Dundalk 2-4 Arsenal: 5 talking points as Gunners win all group stage matches | UEFA Europa League 2020-21

#3 Nicolas Pepe justifies his position in the starting eleven

Nicolas Pepe has missed matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe will have to serve just one more match suspension before he is available for selection in the Premier League. The Ivory Coast winger was sent off against Leeds United in late November and has missed matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers as well as Tottenham Hotspur.

In the Europa League, the 25-year-old currently has six goal contributions (three goals and three assists) in six games. According to WhoScored, Pepe averages a passing accuracy of 81%, produces 3.8 shots and makes 3.4 dribbles per game.

His impressive performances in the Europa League certainly helped ensure Arsenal's winning streak in the competition. Set to be back in the Premier League against Southampton on 16th December, the former Lille player will be tasked with replicating his form in the domestic competition.

Joe Willock now has the joint-most goal involvements for Arsenal this season along with Nicolas Pepe - 6!

— Orbinho (@Orbinho) December 10, 2020

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#2 Arsenal's academy graduates run the show

Folarin Balogun scored Arsenal's fourth of the night

Looking at all six Europa League group stage matches, Arsenal youngsters have done very well in the competition. From Reiss Nelson to Joe Willock, Eddie Nketiah and more, every one of them played a role in the Gunners' great form.

Arsenal's talented Folarin Balogun had almost 60 minutes of action in the Europa League but within that short span of time, he scored two goals and laid one assist.

3 & 3 - Joe Willock is the first Arsenal player to register both three goals and three assists in a European campaign for Arsenal since 2016/17, when both Alexis Sánchez and Mesut Özil did so in the Champions League. Talent. pic.twitter.com/5xihztOC9o

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2020

In the second 45 minutes, Arteta handed Miguel Azeez and Ben Cottrell their Arsenal first-team debuts. Although they didn't make much of an impact, it was nevertheless a great game from the youngsters.

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#1 Arsenal's future in the Europa League

Mikel Arteta will be hoping for a favourable draw

Arsenal will know their Round-of-32 opponents next Monday, and the games will be played from mid-February onwards.

Having topped Group B of the Europa League, they will avoid the likes of Ajax, Club Brugge and a few others. However, Arsenal could still face Red Bull Salzburg, Olympiakos and Dynamo Kiev who have all dropped down from the Champions League.

Additionally, they may face runners-up from other Europa League groups, with teams like Braga as well as Lille/AC Milan set to be tough draws for the Gunners.

Arteta doesn't have much time to change things around with Arsenal performing poorly in the Premier League. They are 15th in the table standings and only seven points above the relegation zone.

Before European action resumes, the manager should be hoping that he can take things around for the club in the next two months.