The Gunners easily trounced their German opponents en route back to London.
Arsenal sent a brutal message to their Premier League rivals by demolishing German powerhouse Bayer Leverkusen. The Gunners trounced Xabi Alonso’s squad 4-1 thanks to goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz.
6The Gunners enjoyed their latest pre-season workoutCredit: Getty
Arsenal blew Bayer Leverkusen away with a first-half blitzCredit: AlamyEarly on, Belgian teammate Trossard doubled the score with a stunning finish from Ukrainian Zinchenko, who had opened the scoring just 60 seconds earlier.Just before halftime, a rejuvenated Jesus added a third, and Havertz made it four halfway through the second half.After 76 minutes, Adam Hlozek gave the Germans a response, but the Emirates withered throughout a dull last quarter.This is how Jordan Davies of SunSport ranked each Arsenal game…
DAVID RAYA – 6
Had next to nothing to do other than Leverkusen’s late consolation. The simplest 90 minutes of his 2024 so far.
BEN WHITE – 6
Worked hard as usual but less threatening in attack without Saka ahead of him in the first 45 minutes.
GABRIEL – 6
Untroubled for most parts. Got some air in his lungs and avoided injury.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 6
Copy and paste from Gabriel’s comments. Subbed off at half-time and rightly so.
OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO – 8
In the absence of left-back competition Jurrien Timber and new-boy Riccardo Calafiori, the Ukrainian was impressive on the ball and fairly solid off it.
His looping pass for Havertz ultimately saw him launch a fine strike into the bottom corner.
JORGINHO – 6
Marshalled, scanned, covered. Nothing we don’t already know.
KAI HAVERTZ – 8
Involved in both goals and everything good about Arsenal, back in a midfield role where he started his Arsenal career before finishing last season up top.
Roamed forwa
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 7
Quiet by his standards but showed his class where possible. Some cute dinks and touches drawing appreciation from the stands.
FABIO VIEIRA – 5
Did not look entirely comfortable out on the right wing but looked sharp on the ball, yet there continues to be question marks over where he fits into Arteta’s plans.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 8
Another player involved in the thick of it from the off. Dummied on the edge of the box for Zinchenko’s opener and then showed great composure to finish a minute later.
If he carries on like this, that left wing spot for the opener against Wolves is his…
GABRIEL JESUS – 9
Looks super fit and super energetic, a welcome change from the start of last season where a dodgy knee hampered his pre-season.
Who needs a new striker when the Brazilian is in this sort of form, running from his own half to put away Arsenal’s third inside 38 minutes.
Gabriel Jesus performed brilliantly against LeverkusenCredit: Reuters
Leandro Trossard caused plenty of problems on the left wingCredit: Rex
SUBSTITUTES
DECLAN RICE (JESUS, 45) – 7
The metres were gobbled up as expected and looks ready to get stuck in again after his prolonged break following England duty.
BUKAYO SAKA (VIEIRA, 45) – 8
It is like he had never been away, producing an assist 17 minutes of coming on with a darting run down the right flank.
JAKUB KIWIOR (SALIBA, 45) – 6
He may have been linked away this summer but he is a sturdy back-up in his favoured centre-back role, despite being used as a full-back last term.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (ZINCHENKO, 45) – 7
Did not look out of place and looks comfortable acting as an inverted full-back, something Arteta will love, as well as his ability to recover and make a tackle.
THOMAS PARTEY (ODEGAARD, 63) – 6
Needs to put his fitness issues behind him and will hope this is just one of numerous games this season where he can slot in with help out.
ETHAN NWANERI (JORGINHO, 63) – 6
A mixed bag from the talent everyone has their eyes on with some encouraging runs cancelled out by a few sloppy passes, but another game experience to aid his development.
AYDEN HEAVEN (GABRIEL, 70) – 6
A towering unit and one that can hold his game in a senior game. Still has lots to learn and definitely one for the distant future.
JOSH NICHOLS (WHITE, 70) – 6
A very different prospect to White. Slight in frame but quick with and without the ball. Another that will likely stick with the Arsenal academy sides for now.
EDDIE NKETIAH (HAVERTZ, 70) – 6
Has the look of a man who needs to leave. Barely got involved in the action up top but not helped by the drop in atmosphere and intensity of the game.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI (TROSSARD, 81) – N/A
Bukayo Saka played the second half for Arsenal.
Declan Rice returned to action for the Gunners.