Arsenal suffered a second successive defeat in preseason as they came out on the wrong side of a thriller at Emirates Stadium, losing 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund.
The German side took the lead after just five minutes through Italian youngster Samuele Inácio, who brilliantly finished off a sublime pass from Felix Nmecha to stun the crowd.
And shortly before the first half hydration break, Arsenal went 2-0 down when Greek starlet Konstantinos Karetsas scored a brilliant goal with a lovely strike into the top left corner.
Arsenal did hit back early in the second half, with Christos Tzolis, who was a bright spark throughout proceedings, laying the ball on a plate for substitute Ethan Nwaneri who made no mistake from close range.
Read more:Sources: Real Madrid, Vinícius making progress on new deal
But just moments later, Dortmund regained their two-goal lead through Joane Gadou, who hit home following a sloppy piece of defending after a corner for the Bundesliga side.
Viktor Gyökeres did score from the penalty spot after Tzolis was felled in the box and Arsenal thought they had done enough to equalise when Gabriel Martinelli put the ball in the back of the net in stoppage time, but it was not to be as he was adjudged to be offside.
A penalty shootout was held after the match anyway to the delight of the crowd and Arsenal banished some previous demons from their last shootout in the Champions League final, with a perfect set of penalties to beat Dortmund 5-4.
Read more:Yan Diomande leaves RB Leipzig camp to complete Real Madrid move – sources
There was a feeling of jubilation in the stadium before a ball was kicked as Arsenal’s latest major signing Bruno Guimarães walked onto the pitch to greet his new side’s fans for the first time since his £75 million ($101 million) move from Newcastle.
The Premier League champions were then greeted to a raucous Emirates rendition of North London Forever and it nearly buoyed them straight into the lead with a couple of excellent corners whipped in by Martin Odegaard.
Dortmund did take the lead moments later but Arsenal bounced back well and had a flurry of chances, including a free kick just outside the box, which Gyökeres failed to have any sort of control over.
Nico Kovac’s side were forced into more defensive action and Alexander Meyer was getting progressively more busy but the Gunners were yet to really test the goalkeeper.
Read more:Arsenal’s Max Dowman, 16, becomes youngest Premier League title winner
Gyökeres’ powerful effort after a mazy run from Max Dowman in the 26th minute struck the crossbar and it seemed as though a goal was moments away.
And that feeling was indeed true… Just not in the Arsenal goal. Karetsas picked the ball up on the half way line and drove forward towards the box, before curling it around Gabriel and past a helpless Kepa.
Dortmund very nearly went 3-0 up through Felix Nmecha but his effort narrowly went over the crossbar and before long it was 2-1 after Nwaneri took his chance.
Read more:Yan Diomande completes big-money move to Real Madrid from RB Leipzig
When Dortmund went 3-1 up though, Arsenal’s defensive fragility was exposed, something that will potentially concern Mikel Arteta as the new season draws closer.
Gyökeres’ penalty gave them something to fight for, but, the significant number of substitutes did not help them to push for an equaliser.
The fans booed as Martinelli was adjudged offside at the death, but Arteta will have some things to think about in the coming days, as the season draws closer.
