ARSENAL annihilated the MLS All-Stars in their second pre-season friendly at Audi Field in Washington.
Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber made their first appearance ever since their arrival in the summer transfer window.
Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Gabriel Martinelli were on target as was Kai Havertz, who scored his first ever goal for the Gunners.
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That’s all from Washington
Arsenal beat Wayne Rooney’s MLS All-Stars 5-0 at Audi Field in Washington during their second pre-season friendly.
The Gunners opened the scoring after just five minutes when Bukayo Saka found Gabriel Jesus just outside the area and the striker fired a beautiful flick that tapped Roman Burki’s right-hand post before hitting the net.
The North Londoners doubled their lead on 23 minutes when Saka again found Leandro Trossard from the right and the versatile forward produced a wonderful shot from the edge of the box that hit Burki’s bottom left corner.
Mikel Arteta’s men earned a penalty-kick in the first few seconds of the second half when St. Louis City’s Tim Parker handed the ball during a challenge with Jesus.
Jorginho stepped up and easily beat DC United’s Tyler Miller to practically seal the win.
Arteta then handed debuts for summer signings Jurrien Timber and club record £105million transfer Declan Rice in the 65th minute.
The two arrivals helped Arsenal score two more goals as captain Martin Odegaard found Gabriel Martinelli with a wonderful ball from midfield and the Brazil international finished brilliantly in the 84th minute.
And Kai Havertz scored his first ever goal for the club in his second appearance as he picked up a cross from Marquinhos and beat New England Revolution’s Dorde Petrovic with a clinical finish one minute before full-time.
That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a great night!
Credit: Getty Declan Rice shines
Arsenal’s record signing Declan Rice impressed in his first ever appearance for the club.
Rice came on during the second half and immediately looked at home.
The England international appeared to play more as a No6 rather than a No8 and anchored the Gunners’ midfield.
The 24-year-old only spent 26 minutes on the pitch but left immense promise for the future and manager Mikel Arteta could indeed build the team around him.
The ex-West Ham captain inspired confidence and composure as he helped the North Londoners maintain possession and build from the back.
Credit: Getty Arsenal vs MLS All-Stars analysis
Here’s what SunSport’s man on the field Martin Lipton made of Arsenal’s dominant win over the MLS All-Stars:
Declan Rice made his Arsenal bow as Mikel Arteta’s men cruised past Wayne Rooney’s woeful MLS All-Stars.
The £105million midfielder was part of a slew of second-half replacements as Arteta gave his entire squad a run-out.
And while there is far more to come from the England ace, he looked immediately at home among the Gunners stars as he anchored the middle of the park.
Rice’s unexpected 26-minute appearance was a further positive for Arsenal, who won without breaking out of second gear.
First-half stunners from Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard made it oh so easy, with Jorginho’s penalty at the start of the second half ensuring the victory before Rice trotted on to wild acclaim from his new supporters and fellow subs Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz added more home pain.
Arteta hopes his new “lighthouse” will be the missing link, with Rooney calling on him to become the “leader” of the Gunners pack.
Martin Lipton
Credit: Getty
More player ratings
And here’s how SunSport’s Martin Lipton rates every Arsenal sub:
Karl Hein: 6
Martin Odegaard: 7
Kai Havertz: 6
Gabriel Martinelli: 6
Declan Rice: 7
Takehiro Tomiyasu: 6
Jurrien Timber: 6
Folarin Balogun: 5
Kieran Tierney: 6
Marquinhos: 5
Auston Trusty: 5
Credit: Getty Arsenal player ratings
Here’s how SunSport’s Martin Lipton rates every Arsenal starter from Audi Field:
Aaron Ramsdale: 6
Ben White: 6
William Saliba: 9
Gabriel Magalhaes: 5
Jakub Kiwior: 6
Fabio Vieira: 5
Jorginho: 7
Leandro Trossard: 7
Bukayo Saka: 8
Gabriel Jesus: 7
Eddie Nketiah: 7
Credit: AP Arsenal vs MLS All-Stars stats
Arsenal dominated 56 per cent of possession against the MLS All-Stars.
The Gunners registered 16 shots, but only five of them were on target.
The All-Stars, on the other hand, only managed seven shots, one of which was on target.
More below:
FT: Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
Arsenal destroyed the MLS All-Stars at Audi Field in Washington during their second pre-season friendly.
The Gunners broke the deadlock after just five minutes when Bukayo Saka drove the ball down the right and found Gabriel Jesus behind him.
Jesus fired a beautiful flick that tapped Roman Burki’s right-hand post before hitting the net.
The North Londoners doubled their lead on 23 minutes when Saka found Leandro Trossard from the right and the versatile forward produced a wonderful shot from the edge of the box that hit Burki’s bottom left corner.
Mikel Arteta’s men earned a penalty-kick in the first few seconds of the second half when Tim Parker handed the ball during a challenge with Jesus.
Jorginho stepped up and easily beat Tyler Miller to pracically seal the win.
Arteta then handed debuts for summer signings Jurrien Timber and club record transfer Declan Rice.
The two arrivals helped Arsenal score two more as captain Martin Odegaard found Gabriel Martinelli with a wonderful ball from midfield and the Brazil international finished brilliantly in the 84th minute.
And Kai Havertz scored his first ever goal for the club in his second appearance as he picked up a cross from Marquinhos and beat Dorde Petrovic with a clinical finish one minute before full-time.
Credit: AP FT: Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
Peep!
That’s full-time in Washington!!!
90+5 Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
Chance!
Arsenal summer signing Havertz almost completes a brace with a beautiful curling shot from the edge of the box that just misses the crossbar.
90+3 Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
Havertz has hit the back of the net in his second Arsenal appearance since his arrival.
The versatile forward showing he could indeed be revitalised under Arteta.
Credit: AP 90 Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
Six minutes of added time to go.
Almost mercifully over for the MLS All-Stars…
89 Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
Marquinhos delivers a beautiful cross from the left and finds Havertz in the far post.
The versatile forward chests it down and fires a powerful left-footed shot that gives Petrovic no chance.
89 Arsenal 5-0 MLS All-Stars
Goal!
Havertz scores his first Arsenal goal!!!
88 Arsenal 4-0 MLS All-Stars
Chance
Arsenal captain Odegaard tries a shot from the edge of the box but sends it wide.
87 Arsenal 4-0 MLS All-Stars
It;s hard to imagine Arsenal won;t score a fifth.
The MLS All-Stars haven’t lived up to their reputation tonight in Washington…
84 Arsenal 4-0 MLS All-Stars
Arsenal captain Odegaard delivers a fantastic long ball from midfield and finds Martinelli on the left.
The winger drives the ball to the area and beats Petrovic with a clinical finish to hit the MLS keeper’s bottom left corner.
84 Arsenal 4-0 MLS All-Stars
Goal!
Arsenal make it four with Martinelli!!!
83 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
Rice continues to play a deep role but a lot of balls go through him first.
The midfielder is already inspiring composure in the middle of the park.
Credit: Reuters 80 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
Substitution
Arsenal boss Arteta throws in his second American player after Balogun.
Trusty comes on for White.
78 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
Chance!
Arsenal come close to a fourth with a close-range shot by Martinelli from the left that goes over the crossbar.
Cooling break at Audi Field!
75 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
Rice is dictating a lot of the game with some accurate passing and good runs.
It is evident already that the Gunners will build a lot of their game around the midfielder and will look for more composure in their game.
73 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
Rice is playing in a rather deep role in midfield, more like a No6 rather than a No8.
Fans still going crazy every time the England international touches the ball.
Credit: AP Credit: Reuters 70 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
Tempo has slowed down as the MLS All-Stars don’t have an answer against Arsenal’s impressive side.
But after so many changes, we are surely going to see some more action.
68 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
Substitution
More changes from MLS All-Star boss Rooney as Petrovic, Kamara, Jordan Morris, Giakoumakis, Herrera and Choiniere come on for Espinoza, Almada, Aidan Morris, Gil, Fereira and Miller
67 Arsenal 3-0 MLS All-Stars
Rice gets a massive ovation as he enters the pitch for the first time after his £105million move from West Ham.
Fans go crazy every time he touches the ball and it seems he is playing either as a No6 or No8.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
