Arsenal Fall to Villarreal in Pre-Season Friendly Thriller
Arsenal suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against Villarreal in today’s pre-season friendly at the Emirates Stadium.
Former Gunner Nicolas Pépé showed great respect by refusing to celebrate his goal against his old club. Villarreal’s other goals came from Eyong and Danjuma, while Arsenal found the net through Nørgaard and a penalty converted by Martin Ødegaard.
After a 3-3 draw in normal time, the match went to penalties where Villarreal edged Arsenal 4-3, with Noni Madueke missing the decisive spot kick.
This marks another setback in Arsenal’s pre-season preparations as they continue to build up toward their Premier League opener against Manchester United on August 17. The Gunners will face Athletic Club next on August 9 for their final warm-up fixture.
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Reported by Zorama Peter Paul
