Ten months after it began, Dundalk brought their season came to a close with a fighting display against Arsenal.
Jordan Flores and Sean Hoare both found the net in a 4-2 defeat to the Premier League side at the Aviva Stadium.
Dundalk finish bottom of Group B without a point to their name.
Arsenal were in front inside twelve minutes at the Aviva. Eddie Nketiah pounced on a failed Andy Boyle clearance before clipping the ball over Gary Rogers.
12: GOAL!
Eddie Nketiah makes it 1-0 after latching onto Andy Boyle's clearance.#CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/OR9l77zcj4— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 10, 2020
If Dundalk felt hard-done-by by the opener, they could likely only applaud the goal that doubled Arsenal's lead.
Emile Smith-Rowe cut inside from the left to feed Mohamed Elneny, whose right-footed thunderbolt flew into the corner of the net.
Mohamed Elneny! 🚀
An absolute rocket to put Arsenal 2-0 up at Lansdowne!#CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/BwMlCk9EHX— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 10, 2020
But the hosts' heads never dropped, and they found a lifeline back into the game just five-minutes after Elneny's strike.
Jordan Flores added to his collection of fine goals - this time with his right foot - to make it 2-1.
JORDAN FLORES! 💥
Another quality strike from the @dundalkfc man!#CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/Py2Fhh3QZw— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 10, 2020
The Lilywhites could count themselves unlucky not to be level going in at the break.
The ball broke for Darragh Leahy just six-yards from goal but his shot was deflected wide and to Arsenal safety.
Dundalk so close to equalising! 😲
Good play up the pitch but @Darraghleahy98's shot is deflected over!#CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/mL2Cra1byN— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 10, 2020
Arsenal were lucky not to concede just the other side of the break when a Michael Duffy break didn't produce the pass required by Dave McMillan's run.
Midway through the second half, the game was beyond the Cup-winners.
Dundalk failed to adequately clear their lines from an Arsenal throw-in in an advanced position. Joe Willock managed to get a shot away that squirmed under the body of Rogers.
67: GOAL! ⚽️
Joe Willock makes it 3-1 Arsenal! #CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/wKXLfSIhzX— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 10, 2020
Teenager Folarin Balogun made it 4-1 with ten minutes to go with a cool finish.
But Dundalk weren't done themselves.
Dundalk 1-4 Arsenal.
Folarin Balogun gets the fourth at Lansdowne.#CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/OxRy4tudOU— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 10, 2020
A Flores free-kick from the left was met beautifully by the head of defender Sean Hoare.
He managed to direct the ball past Runar Runarsson in the Arsenal goal to offer a respectability to the scoreline that the hosts more than deserved.
Seán Hoare does it again at Lansdowne!
Brilliant header from the @DundalkFC defender!#CmonTheTown | #UEL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/IMZHgHjNBM— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 10, 2020
Dundalk's travails were put into context by the side joining Arsenal in the last-32.
A 2-2 draw away to Rapid Vienna was enough to see Molde progress to the knockout phase at the Austrians' expense.
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