By Daily Sports on September 6, 2020
Arsenal fell to a 3-2 defeat against Aston Villa in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.
The game, which took place at Emirates Stadium, saw both teams use the contest to give a mixture of first-team and youth players a chance to get some minutes.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was on target twice for the Gunners, with one of the goals coming from the penalty spot.
But the Gabon international’s double was not enough to give Mikel Arteta’s side the win, as the visitors struck three times to come out on top.
The defeat will be no major concern to Arteta, who was missing several key men due to international duty. The Spaniard used the game to try out a few things, as he did on Tuesday when Arsenal beat Queens Park Rangers 4-3 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the club’s London Colney training ground.
Mesut Ozil, who did not play a single minute for Arsenal during the final weeks of last season following the restart, was back involved against Villa, as was summer signing Willian.
Dani Ceballos was also able to feature following confirmation of his loan move from Real Madrid.
Indeed, that transfer was only confirmed less than 24 hours ago although he was still able to play some part for the Gunners and will now come into contention for the north Londoners' Premier League opener against Fulham.
That fixture takes place at Craven Cottage on September 12, with Arsenal planning to have one last friendly in midweek prior to the big kick-off.
Against Villa they fell behind in the first half when Douglas Luiz opened the scoring for the visitors, only for Aubameyang to level things up before half-time.
Arsenal fell behind again when Jacob Ramsey restored Villa’s lead, but they made it 2-2 when Aubameyang scored his second of the afternoon from the penalty spot.
Villa sealed the win soon after, however, with Ramsey again the man on target for Dean Smith’s side.
The result comes a week after Arsenal’s Community Shield win over Liverpool, with Arteta’s men having also beaten MK Dons as part of their pre-season preparations. (Goal)
•PHOTO: Arsenal players
Source Daily Sports
Posted September 6, 2020
You may also like...
BREAKING: Mane Is African Footballer of the Year!...
Lewandowski Brace Wins Thrilling German Cup Semifinal for...
Bale Wants to Spend Rest of Career at...
Man United Preseason: What Should the Red Devil’s...
EPL: Leeds United Stun Sheffield United
Sam Allardyce: England manager leaves after one match...

Cricket: NCF sets date for 2026 Women’s T20i
Unbeaten Oshoba keen to extend dominant UK run
Family supports Joshua’s return despite fears — Uncle
Tennis triggers buzz at 2nd Niger Delta Games
Gala fans to honour Osimhen’s late mother
Eagles to play Iran, Jordan in four-nation tourney
First Falcons call-up thrills Erhabor
Ekezie junior claims Defensive MVP award at All-Star camp
Niger-Delta Games: Sports, instrument of unity, empowerment — Tinubu
Draws hold as Niger Delta Games begin Friday
NFF to review Chelle’s $130k request, other demands
Usman to retire after becoming two-division champ
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,574 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,884 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,792 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,428 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,340 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,259 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,131 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,678 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,848 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,377 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,765 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,233 views)