Viktor Gyokeres’ first Arsenal begin resulted in defeat as Villarreal ran out 3-1 winners on the Emirates Stadium regardless of 15-year-old Max Dowman wowing the group once more.
After a quick cameo within the north London derby defeat to Spurs in Hong Kong, Gyokeres was given an hour by Mikel Arteta, however his Arsenal homecoming was upstaged by one other big-money Gunners signing, who was sporting a Villarreal shirt.
Nicolas Pepe, the once-£72m Arsenal file signing, gave the LaLiga aspect the lead from shut vary after Pape Gueye’s header got here off the publish. And extra questionable defending noticed The Yellow Submarine double their benefit.
Nicolas Pepe scored the opener on his Emirates return
Gerard Moreno was present in house within the space and whereas David Raya saved his shot effectively, Karl Etta Eyong was available to nod dwelling from shut vary.
Arsenal responded immediately with their favorite weapon – set items. Gabriel Martinelli’s nook was headed dwelling by summer time signing Christian Norgaard on the far publish, the Danish midfielder exhibiting he can convey his set-piece prowess from his Brentford days to Arsenal.
Gyokeres had minimal probabilities
The Gunners pushed for a leveller within the second half with Gyokeres seeing his greatest probability of the sport saved out on the close to publish by Luis Junior. However Villarreal would web a 3rd as former Bournemouth and Everton winger Arnaut Danjuma ran clear and completed below Kepa Arrizabalaga into the far nook.
Simply as Arsenal appeared like they had been lacking a spark, up stepped Dowman as soon as once more. The 15-year-old took the sport to his Champions League-level opponents and, like towards Newcastle in Singapore, received the Gunners a penalty.
A slick backheel from {the teenager} introduced him into the field earlier than he went down below a problem which allowed Martin Odegaard to tuck dwelling the penalty.
Arsenal introduced on Noni Madueke after that, however once more it was Dowman pulling all of Arsenal’s strings. Nevertheless, the Gunners could not stop struggling back-to-back defeats in pre-season, with their Premier League marketing campaign beginning subsequent week towards Manchester United, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
Extra to comply with
Sky Sports activities to point out 215 dwell Premier League video games from subsequent season
Sky Sports activities to point out 215 dwell Premier League video games this season
From subsequent season, Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection will improve from 128 matches to no less than 215 video games completely dwell.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games subsequent season are on Sky Sports activities.
