Arsenal player ratings
Fresh off the back of the Asian pre-season tour, Arsenal returned to their home ground to face Villarreal. However, they suffered their second defeat of pre-season, conceding three times on the day including to an old friend.
Arsenal went a goal down to their former wideman, Nicolas Pepe. A shot from outside the box, hitting the post and then coming back off David Raya before a subsequent cross landed at the ex-Gunner’s feet to tap past the Arsenal goalkeeper.
The home side were soon two down as Karl Etta Eyong tapped in at the back post following a good Raya save. However, Christian Norgaard managed to tap in at the back post with his head after being unmarked from a corner. Martin Odegaard scored a second half penalty but only after Arnaut Danjuma scored a third for the away side.
See how the Arsenal players rated individually here.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta prepares his side ahead of the new 2025/26 season (Image: Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)