Blog

WHAT HAPPENED

A thoroughly deserved win over Chelsea was the perfect way to round off a successful pre-season tour to the USA.

We looked to take charge of this Florida Cup match from the first whistle, and unsurprisingly it was Gabriel Jesus who put us ahead with his fourth goal of pre-season.

Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka added further goals either side of the interval, before Sambi Lokonga ensured we had a scoreline befitting of our performance, with a late fourth.

Playing the third and final game of tour, we looked sharp from the off, creating the first clear chance after just five minutes.

Defending a corner, Gabriel Martinelli nicked the ball on the edge of his own box and sprinted forward on the counter-attack, in a move very reminiscent of his famous goal at Stamford Bridge in January 2020.

This time however he elected to pass to Saka on the overlap, and his shot was saved by Edouard Mendy.

We continued to look the more likely scorers in the opening exchanges. Oleksandr Zinchenko – on his first appearance for us – was getting forward well on the left and had a shot charged down when he found space inside the box.

Shortly afterwards though we did get the goal our pressure merited, and what a finish it was. Granit Xhaka fired a first-time pass into the path of Jesus, who advanced on the keeper and casually dinked the ball over him for the opener.

The second was another well worked goal. Martinelli held onto possession just long enough for Odegaard to make his run into the box, before slipping the ball into his path. The captain did the rest, sliding his shot low into the corner.

It was one-way traffic in the first half. Thomas Partey was the next to go close, shooting just over from 20 yards out.

Odegaard, Saka and Jesus were beginning to enjoy themselves, with some wonderful one-touch passing and flicks – much to the delight of the vocal Arsenal support in the sell-out 63,000 capacity Camping World Stadium in Florida – a new attendance record for the venue.

Despite our dominance in the opening 45 minutes, Chelsea so nearly pulled one back before the break, but Mason Mount’s effort struck the upright.

We kept up the tempo in the second half, and shortly after the hour mark we made it 3-0.

Martinelli drew a diving stop from Mendy on the volley, it fell to Granit Xhaka who flicked the ball up before firing another shot at the Chelsea keeper. But it was third time lucky as Saka thumped home the rebound into the roof of the net.

Mikel Arteta sent on Marquinhos for his non-competitive debut, on the right wing, as Sambi Lokonga got in the act in the closing stages with a composed header at the far post, helping us to seal a comfortable win.

At the final whistle we were presented with the Florida Cup, ensuring a memorable 10-day trip to America ended on a high.

TEAM NEWS

The big news before kick off was the inclusion of Oleksandr Zinchenko, just a day after he completed his transfer from Manchester City. He lined up at left back, in a strong-looking line up for this final game of our USA Tour.

Gabriel Jesus was the other summer signing to start, with Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka supporting him up front.

Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka were paired in midfield, Ben White started at right back with William Saliba and Gabriel in the heart of the back four. Aaron Ramsdale started in goal.

WHAT’S NEXT

The team have flown back home straight after the final whistle, for another week of pre-season training at London Colney before the Emirates Cup against Sevilla next Saturday.

That match kicks off at 12.30pm, and is our last friendly before the Premier League campaign gets underway on Friday, August 5 away to Crystal Palace.