Arsenal defeated by Borussia Dortmund in Emirates Cup
Match Overview
Arsenal faced a 3-2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup, marking their first return to Emirates Stadium since being crowned Premier League champions. The match saw Samuele Inacio open the scoring for Borussia Dortmund, followed by an excellent second goal from Konstantino Karetsas.
Ethan Nwaneri, a substitute for Arsenal, managed to pull one goal back. However, Joane Gadou extended Dortmund’s lead with a third goal. Viktor Gyokeres then scored Arsenal’s second from a penalty after Christos Tzolis was fouled.
Player Performances and Returns
Several Arsenal players were assessed for their performances. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga conceded two goals before being substituted at half-time. Ben White was noted as the best performer in Arsenal’s back four during his time on the pitch.
Cristhian Mosquera was involved in Dortmund’s opening goal, while Gabriel Magalhaes made his first pre-season start after returning from the World Cup. Riccardo Calafiori, the left-back, was caught high up the pitch, leading to Dortmund’s second goal. Myles Lewis-Skelly had a less impactful game despite a strong pre-season.
Martin Odegaard played his first minutes of pre-season since returning from the World Cup, showing some bright moments before being taken off after 30 minutes. Kai Havertz played in midfield but did not get on the ball frequently. Max Dowman, a 16-year-old, showcased his quality, setting up Gyokeres whose effort hit the crossbar. Christos Tzolis provided good deliveries and assisted Nwaneri’s goal. Viktor Gyokeres, despite effort, lacked quality but converted a penalty.
Substitutes included Ethan Nwaneri, who scored, and Illan Meslier, who made a save but conceded from the rebound. Piero Hincapie and 16-year-old Marli Salmon were also introduced, with Salmon receiving cheers for his tackles. Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Fabio Vieira had minimal impact due to the disrupted flow of the game after late changes.
Manager’s Perspective and Squad Updates
Manager Mikel Arteta discussed the match and squad matters. He acknowledged the loss and the need for improvement, stating that certain players require more minutes to regain rhythm. He also highlighted that losing a match, even a friendly, should “hurt.”
Arteta expressed delight about the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes, citing his energy, hunger, and desire to create history at the club. He believes Guimaraes will provide versatility on the pitch, with the ability to play in two different positions, win the ball back, and contribute to goal threats.
Regarding injuries, Jurrien Timber is progressing well but is still weeks away from returning. William Saliba is in a two-week rest period due to an aggravated injury, which will require time to heal. Some English and Spanish players, including David and Bukayo, returned earlier than expected and were present at the game, with everyone expected to start training programs soon.
Arteta noted that the team conceded some poor goals, emphasizing collective responsibility for improvement. He also indicated that the club is looking for the right player in the market to strengthen the squad further. Despite the pre-season result, Arteta remains confident that players returning from the World Cup will be ready for the upcoming Community Shield, although their fitness levels vary.
After the match, both teams practiced penalties, with Arsenal winning the shootout. Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Piero Hincapie, Gabriel Martinelli, and Ethan Nwaneri all scored in the shootout.
The manager confirmed that the team will manage the opening parts of the season with different fitness levels in mind, a strategy used in the past, with Martin Odegaard playing 30 minutes in this game.
Source: bbc.com
Priya Menon 