Report: Arsenal 3-0 Athletic Club

We lifted the 2025 Emirates Cup trophy with a classy 3-0 win over Athletic Club in our final pre-season game on Saturday.

Viktor Gyokeres headed in his first Arsenal goal from a Martin Zubimendi cross, before Bukayo Saka doubled our lead.

Athletic Club barely threatened us in the second half as we controlled the advantage comfortably, and it was Kai Havertz, on as a substitute, who scored our final goal in a commanding performance.

FIRST HALF

Saka looked lively from the off, darting into the danger area from the right, riding a clumsy challenge and getting a shot away from a narrow angle.

The ball ricocheted back off of our number seven though, much to Unai Simon’s delight.

Gabriel Martinelli had a go moments later, gathering possession and firing wide of the bottom left with power.

Declan Rice switched the play out right to Saka who once again caused problems for Inigo Lekue, getting into the 18-yard box and seeing his cross just diverted past the post for a corner that was caught.

Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta had Athletic Club’s first real sight of goal when we gave the ball away in a dangerous area, but the shot was too central to trouble David Raya.

We almost had the opener midway through the first half, Saka playing a tidy one-two with Zubimendi before crossing for Gyokeres, who couldn’t strike the ball cleanly, allowing Simon to make a routine save.

A creative corner kick routine nearly saw us find space at the back post to take the lead, but Rice’s delivery sailed onto the crossbar and behind.

Martinelli then drove down the left and found Gyokeres, who unselfishly turned back to put the ball on a plate for Riccardo Calafiori, but his cushioned effort flew over the top.

Eventually, Zubimendi was instrumental in our opener, winning the ball in midfield, allowing Odegaard’s pass to be hooked behind by Lekue for a corner kick.

This time Rice made no mistake, finding Saka on the opposite wing. He in turn teed up Zubimendia, whose inch-perfect cross was venomously headed into the back of the net by Gyokeres for our new number 14’s first goal in red and white.

With Athletic Club on the back foot, we broke through again just two minutes later, Martinelli setting up Saka to slot home for 2-0.

SECOND HALF

Ben White and Noni Madueke came on for Calafiori and Martinelli respectively at half-time.

It didn’t take long for our new left winger to get involved, Madueke beating his man and seeing his cross headed behind for a corner. Rice delivered once again, this time the set-piece being headed back across goal by Gabriel and over the bar from Jurrien Timber.

Our summer signings came close to combining again just beyond the hour mark, as Zubimendi regained possession in midfield and Madueke’s cross was met by the diving header of Gyokeres, who was unfortunate to see his effort cannon back off the post.

Timber and Gabriel then made way for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Christhian Mosquera.

After another tireless shift, Gyokeres was replaced in the 70th minute as Havertz was introduced.

The latter got a shot away following a goalmouth scramble late on, during which Zubimendi produced a clever flick back to our German forward, but it was straight at Simon.

There was nothing the Athletic Club goalkeeper could do about Havertz’s next effort though, as he raced through on goal after Saka sent us forward on the counter-attack. Havertz was off balance but still picked out the bottom right corner with aplomb for 3-0.

Ethan Nwaneri, one day after signing his new contract with us, then came on for Odegaard, while Mikel Merino replaced Rice.

penalty shootout

Both sides agreed to play a penalty shootout regardless of the result, so we got some more spot-kick practice under our belts.

Guruzeta scored 0-1

Merino scored 1-1

Navarro scored 1-2

Havertz scored 2-2

Vesga scored 2-3

Madueke scored 3-3

Serrano scored 3-4

Nwaneri missed 3-4

Sannadi missed 3-4

Saka scored 4-4

Lekue scored 4-5

Saliba scored 5-5

Boiro missed 5-5

Zubimendi scored 6-5

WHAT’S NEXT

Premier League football is back next weekend! We head to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United at 4.30pm on Sunday as our 2025/26 campaign begins.

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