ARSENAL defeated Lyon 2-0 to win the Emirates Cup – but the pre-arranged penalty shootout did not happen after the match.
With the Emirates Stadium expecting the penalties after the game, Lyon players instead began to do a training drill much to the confusion of the fans.
The Gunners are hoping to end their 20-year-wait without a Premier League title win this season and a trophy before the season starts has got them off on just the right foot.
- Kick-off time: 2pm BST
- Stream: Arsenal.com
- Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
- Lyon XI: Perri, Mata, Caleta-Car, Niakhate, Abner, Matic, Maitland-Niles, Caqueret, Tolisso, Benrahma, Mikautadze
That’s all from the Emirates Stadium!
And all from the Emirates Cup!
Arsenal have ended pre-season with silverware in their hands; what they would give to make sure that’s the case when the proper campaign concludes next May.
Still, heading into the new season in winning ways is not to be sniffed at, and we’ll be here again on Saturday to see if they can kick-off 2024-25 in similar style against Wolves.
Until then, thanks for joining us, and goodbye.
Ominous opening month for Gunners
Arsenal finished pre-season in style with another impressive home win against European opposition.
And it’s probably just as well that the Gunners have looked so good against Lyon and Bayer Leverkusen because their start to the new campaign appears one of the toughest on paper.
Amid tricky home tests against Wolves and Brighton – both of whom have shown themselves capable of leaving the Emirates with points in recent season – there are three daunting away trips.
Mikel Arteta’s men go to the only side that completed the double over them last term in Aston Villa before a local derby at rivals Tottenham, and a visit to the reigning Premier League champions Man City.
Arsenal substitutes rated
Gabriel Jesus (Rice 65′) – 6
Forced to shake off a painful knock to his left ankle but barely got a sniff with the game winding down.
Riccardo Calafiori (Zinchenko 65′) – 6
Pushed forward well when given the chance and put in some crunching tackles.
Arsenal midfield and forwards rated
Thomas Partey – 7
Looks back to his best. Disruptive in defence and silky with the ball at his feet to spark counters, especially when feeding Saka down the right.
Declan Rice – 8
Pressing from the front and showcasing his abilities as Arsenal’s corner taker once more, teeing up Saliba and Gabriel in the opening half an hour.
Martin Odegaard – 7
Quiet but efficient first half. Should have made it 3-0 with a shot just after the break that was well saved.
Bukayo Saka – 7
Tore Lyon left-back Vinicius Abner to shreds with his darting runs inside and out, having a headed effort saved and another go narrowly wide in the first half.
Smacked the post in the second half. Did everything but score.
Gabriel Martinelli – 7
A real livewire performance that just lacked some cutting edge and coolness that is needed if he is to start ahead of Leandro Trossard next weekend, wasting several opportunities in the first half.
Kai Havertz – 6
Back as a No.9 after playing in midfield in mid-week and was not as effective. Squandered a decent opening in the 53rd minute.
Arsenal goalkeeper and defence rated
David Raya – 6/10
Could have sat on the sidelines for most of the game and not conceded. One hairy moment saw Said Benrahma fluff his lines from a dangerous cross.
His first real save came in the 84th minute after a Jorginho error.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7
Dictated on the ball well and pushed high with Lyon struggling to get out. Likely to start against Wolves after a solid pre-season.
William Saliba – 8
Composed in both boxes. Barely broke sweat in defence and celebrated a simple headed finish from a corner inside the opening 10 minutes.
Gabriel – 8
When he runs in the opposition box at speed, with his power and physicality, there is no one in world football stopping him. A fine header from a corner after spinning to the back post.
Ben White – 7
Such is his quality and knowledge of his role that he can drift through games comfortably, never caught out of position and rarely makes a mistake.
The Emirates Cup comes home!
Although you could argue it has never left this stadium with the same name.
Martin Odegaard collects the trophy from an Emirates representative, and sheepishly lifts it to the skies alongside his bemused teammates.
There’s no more than knowing smilew on the facew of these Arsenal players, they know that the serious stuff is about to begin – and if they end up with the Premier League trophy at the end of the season, then the celebrations will be very different.
But for now…
…Emirates Cup champions, you’ll never sing that.
Penalty shoot-out cancelled!
After all the build-up, there will be no penalty shoot-out at the Emirates Stadium after all.
Boos ring around the ground as the bad news is broken to supporters.
Never mind the glorious weather, the brilliant attacking football, the opportunity to see international stars, new signings and future talent, these fans must feel cheated by the news.
They will have to settle for the upcoming trophy lift.
Full time – Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
Arsenal have retained the Emirates Cup, winning their own pre-season competition for a fifth time in six outings.
The goals came courtesy of their two starting centre-backs in the first half as William Saliba and Gabriel took it in turn to head home from corners.
A quiet second half was all about more minutes in the legs, a first Arsenal showing for Riccardo Calafiori, and another look at the talent that is Ethan Nwaneri.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
90. There will be another two minutes of added time to be played before the two things that 60,000 football fans have really come to see.
There will be the Emirates Cup being lifted by the victorious Arsenal players, after a superfluous penalty shoot-out that is literally just for kicks.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
89. Nwaneri showcases his tremendous potential by twisting and turning away from a bemused Lyon defender inside the area.
The 17-year-old has quite the future ahead of him.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
87. Odegaard tries to feed Nelson following a quick free-kick, but the winger goes too early and is flagged offside.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
85. Raya stands tall!
Having defended an Arsenal corner, Perri launches forward with a long throw, which has Jorginho diving across to block.
The crowd groan in unison as the Italian misses with his connection, leaving Nuamah clean through on goal.
The Lyon substitute races on and looks to dink over Raya, who stays upright and flicks the subsequent shot away with a strong arm.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
83. Nelson almost catches out Perri with a sliding cross to the near post, but the goalkeeper does just enough to smuggle the ball behind for a corner.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
81. Caliafiori shows great composure to stay with his runner and then beat Orban to the ball, before cooly passing back to Lewis-Skelly in space.
The home crowd liked that one.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
79. With Lewis-Skelly’s introduction, the youngster has gone to left-back which means the new centre-back pairing is Kiwior and Caliafiori.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
77. More Arsenal changes, and it’s a time see a couple of the Hale End youngsters.
The promising Ethan Nwaneri is on along with Myles Lewis-Skelly, and the two 17-year-olds will be joined on the pitch by Jorginho, Jakub Kiwior, Reiss Nelson and Leandro Trossard.
William Saliba, Gabriel, Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are those to come off.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
75. Fifteen minutes remaining before Arsenal can celebrate Emirates Cup glory.
It’s also 15 minutes until this game is concluded with a penalty shootout regardless of the scoreline.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
73. The players take another impromptu drinks break while treatment for Jesus continues.
Eventually, the Brazilian is up and ready to play on, and the rest of the players are also ready to go again.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
71. Jesus is not long on, but he’s gone down now and requires treatment.
The striker appears to have picked up a knock after arriving late to challenge Tolisso.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
68. Each of Riccardo Calafiori’s early touches are cheered by the Arsenal faithful.
And then they urge him on to fly into a challenge as he sizes up his opponent and a potential 50-50.
The Italian decides against it on this occasion; save those for Tottenham away next month.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
66. Lyon have made changes too, introducing Mama Balde, Ernest Nuamah, Mahamadou Diawara and Willi Orban to the action.
The quartet replace Abner, Maxence Caqueret, Said Benrahma and Georges Mikautadze.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
64. Here comes the change that Gooners have been waiting for!
Oleksandr Zinchenko – excellent today from an attacking perspective – is withdrawn, and in comes Riccardo Calafiori for his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt.
Also on is Gabriel Jesus, replacing Declan Rice, which is likely to mean a shift into midfield for Kai Havertz.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
62. The Gunners toy with their opponents, working the ball from right to left and back again.
Eventually, Odegaard flicks a clever pass in behind for Saka, only for Abner to rescue the situation for Lyon with a last-gasp challenge.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
60. We’ve hit the hour mark and there still hasn’t been any substitutions.
Remarkable stuff.
Maybe this is a real trophy to be won.
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
59. Caleta-Car leaves Martinelli in a heap by the corner flag following a firm but fair sliding challenge.
The Arsenal fans don’t like it, but the ball was there to be won and that’s exactly what the former Southampton man did.
Martinelli picks himself up and walks away holding his shoulder.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
