Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the 3-2 loss to Villarreal in the Emirates Cup opener as “painful.” The Gunners dominated the opening half-hour but were punished by clinical finishing from the visitors, including a goal from former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pépé. Pépé opened the scoring in the 30th minute after Arsenal failed to clear a rebound, stabbing home a loose ball from close range. Despite not celebrating, the strike marked a symbolic return for the Ivorian, who made over 100 appearances for Arsenal before departing in 2023.
Arteta pinpointed Arsenal’s defensive naivety as the reason for the loss. “Today, I think the result is painful,” he said. “I think they’ve been super-efficient, but we’ve been naive, especially the way we have defended open spaces, and that’s something that, especially the way we play, we have to absolutely nail.” The team’s inability to defend effectively was exposed by Villarreal’s counter-attacks, including a second goal from Karl Etta Eyong and a third from Arnaut Danjuma. Christian Nørgaard reduced the deficit with a well-placed header from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross, and Martin Ødegaard scored a penalty after Max Dowman was fouled, but it was too little, too late.
Despite the loss, Arsenal’s new signings made a positive impact. Viktor Gyökeres, who led the line from the start, showed flashes of his skill and physicality, while Nørgaard and Ødegaard also impressed. The team’s young players, including 15-year-old Max Dowman, who made his first senior appearance, will look to build on their performances in the next game.
Arsenal will wrap up their pre-season campaign on Saturday, August 10, when they face Athletic Club at Emirates Stadium in the second and final match of the Emirates Cup. The Gunners then open their Premier League season with a blockbuster clash away to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, August 17. With defensive frailties exposed and competition for places heating up, Arteta has just days left to fine-tune his side before the real test begins.
The defeat to Villarreal serves as a valuable learning experience for Arsenal. The team will look to bounce back from the loss and build momentum ahead of the new season. As Arteta noted, the way Arsenal defends open spaces is crucial to their success, and the team needs to “absolutely nail” this aspect of their game to achieve their goals.
