Arsenal’s pre-season continued this evening with a [3-2 defeat to Villarreal](https://arseblog.news/2025/08/report-arsenal-2-3-villarreal/) at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta picked a mix and match side from the start, and saw his side fall 2-0 behind before Christian Norgaard pulled one back. In the second half, the Spanish side went further ahead before Martin Odegaard scored from the penalty spot after Max Dowman had been fouled.
Viktor Gyokeres started his first game for the club, and received little service, although he did come to life a bit towards the end of the first half. On the Swedish international, and the team’s need to get used to a new profile of centre-forward, the Arsenal boss said, “I think it was very important for him to start a match and start to have the feeling and the connection with the team.
“He’s been with us only a week or so, but I really saw a lot of things and a lot of purpose, especially the way he was attacking certain spaces.
“Every day in training I think he’s getting a really good feeling. I think he’s getting connections as well outside, which I think is really important with players that are going to help him to get in the position that he needs to get in.
“On his fitness level, I think he hasn’t trained really with the team for two months, so he’s done now six or five sessions I think before today, so I think on Saturday again he will take another step and he will be in a better condition.”
There was also a first look at Noni Madueke, who came on to replace Gabriel Martinelli on the left, with Arteta making it clear he sees him as an option on both flanks.
“I think Noni, when you ask him, he’s very comfortable playing right and left so if we want to have inverted footed players, we can do that,” he said.
“He’s a real threat, I wouldn’t want to play against him and we want to find something else and playing with natural-footed players, he’s going to give us that solution.
“Today you’ve already seen a couple of balls that he put in the box, the pace and the quality he can deliver.”
Once again though, young Gunner Max Dowman caught the eye with impressive burts on the right hand side, and for the second time this summer he won a penalty. He’s pushing hard for inclusion, and the manager said, “He continues to impress, without a doubt. The impact he had in the game again today, the efficiency that he shows in every attack and action, it’s incredible.
“He deserves to have chances and if he continues like this, let’s see what happens.”
The Gunners were without Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz and Riccardo Calafiori this evening, but Arteta said he’s confident all three should be available for the weekend fixture against Athletic Bilbao.
However, there was good news as both Gabriel and Jurrien Timber played their first minutes of pre-season when they were introduced in the second half.