- Arsenal completed their pre-season with a win over Lyon at the Emirates
- Goals from William Saliba and Gabriel secured a 2-0 win for the Gunners
- Get all the latest Premier League news delivered straight to your phone with Mail Sport. new whatsapp channel
Mikel Arteta has hailed Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Lyon in the Emirates Cup as the culmination of a “successful” pre-season in preparation for their Premier League title chase which begins next weekend.
The Gunners beat the French team with two goals from William Saliba and Gabriel in a final pre-season match after their tour of the United States.
A penalty shoot-out was scheduled regardless of the result, but Lyon are understood to have decided not to take one during the match.
The north London club face Wolves on Saturday in the opening weekend of the season.
Asked whether the Gunners are ready to start the season strongly, Arteta replied: “It felt like that to me. The way we started (this game) for sure. It’s about maintaining that for the 90 minutes.”
Arsenal closed their pre-season preparations with a win over Lyon at the Emirates
William Saliba and Gabriel scored from set pieces as the Gunners cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win
Mikel Arteta praised his team’s “exceptional” performance against the Ligue 1 side
“That’s the goal we have to have. There are many positive things to take away from today’s game.”
Reflecting on the result, the Spaniard was satisfied with his team’s preparation over the past month.
He said: “I think overall it’s been a positive pre-season. It was a success, and then the two games we’ve played here (at the Emirates) have been very competitive.
‘The team was exceptional, especially in the first half, we played at the highest level.
“We kept it up and eased off a bit in the second half. The conditions were tough, but also good. Overall, I’m very satisfied.”
Riccardo Calafiori, a £42m signing, played his first minutes in an Arsenal shirt, coming on in the 64th minute. His appearance was greeted with enthusiasm by the Emirates crowd.
“I love it when fans react like that to one of their own,” Arteta said.
“What you feel right away is love, they respect you, they support you. And that’s an amazing platform for someone to join our club. That’s the platform for a lot of players to join our club.
New signing Riccardo Calafiori was introduced as a second-half substitute after completing his transfer from Bologna.
Arteta has revealed that Jurrien Timber is expected to return to full training in the coming days after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with injury.
‘He brings a lot of versatility because he can play in two or three different positions and, above all, in attack, occupy different spaces because he is a true defender.
“When you see his pressure and his physicality, how he enters the duels, it’s incredible. And obviously he’s done a lot last year, he’s a player who can make us improve.”
Arteta confirmed Jurrien Timber is expected to return to training imminently after overcoming his foot problem, but Takehiro Tomiyasu is “weeks” away from returning.
