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Morning all.
Three goals and a clean sheet, what’s not to be happy about after our final pre-season fixture of the summer. Viktor Gyokeres scored our opening goal with a thunderous header and then Bukayo Saka, with the assist from Gabriel Martinelli, tucked home our second. Late in the second half, Kai Havertz made it 3-0 after a great run and with a lovely finish.
Both Saka and Martinelli had early chances but both were guilty of going for goal instead of passing to a better placed player. Gyokeres had a chance to open his Arsenal goal scoring account but after a fine cross from Martin Zubimendi, couldn’t get he right purchase on his shot.
Martinelli, after a run down the left, played the ball to Gyokeres who in turn set up Riccardo Calafiori, but the Italian blasted his shot too high.
Our goal came from a corner which Rice delivered long to Saka. Saka passed to Zubimendi and it was from his fine cross which Gyokeres scored. A cracking header it was too. Two minutes later, Martinelli set up Saka to make it 2-0.
After the break, Mikel Arteta made changes, the first being a double change with Noni Madueke and Ben White replaced Calafiori and Martinelli and to suggest Madueke was lively would be an understatement. He looked a fine prospect that’s for sure and as Nigel Winterburn said during commentary, it doesn’t matter what he’s done before, it’s what he does for Arsenal which matters now.
Madueke, Zubimendi and Gokyeres were behind another good Arsenal move which nearly ended with us going 3-0 up. Zubimendi won the ball in midfield, played it wide to Madueke who sent a cross into the box. Gokyeres got his head on the end of it but blasted it against the post.
We did score a third though and it came from our new bulked up and speedster Kai Havertz. Saka set him free and the big German did the rest. A really good goal.
After the game, a penalty shootout took place and we won that too.
Thats the best I’ve seen Arsenal play this summer. After passing the ball around a bit at the back to begin with, we upped the tempo. David Raya didn’t hang onto the ball for as long as he has done in the past and we looked for a forward pass more often than not. It was clear to me that Arteta has tweaked our playing style. Zubimendi is one heck of a player and he brings something exciting to this team. His passing range is amazing. He and Rice together works well, very well. As for our other new signings on show today, young centre-back Christhian Mosquera looks like the bargain deal of the summer. He’s composed, confident and very good. Madueke, well, I think we’re going to enjoy watching him…
Catch up in the comments.