Arsenal have been held to a 1-1 draw towards German second division aspect FC Nurnberg within the first recreation of their pre-season marketing campaign.
The Gunners returned to motion in maybe not the beginning that Mikel Arteta would have wished following the robust finish to final 12 months’s Premier League marketing campaign. Regardless of being a lot the stronger crew all through the sport, the London aspect have been careless in possession, with a miss-placed go being the reason for Nurnberg’s equaliser.
In any occasion, Arsenal followers will probably be relieved to see the return of defender William Saliba, his first look since struggling a again harm that has stored him out of the aspect since March.
Following his £65million transfer from Chelsea, new signing Kai Havertz made his debut in a pink shirt, approaching within the second-half for Reiss Nelson, and whereas he didn’t get on the scoresheet, regarded comfy within the Arsenal system.
Bukayo Saka, in the meantime, acquired again to the place he left off final season, scoring a trademark purpose within the first-half that was paying homage to his strike towards Manchester United throughout the Gunners’ dramatic 3-2 win on the Emirates in January.
Bukayo Saka (proper) scored the opening purpose throughout Arsenal’s 1-1 draw to FC Nurnberg on Thursday
Kai Havertz (pictured) would make his first look for the Gunners throughout the pre-season pleasant
Nevertheless it will not be the beginning Mikel Arteta could have been hoping for, together with his aspect freely giving possession on a number of events all through the match
Accumulating the ball on the sting of the field, the England ahead turned on to his left foot earlier than unleashing a venomous but exact shot into the bottom-left nook of the purpose.
Worryingly for the Arsenal bench, Saka took a nasty fall throughout the first time period, and seemed to be in some discomfort, touchdown awkwardly on his decrease again. He was OK to proceed, however was seen wincing in ache on the bottom.
Saliba, who equally suffered again issues final 12 months, managed 46 minutes and appeared settled on his return, serving to the Gunners construct properly from deep and was strong in defence.
Ben White was one other who impressed within the first-half, flowing up and down the appropriate wing to maintain Nurnberg on their toes. He performed some sensible balls into the field, however Cristian Fiel’s aspect handled them properly, holding out towards the Premier League aspect’s advances.
Leandro Trossard and Reiss Nelson interchanged properly up high too, with each inflicting issues for the opposition defenders within the opening exchanges.
At half-time either side made a number of adjustments, with Aaron Ramsdale coming off for Karl Hein, whereas Saka would make means for Gabriel Jesus and Jorginho changed Thomas Partey.
After a sluggish begin to the second half, Jesus had the primary probability for the Gunners, skirting away from the Nurnberg defenders to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper however despatched his shot drifting huge.
It would not be the primary probability the Gunners would miss, with Folarin Balogun hitting the submit quickly after.
However in weird circumstances, Arsenal allowed Nurnberg to equalise from an avoidable mistake.
With Hein amassing the ball exterior his penalty space, he handed the ball straight to Kanji Okunuki, who, in a problem with Jorginho, managed to power the Gunners participant besides the ball previous the goalkeeper for an personal purpose.
The rating actually gave the German outfit some extra vitality, with the house aspect advancing upfield to mount a number of assaults late on the away aspect and will have nicked the win.
Arteta (pictured) would make a number of adjustments throughout the recreation, with Ethan Nwaneri approaching for the away aspect after he was promoted to the primary crew by Arteta this week
William Saliba (proper) made his return following a again harm that has stored him sidelined since March
Gabriel Jesus (pictured) additionally got here on within the second half however could not discover a winner for the Gunners
Mats Daehli’s probability was maybe the closest, with the Norwegian belting a thumping strike from over 30-yards out on the Gunners’ purpose.
Hein was readily available to parry the shot away, however deflected the ball again into a bunch of oncoming Nurnberg attackers, who pounced on the chance, hitting their rebound onto the cross-bar.
Arsenal survived the scare and have been stored within the recreation by their opposition’s incapacity to complete.
Nurnberg would come again once more to work the ball into the field however wouldn’t be capable of reap the rewards for his or her exhausting work, with Jens Castrop’s effort flying over the bar.
Balogun may have made it 2-1 in the previous couple of minutes of the sport, breaking by means of the Nurnberg defence, earlier than rounding the goalkeeper and hitting his shot into the aspect netting of the purpose.
Arsenal’s subsequent pre-season match comes on Thursday towards the MLS All Stars earlier than they tackle Man United and Barcelona earlier than the top of July.
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