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August 09, (THEWILL) — Arsenal concluded their 2025 preseason preparations in emphatic fashion, defeating Athletic Club 3-0 at Emirates Stadium in front of 60,000 supporters.
Viktor Gyökeres opened his account for the Gunners with a well-taken header, whilst Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz also found the net in a performance that will give manager Mikel Arteta considerable confidence ahead of their English Premier League opener at Manchester United.
The match began with Athletic Club adopting an aggressive high press, forcing Arsenal into several uncomfortable moments when attempting to play out from defence.
However, the breakthrough came in the 34th minute through a moment of quality from new signing Martin Zubimendi, whose precise cross found Gyökeres unmarked in the penalty area.
The Swedish striker made no mistake, powering his header beyond Unai Simon to register his first goal in Arsenal colours and justify the £85 million transfer fee paid to Sporting CP.
Saka doubled the advantage just two minutes later, capitalising on a swift counter-attack that caught Athletic Club’s defence completely off guard.
The England international’s composed finish demonstrated the clinical edge Arsenal have been seeking in their attacking play.
Zubimendi continued to impress throughout the first half, with his range of passing and positional intelligence suggesting he will slot seamlessly into Arteta’s tactical system.
The second half brought several tactical adjustments, with Noni Madueke replacing Gabriel Martinelli and offering a different dimension on the left flank.
Unlike Arsenal’s traditional inside forwards, Madueke hugged the touchline consistently and delivered dangerous crosses into the box.
His deployment hints at potential tactical evolution under Arteta, particularly given last season’s criticism regarding predictable attacking patterns. Ben White’s introduction for Riccardo Calafiori also allowed Jurrien Timber to switch flanks effectively.
Havertz sealed the victory with a clinical finish after coming off the bench, maintaining his strong case for the starting striker role.
Summer acquisition Cristhian Mosquera caught the eye during his extended cameo, displaying the defensive solidity that convinced Arsenal to invest £45 million in the Valencia centre-back.
Arsenal even claimed victory in the traditional penalty shootout, capping off a satisfying afternoon’s work before attention turns to their crucial season opener at Old Trafford.
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Jude Obafemi, THEWILL
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
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