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Arsenal’s pre-season campaign began with a penalty shoot-out win over Bournemouth on Wednesday night in Carson, California.
The two teams tied 1-1 in regular time.
Fabio Vieira scored Arsenal’s only goal in the 18th minute from an assist by Reiss Nelson, but Mikel Arteta’s side conceded an equaliser to Antoine Semenyo in the 73rd.
In the end, Arsenal managed to win on penalties.
ISAAN KHAN was present in California, where he highlighted five things we learned from this friendly meeting.
Fabio Vieira put Arsenal ahead in the first half of their clash against Bournemouth
Antoine Semenyo (right) equalised after the break
New season, same problem
The same pressing question from last season has arisen again: who will play at left-back? A long-term injury to Jurrien Timber left Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko to fill that role last season, with mixed results.
Tomiyasu was the most likely of the two to be chosen, but he is injured once again. Expected signing Riccardo Calafiori, who can play in a number of positions across the back line, is not yet an Arsenal player. That has presented Myles Lewis-Skelly with the chance to start at left-back.
The highly-touted Lewis-Skelly, who has been training with the first team since late last year, has typically played in midfield for the academy.
Mikel Arteta has high hopes for the 17-year-old, and has turned him into an inverted left-back behind the scenes. You could say he is a prototype of Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Judging by his performances, the youngster could be part of Arsenal’s first team this season. He excelled in every facet of his game.
His defensive work was good, with some timely tackles. He was certainly not blocked or attacked by the Bournemouth attack.
But what really stood out was the defender’s ability to divert into midfield, opening up gaps when attacking. That led to him receiving a strong push and falling to the ground after 33 minutes.
He has good footwork and quick pace to penetrate the field while also returning to the defense after turnovers.
So far, Arteta’s Project Lewis-Skelly is bearing fruit.
Myles Lewis-Skelly showed promising signs as Arsenal search for reliable left-back
Nwaneri takes advantage of his opportunity
Since Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest player in Premier League history (aged 15 years and 181 days against Brentford in September 2022), his rise has been expected, but slow.
He came on in the 77th minute in Arsenal’s 6-0 thrashing of West Ham in February but has had few other first-team opportunities.
Arteta has not given him the playing time that many fans were crying out for.
That made this a crucial night for him. He took his chance, admittedly the Gunners outfield player who has played the most minutes here. After six minutes, his blistering run from the Gunners’ half split the opposition defence and beat several players.
The crowd could be heard gasping. His confidence was evident and he looked to move forward every time he had the ball at his feet.
The key for Nwaneri will be minutes. The talent and potential are there, but he needs to play to continue to excel. He might have liked to have more of an impact on the game at certain periods, but that is unrealistic at the moment, when he has barely played for the first team.
It remains to be seen whether Arteta can better integrate the 17-year-old this season. If not, a loan move could be a potential option.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta watches from the touchline during the second half against Bournemouth
He must have been pleased with what he saw from 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri (pictured).
Emile Smith Rowe’s departure is approaching
Hours earlier it had been revealed that Fulham were close to reaching an agreement for Emile Smith Rowe.
That made his place on the bench tonight an expected one. Arteta made seven changes in the second half, but not the attacking midfielder.
A very clear sign that the exit door is close. Something similar to what happened on Saturday when he was named captain for the last 20 minutes against Leyton Orient: a friendly farewell gesture.
If the £35m figure is correct, it is a deal that works well for all parties, no matter how popular Smith Rowe is in these parts.
It is a considerable sum of money and, after an injury-plagued last campaign which saw him make just three league appearances, he is raring to go.
If this is the end for Smith Rowe at Arsenal, at least his final minutes in a Gunners shirt were as captain.
The song ‘Saka and Emile Smith Rowe’ may be gone, but their crucial goals in the 2021-22 season will not be forgotten.
Arsenal academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe is close to signing for Fulham
Arsenal bring a dozen academy players to the United States
On Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States last year, only one academy player made the squad: Amario Cozier-Duberry.
This time, as veteran players like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka stayed home for extra rest after the Euro final, 12 youngsters were brought on this tour.
Although it is possible that the departure of many young talents who did not manage to break into the first team has influenced this momentum.
Cozier-Duberry and Reuell Walters are among that talented group of players who have left.
Record-breaking academy star Chido Obi-Martin is also set to retire.
A club like Arsenal, which has a rich history of academy graduates, cannot afford to continue losing so much talent.
Perhaps this tour will give the academy players that extra vein of hope for their future at the north London club.
Timber makes encouraging return to the pitch
Seeing Jurrien Timber back, fit and raring to go was a rewarding sight – the price of eight gruelling months of recovery following an ACL injury in August.
He played as a centre-back, a different role for him at Arsenal, but one he is not used to.
Timber has played a variety of backline roles throughout his career.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber controls the ball during the first half against AFC Bournemouth
To start with, Bournemouth were physically battered by the Dutchman, who got the better of Dominic Solanke and Romain Faivre every time he came close to attacking.
Some of the tackles were riddled with pure aggression. His yellow card in the 53rd minute was certainly justified.
But seeing him back and physically ready to compete at his full potential was a reminder that the Gunners do, indeed, have a menacing new signing who is eager to play.
