Arsenal kicked off their title defense with an impressive 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, showcasing a dominant performance at home. The match featured standout contributions from Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz.
The exuberant home crowd at the Emirates Stadium celebrated as Jesus scored a brilliant solo goal, helping Arsenal establish control early in the match. Zinchenko broke the deadlock and quickly followed up with Trossard scoring moments later, pushing the score to 2-0.
Kehilif, who has faced scrutiny in recent competitions, powered through to score the third, while Ralston capped off the scoring late in the game. Despite Leverkusen finding a consolation goal, the home side’s performance proved too strong.
Post-Match Reactions
Following the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance. “We can take a lot of positives from this game in addition to the result,” he stated. “The way we played collectively and individually was strong. There’s room for improvement, especially after making seven changes in the second half.”
Arteta praised Zinchenko’s performance, particularly in the absence of new signing Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber, both sidelined due to adjustments and recovery. “Zinchenko proved his quality today and contributed significantly to our attacking efforts,” he said.
Young Talents Making an Impact
The manager was also asked about the potential roles for young players like Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly in the upcoming season. “If they continue to perform as they have been, their origins won’t matter. Their quality and personality to play at this level are evident,” he noted.
Upcoming Pre-Season Matches
Arsenal will continue their pre-season preparations with the following upcoming fixtures:
- August 11: Arsenal vs. Lyon, Emirates Stadium, kick-off at 2 PM.
- Arsenal will officially begin their 2024/25 Premier League campaign at home against Wolves on Saturday, August 17.
With an encouraging pre-season performance, Arsenal fans are optimistic about the new season ahead.
Credit: Sky Sports
