*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Arsenal (-2)
Arsenal and Dundalk come into this dead rubber Europa League fixture on the back of hugely contrasting weekend results.
Dundalk secured yet another FAI Cup on Sunday after a thrilling 4-2 win over Shamrock Rovers after extra time, while Arsenal were humbled by Tottenham in the North London Derby on the same day, yet it is Arsenal who should win this at a canter.
The Gunners have been absolutely shambolic in the league, but they have breezed through their Europa League group, winning all five games so far and winning each of their last four games by three goals.
Despite their obvious shortcomings domestically, Mikel Arteta’s side are quite clearly a cut above any of their Europa League group opponents, especially Dundalk, who have found the going tough in this season’s competition.
The Lilywhites are nowhere near the team that famously took four points in the 2016/17 Europa League group stages and were swatted aside by Arsenal at the Emirates in October.
They will have put most of their energy into their gruelling cup final win on Sunday night and are very much in bonus territory in what is the last game of the season.
The Irish side will want to end a forgettable campaign on a high, but it should be another convincing defeat.
Eddie Nketiah to score anytime
With a hugely important league game against Burnley coming up on Sunday, Arteta is guaranteed to rest his first-choice players on Thursday night (not that they deserve it).
He has turned to his young prospects throughout the Europa League this season and that is unlikely to change on Thursday night. That means that he could very well hand Eddie Nketiah the chance to lead the line against Dundalk and there is every chance that the young forward will find the back of the net.
Nketiah has two goals in this season’s competition, including one against Dundalk in London, and he will fancy his chances of adding to that tally in Dublin.
Both teams to score? No
It actually hasn’t been a bad competition for Dundalk in terms of goalscoring. Filippo Giavagnoli’s side have scored in every game in this season’s competition, apart from the defeat against Arsenal in October and they may find it equally difficult to breach the Gunners’ defence in Dublin.
Mikel Arteta will not take any chances, even against Dundalk, and Arsenal will set up to avoid conceding goals just as they did in London.
Dundalk barely managed a shot in anger on that occasion and it could very well be more of the same on Thursday night.
Under 1.5 Arsenal goals in the first half
Dundalk are likely to spend the majority of Thursday’s game on the edge of their own penalty area and it could make for a cagey opening half.
The Irish side restricted Arsenal to virtually zero clear-cut chances in the opening 40 minutes of reverse fixture at the Emirates only to fall two behind at half time due to two defensive errors in the space of two minutes.
However, they clearly showed that they have the capacity to frustrate Arsenal’s young charges, who have scored 10 of their 16 Europa League goals this season in the second half.
Arteta’s side has become notorious for its offensive struggles and even lowly Dundalk should prove a tough nut to crack for some portion of Thursday’s game.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Dundalk v Arsenal bet summary
Arsenal (-2)
Eddie Nketiah to score anytime
Both teams to score? No
Under 1.5 Arsenal goals in the first half
All four of these bets in a Same Game Multi will pay at approximately 8/1
SAME GAME MULTI ACCA INSURANCE
If one leg of your 4+ fold Same Game Multi lets you down, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet. Customers can qualify for 1 SGM Acca Insurance per day up to £/€10. The free bets will be credited by 12pm the following day.
More top tips for Thursday
- DOUBLE: 6/1 pair of bets for Leicester and Spurs’ Thursday night matches
- Our 22/1 acca for Thursday’s final round of Europa League action
Friday’s big bet
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW