Arsenal returned to pre-season winning ways in emphatic style with the help of three goals in the first 38 minutes of a 4-1 win over reigning German champions Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium.
Leverkusen's only defeat last season was in the Uefa Europa League final against Atalanta and Xabi Alonso's side were unbeaten in their two-match title defense, but fell behind 2-0 after nine minutes.
Oleksandr Zinchenko completed a team move to open the scoring in the eighth minute before Leandro Trossard showed a clever strike in the next minute.
A polished pre-season performance 💫 pic.twitter.com/UCHtB47jq1
– Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 7, 2024
Leverkusen vs Arsenal result: Jesus score
Gabriel Jesus, who hasn't scored a competitive goal since January, scored a long-range goal to make it 3-0 at half-time as the team hopes to replace Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, having pushed past the champions. in English football has been closed for the past two seasons.
Kai Havertz's involvement in 21 goals in 2023-24 was the most by any Arsenal player other than Bukayo Saka and the German striker went close 25 minutes from time with his second goal in two games after finding the net to make it 2-1. Liverpool's loss to Philadelphia on Thursday.
Czech midfielder Adam Hlozek responded for Leverkusen with 15 minutes to go, heading inside the penalty area as part of a play that started inside the visitors' box.
Good to see you, Granit 🫶 pic.twitter.com/nPZ5j9z8pZ
– Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 7, 2024
Rice, Saka feature Arsenal
Arsenal's total advantage may have given Mikel Arteta more motivation to introduce his England duo, Declan Rice and Saka, at the break.
Both players may need more time than most to recover from their tireless efforts at UEFA Euro 2024, where Rice has covered the most distance of any player in the tournament.
Saka, however, needed more than 20 minutes to set up the goal, providing Havertz with a touch from former Arsenal player Granit Xhaka.
Goalkeeper David Raya, whose Spain side beat England in the Euro final, and William Saliba, who starred for France in the final, have also been handed their first minutes of pre-season.
Arsenal's remaining game is at home to Lyon, who finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season, on Sunday (2pm BST).
Their Premier League campaign begins against rivals they beat twice last season when Wolves are their visitors on August 17 (3pm).
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