Arsenal stars have arrived back home from their US summer tour but there is little time for respite. Tomorrow night, the Gunners host Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates, and then play Lyon on Sunday in their final run-out before the Premier League season begins.
In terms of results, it was a mixed trip for Mikel Arteta, rounding things off with a 2-1 defeat against Liverpool in South Carolina. That followed a win over Manchester United via the same scoreline, and there was a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, with Arsenal eventually prevailing 5-4 on penalties.
But it was off the field where Arteta arguably secured his biggest victory, sealing the signing of highly rated Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, who duly flew out to meet his new team-mates. The countdown is on to Arsenal kicking off their title charge against Wolves on August 17, and Express Sport has looked at the winners and losers from the pre-season tour…..
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Winners
Martin Odegaard
Used sparingly against Bournemouth and United, the club captain looked every bit the player of last season with his display against Liverpool. Before the momentum of the game inevitably slowed amid a raft of substitutions, it was Odegaard central to Arsenal’s best attacking play.
If Arteta is to finally oversee a title win this season, he knows his squad needs tinkering, not overhauling. But the Spaniard can be safe in the knowledge that the role of his leader and creator-in-chief doesn’t need reviewing.
Gabriel Martinelli
Scored the winning goal against the Red Devils, and his performance that night was a signal he’s not content to play second fiddle to Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard this season. Deployed on the left of the front three, Martinelli was a threat throughout, and his finish for the winner past Andre Onana was a confident one.
At just 23, the Brazilian star is still developing. But if he can start finding the consistency in front of goal he’s capable of, then the perception that the north London club still need a clinical striker to end their long wait for a title will simmer down.
Jurrien Timber
Didn’t feature against Liverpool, but just to see Timber come through starts against Bournemouth and United would have warmed the hearts of manager and fans. The 23-year-old not only looked assured, but critically, showed no signs of being hampered by the cruel ACL injury that ruined his debut season at the Emirates.
Timber is one player who will essentially seem like a new signing for the club this season. His rehabilitation has been lengthy, but if the £34million signing from Ajax can replicate the form he showed pre his move to England, he’ll prove worth waiting for.
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Losers
Oleksandr Zinchenko
With Calafiori expected to slot in on the left-hand side of defence, the pressure is suddenly on the Ukrainian after losing his place to Takehiro Tomiyasu late last season. And if America represented an opportunity for him to put himself back in the first-team frame, he didn’t take it.
After failing to impress against Bournemouth and United, his ‘disaster-class’ in the Liverpool defeat signified a player as low on confidence as he is form. Zinchenko made a series of mistakes, compounded by being caught out of position by Mo Salah for the opening goal.
You can essentially guarantee the 27-year-old won’t be in the starting XI when Wolves come to the Emirates. The question now seems, that by the end of this transfer window, will he be at the club at all?
Gabriel Jesus
Tapped in to score against United but the conundrum around the Brazilian striker shows no signs of diluting. Missed two clear chances against Liverpool and appeared to lack the energy and movement that often compensates his lack of finishing prowess.
Speculation continues to swirl that Arsenal will bring a big money striker to the club this summer. If that notion materialises, then like Zinchenko, the future of Jesus would suddenly appear in serious doubt.
Thomas Partey
Featured in all three games in the US, and his customary work rate and aggression was evident. But after an injury plagued season, Partey appeared rusty on the ball, loose in possession against Liverpool in particular.
It is plausible to suggest that Partey is still coming to terms with regular game time again. But Arteta can ill-afford to spend the early stages of the campaign carrying players that are not up to speed.
