Arsenal vs Dundalk result: Nicolas Pepe brilliance inspires Gunners in Europa League

Arsenal 3-0 Dundalk: Mikel Arteta’s side took their time before eventually running away in the game

Willock celebrates his goal vs Dundalk (AFP)

No fairytale, or shock, but one fine piece of imagination. A routine win for Arsenal was settled by a piece of play that was anything but routine. Nicolas Pepe elevated affairs in this 3-0 win over a resolute Dundalk with a sumptuous goal, that gave a tantalising glimpse of the player Mikel Arteta would like him to be.

While anyone would know the folly of describing this as a potential turning point, it is a step in the right direction, and the kind of end product that Pepe needs to start providing. That is the real value of games like this, as Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock both added to their tallies for the clubs.

For Dundalk, the recently deposed Irish champions, it is generally about the prestige of such a stage - not to mention the value of the prize money - but they had the misfortune of drawing a game like this at a time like this.

It said much that, by early on in the second half, they were taking off one of their best players in Chris Shields for a crucial game against St Patrick’s Athletic at the weekend.

That is to try and get back to this stage again, as Arsenal displayed its true reality.

Nketiah celebrates his goal vs Dundalk (Getty)

Dundalk still did themselves credit.

There is a thin line for clubs like Dundalk in these games, which is why they tend to have to prioritise quite a thick line at the back.

The resource and quality gaps mean they have little choice but to dig in and try to counter, but the problem is that it means there’s not much they can do at all once they go behind. So it was in this game.

The greater frustration for Dundalk and manager Filippo Giovagnoli was that, collectively, their shape had been good. They were just let down by individual errors.

Curious as it may seem after a final scoreline like that, there was a relatively long period when there was an angst to Arsenal’s play. They were forcing it, and couldn’t create proper chances as Dundalk stayed solid.

The first proper breakthrough didn’t really come from any play, but from a block, as the ball bounced back across the box to sit up kindly for Nketiah just yards out. He somehow missed from inside the six-yard box.

Willock celebrates his goal vs Dundalk (AFP)

He didn’t have to dwell on it too long, or wait much longer for a better chance.

That’s the other thing about games like this, though. Even if it is not the wealthier side’s first team, the opposition have to be first to everything, and 100% on it. That didn’t happen.

Gary Rogers - who had been the penalty hero in the Europa League qualifier away to Sheriff Tiraspol to basically ensure Dundalk got this far - fumbled a corner, allowing Nketiah to quickly make amends by prodding in from even closer.

That was probably that in any case, but Arsenal immediately made sure, courtesy of another individual error. A touch at the edge of the box put in Joe Willock, who thrashed the ball into the roof of the net.

It looked like it could have been an avalanche as Arsenal claimed another just after half-time - and their third in four minutes of football.

This was Pepe’s moment, and quite a goal.

The ball had been bobbling along the edge of the box, only for the forward to control it with his studs in an unorthodox manner, before curling it into the net.

It was a supreme, and almost a frustrating glimpse of what might be.

This weekend get a £10 free bet with Betfair, when you bet £10 on a Same Game Multi on the Premier League. Terms: Min £10 Same Game Multi bet on any EPL match this Fri - Sun. Free bet valid for 72 hours, awarded at bet settlement. Excludes cashed out bets. T&Cs apply.