Dundalk 2-4 Arsenal: Player Ratings as Gunners End Europa League Group Stage With 100% Record

Arsenal bounced back from their Premier League struggles to claim a 4-2 victory away to FAI Cup champions Dundalk in their final Europa League group game of the campaign on Thursday evening.

A pair of quick-fire goals gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead inside the opening 18 minutes, with Eddie Nketiah's neat finish rapidly overshadowed by Mohamed Elneny's stunning long-range effort. However, Dundalk were hardly passive bystanders as Jordan Michael Flores halved the deficit in the 22nd minute.

Despite the hosts asking some probing questions, Joe Willock added a third for this much-changed Arsenal side in the 67th minute. Mikel Arteta rung the changes as the game wound down and 19-year-old Folarin Balogun capped an impressive cameo with a well-taken goal in the 80th minute.

Sean Hoare rewarded Dundalk's fluidity on the ball by denting Arsenal's lead in the final five minutes to make it 4-2. Arsenal may have rattled in the goals in Europe but they have only kept two clean sheets in six group stage games.

Arsenal

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Runar Alex Runarsson (GK) - 5/10 - Perhaps could have done better with Flores' first for Dundalk, getting a hand to the effort which wasn't bound for the corner.

Calum Chambers (CB) - 6/10 - In his first start in 348 days for Arsenal's senior side, Chambers made an excellent and crucial block in the dying stages of the first half with the score still 2-1.

Shkodran Mustafi (CB) - 5/10 - Starting the match as captain, Mustafi didn't shine and was left exposed as Arsenal were carved open more than once.

Pablo Mari (CB) - 6/10 - Refreshingly proactive in his approach off the ball.

2. Wingbacks & Midfielders

Cedric Soares (RWB) - 5/10 - Keen to fire off an effort on goal but had some trouble with a throw-in - though nowhere near the same struggles which have plagued his teammate Hector Bellerin.

Joe Willock (CM) - 6/10 - Pushed very high and just about squeezed his shot past Dundalk's Gary Rogers but wasn't overly involved elsewhere.

Mohamed Elneny (CM) - 7/10 - The deeper of the two players nominally starting in central midfield will have rarely struck a sweeter effort than his blistering drive in the first half.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (LWB) - 7/10 - Bombed forward at every given opportunity, combining nicely with fellow academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe down the left.

3. Forwards

Nicolas Pepe (RW) - 6/10 - Impressively kept quiet for much of the match and forced to swap flanks in search of more joy with mixed success. Salvaged his individual display with an assist for Balogun.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) - 8/10 - Pressed from the front right from the off and earned the opener through his industry, just as he did in the back-end of last season against Southampton.

Emile Smith Rowe (LW) - 8/10 - Drifting in off the left, Smith Rowe claimed the simplest of assists for Elneny's rocket but impressed on and off the ball in his maiden start under Arteta.

4. Substitutes

Folarin Balogun (ST) - 8/10 - Excellent hold up play demonstrated by his silky first touch after coming on and teed up Willock's goal with his back to goal. Crisp finish to net his second goal of the Europa League season.

Dani Ceballos (CM) - 5/10

Ben Cottrell (LW) - 5/10

Miguel Azeez (CM) - N/A