Self-confessed Spurs fan Shane Keegan relishing Dundalk's Aviva date with Arsenal

Dundalk take on Arsenal at the Aviva Stadium today in what will be their last game of a prolonged 2020 season. Fresh off cup final success last Sunday against Shamrock Rovers, the Louth side can view tonight’s game as a shot to nothing.

A UEFA ban means that Filippo Giovagnoli will not be allowed on the touchline or take questioning from the media, so it was coach Shane Keegan thrust into the spotlight once more.

Dundalk could have been forgiven for indulging in some celebrations after a hard-fought cup final win, but Keegan insisted that all eyes were on tonight’s game.

“The players knew they had one more (game) to go and as you can imagine there has been plans put in place to allow a proper celebration win lose or draw after the game, which I think will be well deserved.

“We’ve been planning directly towards this one first and foremost, that was the main thing, and we will enjoy our moment when the time comes,” said Keegan.

Keegan is a self-confessed Tottenham fan and took some pleasure in their opponents defeat in the North London derby.

“I had the (game) recorded partly through my professional role and partly because I’m a Spurs fan. I watched it back for enjoyment more so,” he added.

Arsenal have a squad full of international talents and their resources allow them to field near two totally different squads in both the Premier League and in the Europa League.

The coaching staff and Keegan in particular have been paying slightly more attention to their European exploits.

“It is the Europa League games are the ones that we need to be looking at in terms of how Arsenal will set up and the approach that they will take.

“There is a fairly clear trend with eight or nine bodies being consistently used in the starting eleven in Europe.”

The Gunners have failed to win domestically since beating Manchester United five weeks ago, while picking up five wins from five in Europe. However, Keegan knows that their domestic form and European form are worlds apart.

“Results are not going as well domestically for Mikel Arteta as he would have hoped but at the same time has that had any negative effect on their Europa League performances?

“Absolutely not, they have blown everybody out of the water and from our point of view we have not fared any worse than any of the other teams have.”

Dundalk have picked up zero points in the group so far, no Irish team has not picked up points in a Europa League group stage since Shamrock Rovers in 2011.

If the 2020 FAI Cup champions are to pull off a result this evening, it will go down as one of the big European results achieved by an Irish team.

The Lillywhite squad are a competitive bunch and the cloud of uncertainty which hangs over many players will push the players on to put themselves in the shop window if contracts at Dundalk do not materialise.

Stalwarts such as Michael Duffy, David McMillan, Sean Hoare, Sean Gannon among others have all yet to agree new contracts and even with the appointment of a new director of football in Jim Magilton, all is not rosy in the lilywhite garden yet.

Talks of contracts with players was ceased early in the week, with all focus being placed on tonight’s game.

“There was a small bit of breathing space on Monday regarding contracts,” said Keegan.

“The line was drawn certainly on Monday, we were back in the training ground on Tuesday and from the time we started back training, we did not want any interference whatsoever on that side of things.”

Arsenal could perhaps be the last dance for this Dundalk group, but they have certainly given their fans much pride and entertainment over the years.