ARSENAL endured an underwhelming return home with a second pre-season defeat to Villarreal.
The club’s fourth pre-season friendly, their first at the Emirates, saw all six summer signings make their north London debuts.
ReutersArsenal suffered a 3-2 defeat to Villarreal[/caption]
AFPMikel Arteta still has some problems to solve before the season starts[/caption]
However, it was not a game they will be rushing to remember.
Former Gunner Nicolas Pepe, who joined the club for a then-record £72million in 2019, opened the scoring for the visitors from close range.
Karl Etta Eyong then capitalised on some poor defending to make it two.
New boy Christian Norgaard got one back for the hosts with a composed header at the back post following a Gabriel Martinelli corner.
Villarreal restored their two-goal lead following a counter-attack which culminated in a strike from ex-Tottenham man Arnaut Danjuma.
Teenager Max Dowman, who made his Emirates debut, then won a penalty in the final 15 minutes for captain Martin Odegaard to bury.
However, it wasn’t enough to fire the Gunners to a comeback.
Arsenal then lost the post-match penalty shootout 4-3.
Here’s how SunSport’s Emillia Hawkins rated the performance.
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David Raya – 5
Arguably could’ve done better for the opening goal, perhaps even the second.
Didn’t look too comfortable when there were numbers in the box.
Ben White – 5
Back making those overlapping runs with Saka on the right.
Lost his runner, Gerard Moreno, in the build-up to the second goal after initially being caught slightly out of position.
Made a few crosses from the right but didn’t really challenge the Villarreal defence too much.
William Saliba – 5
Doesn’t look his best without favoured centre-back partner, Gabriel Magalhaes, by his side.
Was caught quite high up the pitch for Villarreal’s second and dragged out wide, leaving plenty of space in the box.
Jakub Kiwior – 4
Failed to make the clearance before Pepe’s opening goal after being out-muscled in the six-yard box.
Also made a failed attempt to win the ball for Villarreal’s second.
GettyJakub Kiwior struggled in the build-up to the first two goals[/caption]
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6
Lost track of Pepe at times out wide but did well moving centrally. Battled well and drew some fouls in the middle.
Out of position for the visitors’ third goal.
Christian Norgaard – 7
Made some important interceptions and challenges in midfield.
Had a wild half-volley shot from the edge of the box which bounced out for a throw-in but redeemed himself with a composed header at the back post to get one back for the Gunners.
Mikel Merino – 5
Didn’t make much of an impact at all in midfield. Very quiet.
Returned to the No9 position in the second half when Gyokeres went off.
Ethan Nwaneri – 7
Very sharp in the first half when in control of the ball, taking on players and working well with Saka on the right.
Played centrally in the No10 position as opposed to the wing.
GettyEthan Nwaneri impressed in the No10 position[/caption]
Bukayo Saka – 6
Far from his best performance. Didn’t have too much luck out on the right and failed to cause any real problems for goalkeeper Luiz Junior.
Gabriel Martinelli – 6
Looked sharp at the start of the match by making some direct runs down the left and some good crosses.
Had a bit of a dip mid-first half but got the assist for Norgaard’s goal.
Viktor Gyokeres – 5
Had a very quiet evening. Had a few promising opportunities cutting inside from the left during the first half.
Plenty of Arsenal’s chances came from crosses – perhaps he would have done better had the ball been played directly to his feet.
Didn’t really look up to speed – not surprising given he didn’t really have much of a pre-season.
PAViktor Gyokeres had a quiet game[/caption]
SUBSTITUTES
Cristhian Mosquera (for White, 46) – 6
Looked fairly comfortable alongside Gabriel after coming on.
Martin Zubimendi (for Norgaard, 46) – 6
A promising debut home performance from the midfielder, who worked well alongside Rice.
Declan Rice (for Nwaneri, 62) – 6
Worked well with new boy Zubimendi in the middle.
Gabriel Magalhaes (for Kiwior, 62) – 6
A fairly composed performance. Still working his way back up to full match fitness.
Martin Odegaard (for Gyokeres, 62) – 6
Scored the penalty which made it 3-2 by tucking his shot nicely into the bottom-right corner.
Jurrien Timber (for Saliba, 62) – 5
Didn’t get involved too much.
Max Dowman (for Saka, 62) – 7
Got one of the biggest cheers of the evening as he was introduced to the home fans for the first time while making his way onto the pitch.
Looked to make an impact from the off and came close with a low-driven chance cutting inside from the right.
Won the penalty after being tripped by Pau Navarro.
GettyMax Dowman had another very impressive performance[/caption]
Kepa Arrizabalaga (for Raya, 62) – 5
Beaten by a low-driven strike from Danjuma just minutes after coming off the bench.
Not the best start to his time at the Emirates.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Lewis-Skelly, 77) – 5
Beaten slightly too easily which could have seen the visitors get a fourth.
Noni Madueke (for Martinelli, 77) – 6
Not a bad start for the winger, especially considering he only joined his team-mates for the first time a few days ago.
PANoni Madueke made his debut for the Gunners[/caption]
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