Arsenal's Dominating Victory: Havertz Shines and Rice Impresses as MLS All-Stars Get Thrashed 0-5 in United States

Kai Havertz netted his debut goal for Arsenal in a dominant 5-0 victory over the MLS All Stars in Washington. Just a day after facing criticism on social media for underperforming in the MLS All-Stars Skills Challenge, Havertz redeemed himself by sealing the scoring with the fifth and final goal.

Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard got the ball rolling for Arsenal with two long-range strikes in a first half that saw five yellow cards for the MLS All-Stars.

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Declan Rice made his Arsenal debut in the second half

In the 13th second of the second half, Arsenal was granted a penalty due to Jesus' handball, resulting in further ill-discipline. Jorginho then calmly converted the spot-kick to score. Additionally, Arteta made substitutions on the 65th minute, introducing Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber for their Arsenal debuts. However, there was a bit of worry in the second half as Trossard had to be substituted due to an injury.

Gabriel Martinelli, who replaced him, scored the fourth goal after being passed the ball by fellow substitute Martin Odegaard. Havertz then added a fifth goal with a superb finish at the back post from Marquinhos' cross. Arsenal's upcoming pre-season match is scheduled for Saturday, where Arteta's team will face Manchester United led by Erik ten Hag in New Jersey.

Arteta: Signings are settling in

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Gabriel Martinelli also found the net in the 5-0 win

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his thoughts on the ongoing process of settling in for the team, emphasizing the need to establish fluidity and develop strong relationships on the field. As a coach, he acknowledges the challenge in predicting what will work, but recognizes that chemistry can be found whether it's during matches or even off the pitch.

In particular, during the first half, we found ourselves struggling with the weather and made numerous sloppy passes, resulting in a loss of control over the game.

Nevertheless, we performed exceptionally in both attack and defense today. Each time we entered the opponent's territory, we capitalized on the opportunities and successfully scored. Furthermore, we demonstrated strong defensive capabilities during transitions when we lost possession. Overall, our defensive performance was commendable.

Havertz brings a unique combination of skill and physical presence which sets him apart. He provides an effective solution when faced with intense pressure, serving as a target man.

Therefore, it remains to be seen how his role evolves. Although he currently operates in the attacking-midfield position, I am confident that as the season progresses and during various games, we will have the flexibility to deploy him in alternative positions.

Arsenal start PL season against Nottingham Forest

Arsenal's 2023/24 Premier League season kicks off with a home match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, August 12th. Following this, the Gunners engage in two London derbies against Crystal Palace, which will be broadcast live on We on August 21st, and Fulham. The team will then host Manchester United for their first 'Big Six' encounter of the season in early September.

The north London derby kicks off the season at the Emirates Stadium on September 23, followed by the return fixture on April 27, which marks the fourth last game of the campaign. Mikel Arteta's team will face last season's title rivals and treble winners, Manchester City, within the first eight games of the season on October 7 at home. The reverse fixture will take place at the Etihad on March 30.

Watch the Premier League summer series on Sky

The inaugural Premier League Summer Series will take place in the USA and will feature Chelsea, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Brentford, and Aston Villa. We will broadcast the nine-game friendly tournament live from July 23 to 30 in five east coast states. This tournament will serve as preparation for the upcoming Premier League season.

Each team will compete in three matches against different opponents. The matches will be held at five venues along the east coast: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, and FedExField in Landover, Maryland.