Arsenal impressive on the Costa Brava.

This was the 4th preseason match for newly relegated Girona, the Spanish version which belongs to the never ending Manchester City stable of football clubs, therefore Girona were well into their stride. For Arsenal this was the 2nd match of our preparations following the 3-0 behind-closed-doors victory over MK Dons.

Girona have a very attractive and atmospheric stadium, a great place to play high quality football where the Gunners quickly looked right at home despite Girona’s high intensity start to proceedings. This wasn’t going to be a walkover but that’s exactly the kind of preparation we need as we go into the 26/27 season with a target situated right between our collective shoulder blades!

Despite the Spaniards dangerous pressing and athleticism, the Gunners skilfully circumvented the home press and looked extremely dangerous themselves on the break with Gyokeres and Havertz linking through the centre, supported by debutant Tzolis and Max Dowman making his own strong case for a starting berth vs Coventry. In central midfield Nwaneri floated between our defensive block and theirs whilst Myles made us remember just why Arteta selected him in Budapest. The passing was slick and inventive which at this stage of preseason was hugely encouraging.

The back four was solid and uncompromising with the welcome return of Ben White as captain on the right and the cavaliering Calafiori on the left, in the middle Mosquera and Hincapie were solid and composed. Kepa in goal did all we expected him to do but the spectre of his League Cup blunder continues to cast a shadow over whatever he does.

A Tzolis freekick driven from right to left found Calafiori heading his cross back beyond the Girona keeper but Dowman couldn’t get a clean header. Then around 16 minutes and following a couple of mazy runs, Dowman wriggled free of the attention of two defenders and slipped a simple pass to Havertz who dispatched his shot across the face of goal to where it settled inside the far post. That goal sucked most of the enthusiasm out of the home crowd and the Gunners controlled things pretty much for the next 30 minutes. 14 minutes after the opening goal and following some fairly stress free footie, Tzolis cut in and shot home across the goal in a style very much akin to Bakayo following good work by Calafiori.

The female referee, who I thought was quite a looker, blew for a drinks break around 33 minutes which was when Salmon replaced Hincapie, Vieira replaced Havertz and Jesus replaced Gyokeres. Salmon looked to me as if he’d grown a few inches and filled out. Vieira was busy and Jesus was sporting a blond hairstyle, very natty…

The Gunners played out the rest of the half without any problems and made no halftime changes.

Girona, fresh from a flea in their ears rediscovered their energy from the start of the 1st half and Arsenal were I thought a little casual initially and so it was no suprise when following a second successive corner that the Spaniards headed home to make it 1-2, Gabriel would have been proud of the finish. That was the 50th minute and it was like kicking over a hornets nest for Girona because by minute 55 it was 1-4.

Firstly Dowman evaded a clumsy challenge to just drive into the box and finish with a flourish, he’s going to be massive for us this coming campaign. Then with Girona losing their composure Ben White quickly closed down an opponent and deflected his attempt to escape the press and the ball ran kindly to Jesus who poked it home, bless him and that was pretty much that.

On 61 Arteta made 9 changes (a record for him perhaps) as the U21’s were thrown into the fray. Here goes: Meslier on for Kepa, Copley for White, Ogunnaike for Calafiori, Ibrahim for Myles, Clarke for Mosquera, Nelson (yes Reiss) for Tzolis, Kabia for Max, O’Neill for Vieira and AHA for Nwaneri, phew!

Almost immediately Meslier got down brilliantly to make a couple of one handed saves, which settled him down and after a few minutes the news boys looked good and began to show how almost two weeks of elite coaching from Arteta had worked wonders with their composure and confidence. They just knocked it about with Ibrahim looking the part in central midfield. Nelson buzzed about and Kabia gave the Girona left back nightmares every time he went on a run. The home crowd had long given up and did a half hearted Mexican wave but despite another great save from Meslier on 83 when a home forward got free in front of goal, that was it. On 85 Julienne replaced Copley who was struggling and Augustien replaced Jesus, 14 substitutions by Arteta, surely a record?

Kai Havertz was named the Man of the Match and given a huge star trophy which he quickly palmed off to one of the staff, but Arsenal won the Costa Brava Trophy which Ben White received and going by his expression it must have been very heavy although that didn’t stop Calafiori grabbing it and looking very pleased with himself.

We March On, Again…

By Kev.