Jak Netting

Preview

For the hosts, pre-season had already been well underway, having played 3 games already against European opposition. Arsenal, however, represented a significant step up from their previous challenges, where they won twice and drew the other. As for the Gunners, barring a behind-closed-doors friendly against Championship side, and Colney neighbours, Watford, this represented a first runout of pre-season and a first chance for the players to impress Mikel Arteta. It’s also not the first time that Arsenal have faced the German outfit in pre-season, as they travelled to the Max-Morlock-Stadion last summer too – coming out as 5-3 victors.

Arsenal’s lineup had an experimental feel about it, with Leandro Trossard joining Thomas Partey and Fabio Vieira to make a trio in midfield. It is expected that Trossard is starting in a role similar to how Arteta envisages new signing Kai Havertz operating, which will be a good test of the ability of the rest of the squad to play in this system. Club captain Martin Ødegaard had been expected to start the game in place of Vieira, but a minor knock in the warm-up saw him withdrawn from the squad in favour of the Portuguese youngster. Elsewhere Jakub Kiwior and Ben White occupied the fullback roles with William Saliba making his much-anticipated return to the squad to partner Gabriel Magalhaes ahead of Aaron Ramsdale. Saliba hadn’t featured since a back injury in Arsenal’s second-leg tie at home to Benfica in the Europa League last season, which fans largely attribute to the root cause of their failure to win the Premier League last season. Making up the attack was Reiss Nelson and Bukayo Saka either side of Eddie Nketiah. Perhaps the most exciting element of Arsenal’s lineup, however, was the bench. New boy Kai Havertz as well as promising youngsters like Florarin Balogun, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to name a few promised to provide flair off the bench, likely later in the game.

First Half

Arsenal started the game exactly how you may have expected them to against German second-tier opposition – fast and very much on the front foot. In fact, during some of the opening stages, I was very much reminded of a classic Barcelona side under Pep Guardiola with very high-intensity passing and quick transitions – seemingly an evolution of how Arteta wants his side to play this season. Arsenal’s efforts were rewarded early on after Ben White found Saka with a looping ball over the top, who then cut inside to lose his man and curled one across the floor into the far corner. The Gunners maintained their passing play and found more chances as a result, though they couldn’t extend their lead at the early stage. As part of this style, Arsenal also found plenty of success from playing out of the back, especially via the fullbacks, with Jakub Kiwior playing in more of an inverted midfielder role, similar to what we’ve seen Trent Alexander Arnold do for England – while Ben White maintained an impressive partnership with Saka throughout the game.

There was an early scare for Arteta as Saka went down injured in the 29th minute, especially having lost Ødegaard during the warmup. Thankfully it wasn’t anything significant and he was able to continue after some brief treatment. Speaking of Ødegaard, it has to be said that his replacement for the game, Fabio Vieira, felt absent for much of the half – which won’t help to displace criticism levelled at him since last season. For the rest of the half FC Nürnberg drew back into the game, with much better, and a higher number of, chances – which tested the resolve of the Gunners’ defence. This helped to highlight how impressive Jakub Kiwior had been performing, with his ability to switch from attack to defence so quickly and fluidly a real asset for how they wanted to play. After impressing during his limited appearances last season, Kiwior will be hoping he can impress and cause Arteta a real selection headache with Zinchenko and Tierney also vying for the left-back spot. Arsenal regained control of the game and were well on top as the half looked to be drawing to an end. Arsenal fans were likely watching through their fingertips as Saka went down injured again on the brink of the half, but he was promptly up and the referee drew the half to a close.

Half Time | FC Nürnberg 0-1 Arsenal

Second Half

The second half saw a much-changed Arsenal side with Arteta making 6 substitutions which saw Ramsdale, Partey, Saka, Saliba, Kiwior and Nelson make way for Hein, Havertz, Jesus, Cedric, Tierney and Jorginho. Jesus had an early chance to extend the Gunners’ lead after going through 1-on-1 with the opposition goalkeeper, but his effort was placed well wide of the target. It wasn’t long before another change as Balogun replaced Trossard in the 55th minute, after an impressive loan spell at Stade de Reims last season, where he scored 21 goals in 37 appearances for the French outfit. It had been a more tightly-contested second half, and there were more changes for the visitors in the 60th minute as Auston Trusty replaced Gabriel, and wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri came on for Fabio Vieira. Nwaneri pleased fans this month after putting months of speculation to rest by signing a new deal with Arsenal, with his current deal having been due to imminently expire.

Balogun had a great opportunity to open his pre-season account and to impress manager Mikel Arteta as speculation over his future persists, but his effort hit the post from a tight angle. It was just a minute later that the hosts drew level after a huge mistake by rookie goalkeeper Karl Hein. The Estonian international played the ball under no real pressure towards Jorginho, but a Nürnberg player stood between them and as he collided with the ball and Jorginho, the ball was fired into an empty net for a seeming own goal.

At this point, Arsenal had still had the more and better of the chances but the second half had been far more even with both sides threatening the goal. The home side made mass changes in the 68th minute, just before Trusty was booked for a sloppy challenge. There was another scare for Hein in the Arsenal goal as he spilt a long-range effort to an opposing attacker, but his shot hit the bar before being eventually cleared away – a lucky escape after his earlier error. With just over 10 minutes remaining there was time for more youngsters to impress as Myles Lewis-Skelly and Reuell Walters replaced Ben White and Eddie Nketiah. Cedric almost had a moment to forget after giving the ball away in midfield with a pass to the opposition but he was thankful to Trusty, who slid across to block the shot that looked destined for the back of the net. Some delightful play from Myles-Skelly out Balogun through on goal and he took the ball around the keeper but failed to convert his effort into an empty net as his frustrating evening worsened. In his defence, it wasn’t the easiest angle to score from but he really should have done better. Ethan Nwaneri continued to impress with his performance, with the importance of his recent contract renewal becoming increasingly apparent. As the clock was ticking down there was time for one more piece of drama as Walters produced a top-class block to deny a certain winner. Shortly after, the referee bought the proceedings to an end with the score level at 1-1.

Summary

In pre-season, you have to look past the scoreline. The way Arsenal played in the early stages was remarkable and, if they can build on it, will lead to very good things throughout the season. The fast-paced build-up with an emphasis on quick passing was incredibly threatening and could have led to many more goals on another day. The game also allowed plenty of individual performances to stand out. For me, Kiwior, Nwaneri and Saka were the standouts, with Myles-Skelly also impressing during his brief cameo. Of course, there were negatives as well. Karl Hein looked incredibly shaky and based on this performance alone, I would say below the level required at Arsenal. Fabio Vieira also had a poor game but didn’t make many noticeable errors as such, he just wasn’t the creative outlet that people had hoped he would be. Cedric was another substitute appearance-maker who didn’t live up to expectations – with rumours all summer that he will be moved on, I struggle to see this game changing that.

Up next for the Gunners is their pre-season tour of the USA where they will face an MLS all-star side, Manchester United and Barcelona before returning to England for the Emirates Cup against AS Monaco and the Community Shield against Manchester City before their league opener on the 12th of August at home to Nottingham Forrest.