“Really Good” – Mikel Arteta Reacts to Arsenal Star’s Performance After Pre-season Win v Man United
Arsenal took a significant step closer to the new Premier League season by defeating Manchester United in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.
The match took place at SoFi Stadium in California, where Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli were the scorers for Arsenal. Manchester United initially took the lead after just ten minutes when Rasmus Hojlund surged down the left flank, outmuscling his defender and managing to slot the ball past Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Karl Hein.
However, Arsenal quickly equalised with Jesus scoring in the 26th minute. Martinelli then secured the win for Arsenal with a goal four minutes before the match ended.
Despite the pre-season nature of the game, which ended with a penalty shootout, Manchester United managed to claim some consolation by winning the penalties.
Nonetheless, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be pleased with his team’s performance, especially as the Premier League title is just within reach.
Last season, Arsenal narrowly missed out on the Premier League title, leading to speculation about what they need to surpass Manchester City.
One prominent topic of discussion has been the need for a top-class striker, with the ‘remarkable’ Ivan Toney frequently mentioned as a target.
Currently, Gabriel Jesus, who has struggled with injuries since the 2022 World Cup, has been filling that role. With Arteta still lacking a fully fit squad, Kai Havertz was positioned in the midfield for this match.
Post-match, Arteta expressed his satisfaction with Jesus’ performance, noting that he was ‘really good’. Fans will be particularly encouraged by Arteta’s comments about Jesus, highlighting that he has undergone significant improvements over the summer, as reported to Football London.
“He looks really good,” said Arteta. “He looks really sharp. He has changed a lot of things over the summer. He has come in top condition again. And when you have that baseline, other things can be built, but without that foundation, you don’t have a player.
“He needs to be in that condition to get the best out of him. He has realised that. And I’m really happy with what he’s shown today again.”
Arsenal have had two record-breaking seasons in terms of goals scored, yet they still struggle to overcome Manchester City.
While their goal-scoring ability is impressive, their challenge lies in the fact that their title competitors can rotate their squad without a drop in performance quality.
According to report, Arsenal are set to sign Riccardo Calafiori, which should enhance their squad depth.
Additionally, Arsenal are interested in adding more players, with a particular focus on midfielder Ezequiel Fernández, a 22-year-old currently playing for Boca Juniors.
In other Arsenal news, Thomas Partey Gets 6.5 in Arsenal Player Ratings vs Bournemouth
