ARSENAL are up against Lyon in a mid-season friendly in Dubai – and they’re winning!
Defender Gabriel put the Gunners ahead after 20 minutes against ex-Gunners man Alexandre Lacazette and Co.
And Eddie Nketiah made it 2-0 soon after with a tidy finish.
- TV/Live stream: The Arsenal App
- Arsenal XI: Hein, Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Elneny, Odegaard, Lokonga, Viera, Nelson, Nketiah.
- Lyon XI: Lopes, Henrique, Lukeba, Diomande, Gusto, Caqueret, Aouar, Tolisso, Faivre, Dembele, Lacazette
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Goal – Fabio Viera (Arsenal)
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
37. Dembele is looking the most dangerous for Lyon.
Running at the back four, he drops his shoulder and cuts inside.
He shoots from the edge of the box but his effort is just on the rise a bit too much as it sails over the top corner of the goal.
Credit: Reuters Arsenal 2-0 Lyon
35. What a break by Arsenal.
Long ball from defence finds Viera in acres of space down the right.
He crosses with the outside of his left boot and Nketiah hits it first time into the bottom corner beating Lopes.
Goal – Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal)
Arsenal 1-0 Lyon
33. Nelson is played into the box he races to meet the ball before the onrushing keeper.
He looks to chip it over him but Lopes gets a touch to it which allows the Lyon defenders to head clear of the line.
Lyon go straight down the other end but play breaks down on the edge of the box.
Arsenal 1-0 Lyon
31. Viera is on the ground, although it isn’t apparent why.
There was no challenge anywhere near him.
It looks like something went in his eye, maybe a fly, who knows.
Arsenal 1-0 Lyon
29. The Arsenal fans in the crowd seem to be enjoying what they have seen so far.
Odegaard has picked up where he left off in their last Premier League game like it was only last weekend.
He has turned himself into such an integral player for Mikel Arteta’s team.
Credit: Reuters Arsenal 1-0 Lyon
27. This is becoming end to end stuff right now.
Arsenal are passing the ball around, trying to take the sting out of the Lyon press.
They work it to Viera who looks to shoot with his left foot but drags it well wide of the goal.
Play breaks for a moment as both sets of players take on some fluids.
Arsenal 0-0 Lyon
25. Arsenal are showing such pace in their attacking play.
Stretching Lyon and opening them up at will.
Odegaard delays his pass and feeds it to Tierney who tries an effort but the deflection takes it over the bar for another corner.
Arsenal 1-0 Lyon
23. Lyon look to counter but they are just lacking that final pass.
Arsenal able to cut out the ball and turn defence into attack in an instant.
Lyon are starting to press higher up the pitch now.
Arsenal 1-0 Lyon
21. Arsenal are putting more pressure on their French opponents.
They are looking to utilise the wings in these early stages.
The Gunners are coming forward in waves of attacks.
Arsenal 1-0 Lyon
19. Odegaard with the corner and he manages to pick out Gabriel once again in the box.
This time he times his leap to perfection and thunders a header into the back of the net.
The keeper did not even move.
Credit: Reuters Goal – Gabriel (Arsenal)
Arsenal 0-0 Lyon
17. Lyon are getting stuck into the challenges.
Not something you usually see in friendlies.
Arsenal work the ball forward and with a numbers overlap find Viera who is through on goal but his shot is well blocked by the keeper.
Arsenal 0-0 Lyon
15. Odegaard manages to pick out Gabriel in the box.
The Arsenal centre-back gets under the ball and heads it over.
That was a decent chance, the defender will feel he should have done better with that.
Arsenal 0-0 Lyon
13. Arsenal manage to deal with the barrage of crosses from Lyon.
Managing to dominate the aerial battle in the opening stages.
The Gunners counter and Nelson is fouled, giving them a free kick in a dangerous position.
Arsenal 0-0 Lyon
11. Lyon come forward for the first time in the game.
Faivre bursting through the middle of the park.
He looks to get a shot away from outside of the box but it is blocked and goes out for a Lyon corner.
Arsenal 0-0 Lyon
9. Nelson has made a great start to the game down the left.
On this occasion he drops the shoulder and cuts inside to shoot.
The keeper watches the ball drift wide of the far post.
Credit: Reuters Arsenal 0-0 Lyon
7. A great long ball by Gabriel finds the feet of Tierney.
He’s tackled at the cost of a throw in.
Tierney launches a long throw into the Lyon box which is headed clear.
Nketiah makes a great run and finds Nelson who shoots and it thunders back off the post.
The keeper must have got a touch as it is an Arsenal corner.
Arsenal 0-0 Lyon
5. Arsenal are looking comfortable on the ball.
Elneny gets a push in the back and goes to ground.
The Gunners are playing in their all black strip this afternoon.
Arsenal 0-0 Lyon
3. Arsenal are looking to get a feel for the ball, knocking it around the back four.
Lyon are not pressing at all, inviting them to attack.
Faivre is fouled on the touchline and the referee awards a free kick.
Arsenal 0-0 Lyon
1. Arsenal come forward from the off but run the ball out.
They immediately win the ball back from a Lyon throw in.
The French side win the ball back all too easily.
Kick-off: Arsenal vs Lyon
We are underway in Dubai.
Odegaard and Lacazette exchange pendants in the centre circle.
Arsenal get the game started.
Lyon subs:
Riou, Bonnevie, Da Silva, Humbedi, Laaziri, Sarr, Lepenant, T Mendes, Reine-Adelaide, Barcola, Cherki, Tete
Lyon starting XI:
Laurent Blanc names a strong side to take on the North London outfit in Dubai today.
1. Lopes, 12. Henrique, 4. Lukeba, 2. Diomande, 27. Gusto, 6. Caqueret, 8. Aouar, 88. Tolisso, 15. Faivre, 9. Dembele, 10. Lacazette
Credit: @OL_English
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
