On Wednesday night into Thursday, Arsenal drew in a friendly match with Bournemouth but eventually won after penalties. Jurriën Timber started and played for an hour. Chelsea could only manage a draw against Wrexham.
Arsenal played their first friendly match of the season. The North London team is on a training camp in the United States, where they faced Bournemouth.
Jurriën Timber, who had recovered from a serious knee injury, made his first start since briefly appearing in the last match of the previous season.
Arsenal's starting lineup also included former Feyenoord player Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, and Ben White. More big names, such as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, came onto the field after halftime, adding further strength to the squad. On the other side, former Eredivisie players Milos Kerkez, Marcos Senesi, and Dominic Solanke were in action for Bournemouth. Within twenty minutes, Vieira gave Arsenal the lead by skillfully volleying in a cross from Nelson.
About fifteen minutes before the end, Antoine Semenyo equalized for Bournemouth. After a mistake by Dutch-born substitute Omar Rekik, brother of Karim Rekik, Semenyo scored with a bit of luck, as the ball deflected off a defender before finding the net. Despite the late drama, Arsenal eventually won after penalties due to misses by Philip Billing and Ryan Christie, showcasing their composure under pressure.
Meanwhile, Chelsea also played a friendly match last night. Summer signing Marc Guiu, who came from Barcelona, made his unofficial debut as a striker, showing promise with his positioning and movement. Former PSV player Noni Madueke was also in the starting lineup, adding creativity and pace to the attack.
Christopher Nkunku opened the scoring for Chelsea from a rebound, capitalizing on a defensive error. However, Luke Bolton and Jack Marriott put Wrexham, which is owned by famous Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, in the lead with well-taken goals. Ten minutes before the end, Lesley Oguchukwu, assisted by former Vitesse striker Armando Broja, scored the equalizer with a precise low shot, making it 2-2 and ensuring an entertaining conclusion to the match.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea showed glimpses of their potential in these early preseason matches, with new signings and returning players making significant impacts. The friendlies provided valuable opportunities for managers Mikel Arteta and Mauricio Pochettino to assess their squads and make tactical adjustments ahead of the upcoming season. Fans of both clubs will be eager to see how their teams develop as the preseason progresses.
