A rash of second-half substitutes provided a spark as Arsenal defeated fellow Premier League side Manchester City 3-2 in the Gunners’ final preseason friendly.
Sub Theo Walcott scored a goal, earned an assist and created the last Arsenal goal without touching it, while Alex Iwobi and Chuba Akpom got their names on the scoresheet at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenberg, Sweden, Sunday evening.
It was a win, a good one, against the best opposition the Gunners have faced in preseason. But it came with a cost. Gabriel, currently the most senior defender available to Arsenal, collided with Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho two minutes into extra time and had to be carted off the field while he hid his face with his shirt.
The injury, which would probably leave the Gunners with Calum Chambers and Rob Holding as their centre back pair for next week’s Premier League opener against Liverpool, overshadowed what was a positive second-half performance after a shaky opening period.
Both teams struggled to get anything going on the attack in the first half until the 12th minute when Alexis Sanchez, making his preseason bow for Arsenal, put a cross into the penalty area for Aaron Ramsey, who headed it wide. Six minutes later, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain chipped a good chance wide of Manchester City goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
A minute later, Alexis came up limping and clutching his left knee, but he shook it off and continued playing.
Chances from Ramsey again and Francis Coquelin were saved by Caballero and Manchester City defenders as Arsenal had the lion’s share of chances, but it was Manchester City who was able to take advantage of theirs. Sergio Aguero finished a cross from Raheem Sterling after Sterling had lost Gabriel on the right side for a 1-0 Manchester City lead in the 30th minute.
Arsenal found better control and possession of the ball as the half drew to a close, but were unable to produce anything as the first half came to a close.
Walcott replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right wing as the second half started, and it paid almost instant dividends. The Englishman made a good run on the right side and crossed the ball to the left side just behind Iwobi, who got control of it and finished around Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart’s left side. Hart got a touch on it, but Iwobi’s finish to a solid Arsenal counter-attack deflected slightly off his fingers for the Nigerian international’s third preseason tally in the 50th minute.
Twitter: Video: Alex Iwobi’s goal for Arsenal. [@GoonerTerje] #afc https://t.co/yKbKWifBbT (@ArsenalRelevant)
Alexis almost added another goal 10 minutes later, but his beautiful free kick struck the crossbar and Arsenal couldn’t corral the rebound for a second chance. Manchester City then brought on substitutions of their own, including Kevin De Bruyne and Jesus Navas, and it was Navas who nearly brought City ahead. The Spanish right winger cut inside and drove a left-footed shot, which Cech got down to stop and Arsenal eventually cleared the rebound.
They could have used the goal, as Walcott got a goal of his own a few minutes later. He dribbled down the left side and played a one-two with Alexis, then finished neatly past Hart in the 73rd minute for a 2-1 Arsenal lead.
Twitter: Video: Theo Walcott’s goal for Arsenal. 2-1 to the Arsenal. #afc https://t.co/Sb6GNJzwwX (@ArsenalRelevant)
Manchester City had a couple decent crosses into the box over the next 10 minutes, but Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech corralled them well.
The Gunners then got on the scoreboard again, as some miscommunication in the Manchester City defense led to a loose ball. Walcott chased it down, but his touch deflected off Hart’s hands. Akpom was there for the ball, took a touch then slotted home to put Arsenal ahead 3-1 in the 85th minute.
Twitter: Video: Chuba Akpom’s goal for Arsenal. #afc https://t.co/4XUxuyAVZ8 (@ArsenalRelevant)
Iheanacho headed home a Navas cross after a De Bruyne steal two minutes later to make it 3-2, but it was the Nigerian forward’s collision with Gabriel that is potentially more worrying for Gunners fans.
Iheanacho and Gabriel battled over a ball and both players went down. But the Brazilian defender got the worst of it. He stayed down, pulling his shirt over his face.
Twitter: Gabriel in tears over his injury. https://t.co/MHjnRmF9vc (@mikesanz19)
After the game, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger couldn’t say much except that it was at least a sprain, but did say that he was likely to miss the Liverpool fixture, per Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol.
Twitter: Wenger doesn’t know how serious Gabriel injury is, but says he is likely to miss game against Liverpool next Sunday (@SkyKaveh)
But it won’t be Laurent Koscielny.
Twitter: ? “Laurent’s back in training but Liverpool may come a bit soon. We’re short in defence at the moment.” #MCFCvAFC https://t.co/mFthIbbvZI (@Arsenal)
A potentially serious injury to a player at a position Arsenal is short in right now aside, the victory was a positive final step into regular season action. In their first games of the preseason, Alexis played 77 minutes and Aaron Ramsey got 63 minutes of action, and three different Gunners scored against good competition. How Wenger sorts out who will start against Liverpool will be a point of discussion for the next seven days.
