Arsenal ease past Dundalk to stay perfect in Europa League

Much-changed Arsenal, who rested several senior players having already qualified for the last 32, went ahead in the 12th minute when Nketiah chipped the ball over Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers for his fifth goal in all competitions this season.

Elneny doubled the lead with a shot from distance six minutes later for his first Arsenal goal in three years, but the Irish side hit back through Jordan Flores who beat Runar Runarsson following a neat exchange with Michael Duffy.

Bottom-placed Dundalk had the opportunity to equalise but Darragh Leahy’s effort from point-blank range was blocked by Calum Chambers before Willock struck with a low shot after the interval to make it 3-1 to Arsenal.

Substitute Balogun added a fourth with a side-foot finish after being played in by Nicolas Pepe 10 minutes from time before Sean Hoare nodded in a consolation goal for the hosts at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

Arsenal, who finished with six victories out of six and scored 20 goals, will discover their last-32 opponents in Monday’s draw in Nyon. The first legs are due to take place on Feb. 18 and the return fixtures on Feb. 25.

Elsewhere in Thursday’s other early kick-offs, Napoli and Real Sociedad dramatically claimed their places in the last 32 after playing out a 1-1 draw in the final round of games in Group F.

The result saw Dutch side AZ Alkmaar miss out as they crashed to a last-gasp defeat at Rijeka after being reduced to 10 men.

Napoli had looked on course for victory after Piotr Zielinski struck in the 35th minute at the newly renamed Diego Armando Maradona Stadium but Willian Jose grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser for the LaLiga high-flyers.

A draw would still not have been enough for Sociedad had Alkmaar managed to win in Croatia but they suffered a shock 2-1 loss to a side who had previously claimed only one point.

Owen Wijndal quickly levelled for Alkmaar after Luka Menalo put Rijeka ahead after 52 minutes but the dismissal of Jesper Karlsson nine minutes from time proved costly. Ivan Tomecak killed them off in stoppage time.

Norwegian side Molde also reached the knockout stages after drawing 2-2 in their decisive final game with Rapid Vienna in Group B.

Magnus Wolff Eikrem scored both for Molde as they took the runners-up spot in the group behind Arsenal. Marcel Ritzmaier and Melih Ibrahimoglu scored equalisers for the hosts in the Austrian capital but it was not enough as Vienna finished third.

Young Boys claimed the remaining place up for grabs in Group A alongside Roma after a remarkable 2-1 victory over Romanian side Cluj.

Jean-Pierre Nsame and Gianluca Gaudino both struck in stoppage time as 10-man Young Boys came from behind to beat nine-man Cluj, who had only gone ahead themselves in the 84th minute through Gabriel Debeljuh.

Roma, who had an unassailable lead at the top of the group, were beaten 3-1 in their dead rubber against CSKA Sofia.

Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers ensured they would go through as winners of Group D as they claimed a 2-0 win away at Lech Poznan. Cedric Itten and Ianis Hagi were their goalscorers.

Benfica had to settle for the runners-up spot after a 2-2 draw at Standard Liege.

Bayer Leverkusen beat Slavia Prague 4-0 to take top spot in Group C from the Czechs. Leon Bailey scored twice and Moussa Diaby and Karim Bellarabi were also on target as Slavia, already safely through, dropped to second place.

In the other game in the group, Hapoel Be’er Sheva beat Nice 1-0.

REUTERS