Without Kai Havertz, Arsenal lost their friendly against Villarreal 2-3. A former Gunner also scored. There was a penalty shootout at the end, but the Londoners came out on top.
Back at their home ground, the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal’s new striker Gyökeres made his first start, while Havertz, who had come on as a substitute for the Swede in the 0-1 defeat to Tottenham, was missing from the squad. “He felt something in training yesterday and wasn’t feeling too good this morning,” explained coach Mikel Arteta.
“That’s why we decided to rest him. I think it will only be a few days, hopefully until the weekend, and if everything goes according to plan, he’ll be fit again,” said the Spaniard. Captain Ödegaard also started on the bench. Former Gunner Pepé started for Villareal.
He then gave the Spaniards the lead after 16 minutes: the right winger initially hit the post with a shot, but the ball rebounded off Arsenal keeper Raya’s back and into the field, where Pepé was able to assert himself in the chaos in front of the goal after a cross from the left. Raya then saved a shot from Gerard for the second goal of the evening, but Etta Eyong ran in from the middle and pushed the ball over the line to make it 2-0 to Villarreal (33).
Ödegaard’s penalty not enough – at least in the game
Shortly afterwards, however, Arsenal’s new signing Nörgaard had the perfect response: from a corner, the Dane was successfully blocked by his teammates at the far post and nodded the ball into the near corner, leaving goalkeeper Luiz Junior with no chance (36). The teams went into the break with the score at 1-2.
After a few changes in the early stages of the second half, the visitors then increased their lead in the 68th minute: Danjuma was sent through on goal and gave Kepa, who had come on as a substitute shortly before, no chance with his precise shot into the far corner. After a foul by Navarro, who had left his foot in against the 15-year-old Dowman on the edge of the penalty area, Arsenal were able to reduce the deficit from the penalty spot: Ödegaard converted confidently. But that was all the Gunners could muster.
At least in the regular 90 minutes. Although the game did not end in a draw, both teams staged a penalty shootout after the match for practice purposes, with Arsenal coming out on top 4-3.