ARSENAL defeated rivals Manchester United 2-1 in a big pre-season friendly in Los Angeles this morning!
Inside the first 30 minutes both United stars Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro were forced off injured to give boss Erik ten Hag an almighty scare.
Hojlund had given United the lead after a strong run in the 10th minute, but shortly after was forced off injured holding his right hamstring.
As the clock struck 30 minutes, new United signing Leny Yoro limped off with a potential ankle injury.
The Gunners won the game thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, but United later won the pre-arranged penalty shootout 4-3.
- Result: Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
- Penalty shootout result: Arsenal 3-4 Man Utd
- Arsenal XI: Hein, Timber, White, Heaven, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Odegaard, Nelson, Trossard, Jesus
- Man Utd XI: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Yoro, Amass, Casemiro, Collyer, Amad, Mount, Rashford, Hojlund
Arsenal midfield player ratings
Jorginho 6: Rarely puts a foot wrong and made the most of his chance to get some minutes under his belt after not starting the midweek match against Bournemouth. Took time to look after Heaven after his error for United’s opening goal.
Ethan Nwaneri 8: Once again showed that he is the kid to watch at Arsenal. The Premier League’s youngster ever player when he was 15 is now so much better and stronger at 17. Looked more than at home against United’s more established stars.
Martin Odegaard 6: Clearly fitter than most having missed the Euros after Norway’s failure to qualify. The Arsenal skipper once again showed his leadership qualities on and off the ball.
Arsenal defender player ratings
Karl Hein 6: The Estonian started in top form with a wonder save from Amad, but he looked to be at fault for Hojlund’s near post opener.
Ben White 6: Relatively quiet game for Arsenal’s ever-reliable right-back. That is not a bad thing – just means he did is job effectively and did not make any mistakes.
Ayden Heaven 5: Another solid overall display by the teenager. May come in for criticism when he is older if he lets Hojlund burn past him to score, but he simply is not big enough or strong enough yet.
Jurrien Timber 7: Has Arteta stumbled on yet another star centre back? The Dutch defender was billed as the answer to their left-0back problems, but it looks like he can play anywhere and play anywhere well too.
Alex Zinchenko 6: The versatile Ukraine man was back on the left hand side of defence, having started as a sub against Bournemouth in midweek, and looked much improved and fitter going forward.
Sour note
I suppose for Erik ten Hag, the main disappointment he’ll take from the evening was the injuries to both Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro.
Hojlund went down after 15 minutes and seemed to suggest a slight hamstring injury, just five minutes after opening the scoring.
While Yoro hobbled off during the drinks break on the half-hour mark and looked in more distress than Hojlund as he trudged off.
We’ll hear more about those injuries throughout the morning on SunSport.
The goals
Rasmus Hojlund scored the opener inside ten minutes, racing onto a long, looping ball from Rashford.
The new United No9 shrugging off the challenge of Heaven who should’ve done better, before cutting in towards goal and steering the ball under Hein in the Arsenal goal.
The Gunners equalised through a well-worked goal down the left, with Nwaneri picking up a pass just inside the area before laying it on a plate for Gabriel Jesus to tuck home from a couple of yards out.
A hint of offside in that one but the officials opting not to give it.
Gabriel Martinelli then beat Scanlon down the Arsenal left before cutting inside and into the box unchallenged before firing low between Will Fish’s legs and beyond Onana for the winner with less than ten minutes to play.
FT: Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd (3-4 on pens)
Well that’s certainly a different way to end.
A mix of emotions then as the Gunners win 2-1 on the night, then lose 4-3 on penalties.
Something for everyone but you’d imagine both managers will be reasonably happy with their team’s display on the night.
United making those ten changes at half time which disrupted their flow but it was a late Martinelli goal which clinched the result for Arsenal.
Penalties
Sancho with the chance to win the shoot-out for United…AND HE DOES!
A strange concept really but everyone’s a winner on the evening!
Arsenal: ✔️❌❌✔️✔️
Man Utd: ✔️✔️❌✔️✔️
Penalties
Gabriel sends Onana the wrong way – the way Onana was pointing to as well!
The pair exchange words after that too…
Arsenal: ✔️❌❌✔️✔️
Man Utd: ✔️✔️❌✔️
Penalties
Christian Eriksen smashes his penalty low into the bottom corner as Hein waits late before diving.
Arsenal: ✔️❌❌✔️
Man Utd: ✔️✔️❌✔️
Penalties
Martinelli sends Onana the wrong way! Arsenal level it up having taken one extra.
Arsenal: ✔️❌❌✔️
Man Utd: ✔️✔️❌
Penalties
Ethan Wheatley does likewise, sending Hein the wrong way but wide of the target!
Arsenal: ✔️❌❌
Man Utd: ✔️✔️❌
Penalties
Arsenal are sending centre back Kiwior up for their third kick.
And he takes it like a centre back, dragging it wide!
Arsenal: ✔️❌❌
Man Utd: ✔️✔️
Penalties
Jonny Evans SCORES to put United ahead in the shoot-out!
Arsenal: ✔️❌
Man Utd: ✔️✔️
Penalties
Kai Havertz now for Arsenal to restore their lead…ONANA SAVES!
Arsenal: ✔️❌
Man Utd: ✔️
Penalties
Scott McTominay is first for United – and he scores!
Arsenal: ✔️
Man Utd: ✔️
Penalties
After a bit of gamesmanship from Onana, Vieira makes no mistake!
Arsenal: ✔️
Man Utd:
More on that after
As we had the other night, we’re getting a bit more entertainment in the form of a penalty shoot-out.
How exciting!
Arsenal will go first – and it’s Vieira to get us going.
FT: Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
The managers shake hands after an entertaining 90 minutes in which Gabriel Martinelli’s goal with less than 10 minutes to play proved to be the winner.
Onto penalties!
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
93. Arsenal deal with it.
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
92. Antony has a fierce strike from distance which is blocked behind for a United corner.
The last action of the 90 minutes.
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
92. Sancho charges at the back four after picking up a long pass down the left.
One too many defenders are in his way and he’s dispossessed.
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
89. Two minutes additional time.
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
88. United look like being in there as Antony has options in behind with Wheatley free down the right.
He takes one touch too many and four of his teammates raise their arms in frustration!
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
84. CLOSE!
Eriksen’s in-swinging corner is whipped right under the crossbar of Hein.
Hein does really well to scramble back and get a firm punch onto it and get it clear of danger.
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
83. Great ball into the box from Eriksen on the right from a United free kick.
It looks like it’s landing on the head of Evans six yards out but Gabriel beats him to it to head behind for a corner.
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
81. Excellent goal from Martinelli, who has looked really sharp since coming on.
He runs up Scanlon again down the Arsenal left and some quick feet gets him inside and in the box on the left.
Will Fish doesn’t read the danger quickly enough and Martinelli, eight yards out, stabs a shot through his legs and it beats Onana at the near post.
A simple goal in the end but good play from Martinelli.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
