilst Patrick Vieira was recently sacked by Nice.

I would love Henry, Vieira, Bergkamp and Adams to be involved at Arsenal. But they have to show:

1) That they want to commit to Arsenal

2) That they have the ability to coach at the highest level

They should not be given a job just because they are a former player regardless of their credentials or ability.

The other news is William Saliba played again for the U23s last night.

Reports are he had a good game before seeing red as Arsenal lost to Wimbledon.

The Frenchman is still just 19-years-old and has been written off by some fans.

He has had both physical and mental problems since returning from Saint-Étienne and we are right to be taking our time over his development.

Also playing in that game was Gabriel Martinelli.

Like Saliba, he is also just 19. We need to ensure we do not rush him back.

Martinelli is important for our future, and I can easily see a situation where he is our first choice striker next season. But to grow into the position the backroom staff need to ensure he is not rushed back into first team action and picks up another injury.

As it is early December, expect the ITKs to begin waking from their hibernation.

Keenos

Arsenal need stability; not more change

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It has been a rough few weeks for Arsenal fans as one Premier League defeat has quickly become four.

The rough few weeks is actually a rough few years.

Many of us saw the demise of the club coming many years ago.

The club made an error back in 2014 by offering Arsene Wenger his new deal. We had just won the FA Cup and we should have shaken hands with the great man, said thank you and goodbye.

He hung on to his job and in doing so we turned down opportunities to get Jurgen Klopp firstly, and then Pep Guardiola.

It is the Klopp one that is so frustrating.

The German joined Liverpool in 2015 and, whilst progress was slow at first, he rebuilt Liverpool from bottom up returning them back to their former greatness.

Since Arsene Wenger left, the turnover of senior staff members at the club has been huge.

Shortly after Wenger left, Ivan Gazidis announced he was taking a job at AC Milan.

Sven Mislintat, bought in to oversee recruitment, came and went in a blink of an eye following a power struggle with Raul Sanllehi. Both men were bought in by Gazidis to fill the black hole left by Arsene Wenger.

Unai Emery, the man bought in to replace Wenger, lasted 18 months.

Francis Cagigao, who was promoted to Head of Recruitment following Mislintat’s departure was part of the rCOVID19 redundancies, as was Sanllehi, having been promoted following Gazidis’ departure.

More recently it was announced Huss Fahmy, Arsenal’s Chief Negotiator would also be leaving his job.

Any business that has so much turnover of senior management will always struggle. Whether that is a football team, construction company, supermarket or bank. The most successful companies have stability of senior management.

Every time you change senior management, the new man coming in will want change. Will want to do it his way. This disrupts operations for months whilst change is implemented. And if he is out the door before the benefits of change are seen, the process begins again under a new man.

Arsenal need stability, not further change.

We need Edu, Mikel Arteta, Vinai Venkatesham and Per Mertesacker to be working as a cohesive unit to return the club to its former glories.

Manchester United have shown that chopping and changing a manager every year or two does not guarantee an improvement.

Liverpool’s success was built off the back of sticking with Jurgen Klopp after his slow start. He has now been at the club for 5 years.

Michael Edwards, who is credited for their excellent operating in the transfer market has been at the club for 9 years, whilst Chief Scout Barry Hunter has been at the club for 8 years.

Recently Peter Moore, who had been CEO for 3 years, stepped aside to be replaced by Billy Hogan who has been at Liverpool for 8 years.

Liverpool are the best run club in the country at the moment.

The owners have not bank rolled their success, instead they have put the right people in the positions and allowed the experts to run the club. They have shown you do not need an Oligarch or an oil baron to be a success.

Manchester City have also had stability in the back room staff under

Txiki Begiristain has been Director of Football and Ferran Soriano has been CEO since 2012, whilst Rodolfo Borrell was appointed Global Technical Director in 2014. Brian Marwood has been involved since 2009 in various different roles (currently Academy Director).

Under Roman Abramovich, Chelsea have got rid of managers almost every year since he bought the club. But his senior management team has remained

Bruce Buck became Chairman in 2003, whilst Marina Granovskaia has been CEO since 2014, having joined the club in 2003 alongside Abramovich.

Head of international scouting Scott McLachlan joined Chelsea in 2011 whilst Head of youth development Neil Bath has been at the club since 1993.

The proof is in the pudding, as they say. If you want success, you need stability at the top with a long term plan.

Over the last 3 years, Arsenal had had too much turnover in senior positions, with at least 7 senior management leaving the club.

The club will not move forward until we have stability in the senior management team.

By constantly changing who is running the club or a department, you end up in a constant period of flux. You do not give one man a chance for his plan to develop before you move on to the next mans plan.

Arsenal need stability, not more change.

Keenos