ARSENAL sent a brutal warning to their Premier League rivals as they demolished German invincibles Bayer Leverkusen.
The Gunners triumphed 4-1 over Xabi Alonso’s side thanks to goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
Ukrainian Zinchenko opened the scoring with a sublime finish early on, and Belgian team-mate Trossard followed up barely 60 seconds later to double the scoring.
A revitalised Jesus added a third just before half-time, with Havertz making it four midway through the second half.
Adam Hlozek pulled one back for the German side with 76 minutes on the clock, before a drab final quarter as the Emirates emptied.
Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated every Arsenal performance…
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DAVID RAYA – 6
Had next to nothing to do other than Leverkusen’s late consolation. The simplest 90 minutes of his 2024 so far.
BEN WHITE – 6
Worked hard as usual but less threatening in attack without Saka ahead of him in the first 45 minutes.
GABRIEL – 6
Untroubled for most parts. Got some air in his lungs and avoided injury.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 6
Copy and paste from Gabriel’s comments. Subbed off at half-time and rightly so.
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OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO – 8
In the absence of left-back competition Jurrien Timber and new-boy Riccardo Calafiori, the Ukrainian was impressive on the ball and fairly solid off it.
His looping pass for Havertz ultimately saw him launch a fine strike into the bottom corner.
JORGINHO – 6
Marshalled, scanned, covered. Nothing we don’t already know.
KAI HAVERTZ – 8
Involved in both goals and everything good about Arsenal, back in a midfield role where he started his Arsenal career before finishing last season up top.
Roamed forward to tee-up both Zinchenko and Trossard for their first half strikes.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 7
Quiet by his standards but showed his class where possible. Some cute dinks and touches drawing appreciation from the stands.
FABIO VIEIRA – 5
Did not look entirely comfortable out on the right wing but looked sharp on the ball, yet there continues to be question marks over where he fits into Arteta’s plans.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 8
Another player involved in the thick of it from the off. Dummied on the edge of the box for Zinchenko’s opener and then showed great composure to finish a minute later.
If he carries on like this, that left wing spot for the opener against Wolves is his…
GABRIEL JESUS – 9
Looks super fit and super energetic, a welcome change from the start of last season where a dodgy knee hampered his pre-season.
Who needs a new striker when the Brazilian is in this sort of form, running from his own half to put away Arsenal’s third inside 38 minutes.
SUBSTITUTES
DECLAN RICE (JESUS, 45) – 7
The metres were gobbled up as expected and looks ready to get stuck in again after his prolonged break following England duty.
BUKAYO SAKA (VIEIRA, 45) – 8
It is like he had never been away, producing an assist 17 minutes of coming on with a darting run down the right flank.
JAKUB KIWIOR (SALIBA, 45) – 6
He may have been linked away this summer but he is a sturdy back-up in his favoured centre-back role, despite being used as a full-back last term.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (ZINCHENKO, 45) – 7
Did not look out of place and looks comfortable acting as an inverted full-back, something Arteta will love, as well as his ability to recover and make a tackle.
THOMAS PARTEY (ODEGAARD, 63) – 6
Needs to put his fitness issues behind him and will hope this is just one of numerous games this season where he can slot in with help out.
ETHAN NWANERI (JORGINHO, 63) – 6
A mixed bag from the talent everyone has their eyes on with some encouraging runs cancelled out by a few sloppy passes, but another game experience to aid his development.
AYDEN HEAVEN (GABRIEL, 70) – 6
A towering unit and one that can hold his game in a senior game. Still has lots to learn and definitely one for the distant future.
JOSH NICHOLS (WHITE, 70) – 6
A very different prospect to White. Slight in frame but quick with and without the ball. Another that will likely stick with the Arsenal academy sides for now.
EDDIE NKETIAH (HAVERTZ, 70) – 6
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Has the look of a man who needs to leave. Barely got involved in the action up top but not helped by the drop in atmosphere and intensity of the game.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI (TROSSARD, 81) – N/A
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
