Arsenal's Thrilling Victory: Nketiah Secures Emirates Cup Triumph on Penalties
Arsenal triumph in Emirates Cup after a thrilling penalty shootout victory against Monaco, securing a 1-1 draw in regular time Eddie Nketiah shines as Gabriel Jesus's absence is felt Exciting times ahead for the Gunners as they gear up for the season opener against Man City
Arsenal claimed victory in the Emirates Cup by defeating Monaco on penalties, concluding their pre-season campaign after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Eddie Nketiah scored for Arsenal in the absence of Gabriel Jesus, who was sidelined due to a knee injury.
Following the match, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Jesus will be absent for the commencement of the Premier League season and will remain sidelined for a few weeks.
Nketiah played the entire 90 minutes in Jesus' absence during the match against Monaco. He scored an equalizer after Monaco's Youssouf Fofana headed them in front. The game ultimately went to a penalty shootout, where Gabriel secured victory with the winning spot-kick in a 5-4 win, following Takumi Minamino's costly miss.
Declan Rice made his inaugural appearance at The Emirates wearing an Arsenal jersey, commencing the game and contributing for 60 minutes as a part of the Arsenal midfield trio on the left. Concurrently, Jurrien Timber, another recent addition to the team, assumed the position of left-back due to the ongoing absence of Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice made his first appearance for the Gunners at The Emirates
How Arsenal prepared for Man City opener...
With Arsene Wenger present to celebrate the unveiling of his new statue outside the stadium, there was an air of positivity surrounding the game, as fans eagerly anticipated Arsenal's potential success in all major competitions this season.Despite some glimpses of brilliance from Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal failed to assert their usual dominance on the game. Instead, it was Monaco who posed a more significant threat on the counter-attack. After a well-executed play by Mohamed Camara, his cross was swiftly delivered, allowing Youssouf Fofana to nod in the opening goal.
Arsenal equalized just before half-time as Rice's shot was deflected out for a corner. Martinelli then found Nketiah with a precise pass from the set piece, and Nketiah calmly volleyed the ball into the net.
In the second half, Monaco's Ben Yedder came close to scoring when he slid in from close range and hit the woodwork, putting pressure on Arsenal's vulnerable defense. Despite making several substitutions, including introducing Kai Havertz for his Emirates debut, Arsenal struggled to maintain their momentum. Only Trossard managed to challenge Monaco's goalkeeper Kohn with a shot on target.
What's next for Arsenal?
Following a penalty shootout, Minamino was the unfortunate player to have his well struck effort denied by Aaron Ramsdale, resulting in penalties being needed to determine the outcome. As a result, Arsenal will be making their way to Wembley to take on Manchester City, the reigning Premier League and FA Cup champions, in the Community Shield on Sunday at 4pm.Arsenal's pre-season fixtures and results
Arsenal start season against Nottingham Forest
Arsenal will kick off their 2023/24 Premier League campaign at their home ground against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, August 12. Following that, the Gunners will have two London derbies against Crystal Palace and Fulham. Furthermore, they will be hosting Manchester United on September 3, marking their first significant contest against a 'Big Six' opponent of the season. This match will be televised live on We.
How to watch free Premier League highlights
The Emirates Stadium will host the first north London derby of the season on September 24, airing live on We. The return fixture is scheduled for April 27, which marks the fourth last game of the campaign.Throughout the 2023/24 season, you have the opportunity to watch free Premier League match highlights without the need for a We subscription.
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Experience the excitement of every Premier League match with ease in the Score Centre, accessible on the We website and We app just moments after the final whistle, or starting from 5.15pm for the early Saturday matches. Alternatively, catch the action on the We Football YouTube channel. Don't risk missing any thrilling moments - ensure you stay up-to-date by enrolling in goal alerts through the We Score Centre app.Get instant updates on goals being scored, stay informed about your team's match highlights, and effortlessly stay up-to-date with all the major incidents happening in other games. Easily achieve this by configuring goal alerts and other notifications on the We Football Score Centre app.
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Who will be on the move this summer when the transfer window opens on June 14 and closes at 11pm on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland?
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on We' digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on We News.
