Arsenal were in action in a behind closed doors friendly on Wednesday afternoon after their Florida Cup trip was canceled for Covid related reasons.
Arsenal welcomed fellow London club Watford to Colney on an overcast afternoon. The Gunners ran out 4-1 winners after it was 1-1 at half time. We’ve written a match report below and rated all the Arsenal players below.
First-half XI and ratings
Bernd Leno – 5
Cedric Soares – 5
Calum Chambers – 6
Pablo Mari – 5
Nuno Tavares – 5
Albert Sambi Lokonga – 7
Mohammed Elneny – 4
Reiss Nelson – 7
Willian – 6
Eddie Nketiah – 7
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 6
First-half match report
The first 10 minutes were fairly uneventful, with Lokonga getting lots of touches in midfield, in his first start for the club. Sarr, Watford’s star man, was causing early problems to the left side of Arsenal’s defence, forcing some early corners and pressure from the away side.
In the 16th minute Arsenal got their breakthrough, Nuno Tavares breaking the ball up in his own half, finding Willian, who spread the ball to Eddie Nketiah. Eddie then cut inside and smashed the ball in with a power and curve.
34 minutes in, as Arsenal attempted to play out from the back, Mohammed Elneny made an error which led to a scramble which then allowed Watford an easy equaliser.
Watford then remained on top and were unlucky not to go ahead a few minutes later when Sarr’s shot was goalbound but was blocked by his teammate.
On at half time
Alex Runarsson (for Leno ) – 5
Nicolas Pepe (for Nelson) – 7
Thomas Partey (for Elneny) – 6
Hector Bellerin (for Cedric) – 6
Kieran Tierney (for Tavares) – 7
Alexandre Lacazette (for Aubameyang) – 7
Second half match report
Lots of changes at half time saw Arsenal start fresher and on the front foot. Nicolas Pepe skimmed the post with a great effort.
On at 60 minutes
Miguel Azeez (for Lokonga) – 7
Sead Kolasinac (for Mari) – 5
Smith Rowe (for Willian) – 7
Maitland-Niles (for Nketiah) – 6
20 minutes from time, an Arsenal player was hauled down and a penalty was awarded. Alexandre Lacazette scored from the spot.
Partey spread the ball wide to Smith Rowe on the right, he whipped in a great cross that found Kieran Tierney who smashed the ball in at the second time of asking.
10 minutes from time, Lacazette turned on the spot in the box and fired just wide.
Arsenal were extremely dominant in the game after more first team players entered the pitch at half time and 60 minutes in, and they got their reward for their dominance at the end when teenager Miguel Azeez picked up the ball from a short corner and curled in a wonderful effort from the edge of the box.
Arsenal then should’ve made it five when a well worked move fell to Thomas Partey but he blazed over. Nicolas Pepe curled a late shot goal bound but the keeper tipped over.
Man of the match – Emile Smith Rowe – only played 30 minutes but made a huge difference to Arsenal’s flow and dominance. Lokonga was also very impressive, as was his replacement Azeez.