Arsenal vs Villarreal live: Substitute Max Dowman shines but visitors withstand Gunners pressure to win 3-2
Arsenal 2-3 Villareal: Martin Odegaard and Christian Norgaard scored for the Gunners but the hosts were caught out on the counter too many times
Villareal beat Arsenal 3-2 in the Gunners’ penultimate friendly of the season and first at the Emirates.
The Gunners have returned from a tour of Asia that produced mixed results including a win over Newcastle and a loss against Spurs, but fans have been encouraged by a series of signings that includes striker Viktor Gyokeres, midfielder Martin Zubimendi and former Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.
And all three made their Emirates debuts, with Gyokeres handed a maiden start - but although the Swedish forward threatened at points in the second half, he was largely kept quiet.
It was another expensive signing, ex-Gunner Nicolas Pepe - who was bought for £72m - who broke the deadlock as Villareal countered superbly, with youngster Etta Eyong doubling the visitors’ advantage with a header from close range.
Christian Odegaard, also making his debut, pulled one back with a fine header from a set-piece, but Arsenal were again caught napping and it was Danjuma who capitalised with a fine finish past substitute keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. 15-year-old Max Dowman shone again on a substitute appearance, winning a penalty which Martin Odegaard slotted home, but it was too little too late despite a barrage of late pressure by the hosts. Villareal went on to win the subsequent penalty shootout, too.
Follow all the action at the Emirates with our liveblog below:
Arsenal's upcoming fixtures
Arsenal host Athletic Club in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday 9 August.
Kick-off is scheduled for 5pm.
Villareal win the shootout! Arsenal 3-4 Villareal
Cabanes scores and we’re into sudden death.... Madueke goes for the stuttering run-up, but misses!
Villareal win the game and the shootout.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 3-3 Villareal
Valou slams the crossbar. Gabriel has the chance to win it but Conde tips it onto the cross bar and it bounces back down - outside the goal!
PENALTY SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 2-3 Villareal
Danjuma keeps Villareal in it with a smart finish, but Merino barely hits it at all, sending it bobbling wide. Level again.
Comesana puts the visitors back in front with a languid, relaxed finish, with Kepa committed the wrong way.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 2-1 Villareal
Boos as Suarez steps up... and hits the post, with Kepa going the right way!
Rice lashes into the back of the net.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT: Arsenal 1-1 Villareal
Molero slots a fine finish past Kepa. Odegaard goes for a stuttering run-up and whips it past Conde, who goes the right way.
PENALTY SHOOTOUT
Don’t go anywhere, because we’re heading for a practice penalty shootout.
FULL-TIME! Arsenal 2-3 Villareal
90+3 mins: Conde palms the delivery away, Villareal kick it up the pitch, and that’s it!
Arsenal 2-3 Villareal
90+3 mins: Madueke drills it across the face of goal but Navarro gets himself in the way and it bounces off his boot for an Arsenal corner! Great defending by Navarro.
Rice goes to take...
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