Arsenal suffers defeat to Villarreal in pre-season match

Arsenal faced Villarreal in a pre-season friendly where new signing Viktor Gyökeres had a tough debut.

Arsenal struggles in pre-season match against Villarreal

In a recent pre-season friendly, Arsenal lost to Villarreal, with Viktor Gyökeres making his home debut. The match highlighted Arsenal's ongoing struggles despite significant investment in new players. Nicolas Pépé, a former Arsenal player, opened the scoring for Villarreal, followed by goals from Karl Etta Eyong and Arnaut Danjuma. Although Gyökeres battled hard, he appeared out of shape, unable to make an impact during his 62 minutes on the field. Mikel Arteta's team, preparing for an upcoming match against Manchester United, now faces questions about their readiness and performance going into the new season.

Arsenal’s performance against Villarreal serves as a stark reminder of their persistent challenges. While new signing Viktor Gyökeres is supposed to provide a solution, his lack of match fitness raises concerns. The team’s inability to secure a win, combined with the resurgence of Pépé, reflects a deeper issue of creativity and cohesion. As they gear up for a more competitive season, Arteta needs to quickly resolve these issues, especially with high expectations following their substantial spending.

Highlights

Questions linger over Arsenal's readiness as the new season approaches.