Eddie Nketiah grabbed a late winner as Arsenal beat Bayern Munich to start the International Champions Cup pre-season tournament with a win.
Arsenal substitute Nketiah struck with just five minutes left to settle a high tempo, entertaining and highly competitive friendly in Los Angeles.
In truth, the game could have gone either way as both teams had chances but Arsenal’s late substitutes made a big difference to give them extra energy as Bayern tired.
Bayern went close after 32 minutes when Thomas Muller saw a near post shot saved brilliantly by Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno.
But Arsenal should have gone ahead themselves six minutes later when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s lightning run led a counter attack, he played in Mesut Ozil whose shot was blocked by Manuel Neuer.
Finally, the breakthrough came three minutes after the restart after a lovely Arsenal move. Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s clever ball found Aubameyang and his low cross was turned into his own net by Bayern defender Louis Poznanski.
The German champions levelled after 71 minutes when Serge Gnabry’s cross picked out Robert Lewandowski, Shkodran Mustafi lost his man and the Bayern No.9 headed home.
But just as it looked the game was heading to penalties, Arsenal got an 85th minute winner as Tyreece John-Jules’s low cross was turned in by Nketiah.
Arsenal now play Fiorentina in Charlotte on Saturday before they finish the tournament against Real Madrid in Washington.
Here are five things we learned from the match...
1. Mesut Ozil stood out
And not just because of his bleached blond hair. Arsenal’s mercurial No.10 was busy, lively and was often on the move, looking for the ball. He kept it flowing, could have scored and picked passes.
The point is that Ozil is certainly not a natural fit for an Unai Emery team and yet, because of his crazy £350,000-a-week wage, you have to try to make it work somehow and that will have to be a two way street.
If Ozil keeps working hard and putting the effort in then surely there must be a place for a player with so much outrageous talent.
2. Joe Willock is one to watch
This might be a big year for the Arsenal teenage midfielder. He started against Bayern Munich, played alongside Granit Xhaka, looked strong and very comfortable in possession.
He is also not afraid to put his foot in and was arguably Arsenal’s best player.
You get the feeling that, if he keeps progressing, he could get more first-team minutes this season. Definitely one who has a chance and worth keeping an eye on.
3. Arsenal’s yellow kit is a winner
The new “bruised banana” away strip is a throwback to the early 1990s and for kit obsessives like me it looks fantastic.
It is already catching on because lots of fans were wearing it. The bruised banana effect is a bit less obvious but it still looks good and Arsenal fans will be hoping that they can enjoy some of the good times that Ian Wright and Co had back in those days.
4. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is regaining confidence
We need to remember he is a midfielder, is still only 21 and actually his performance in the Europa League final was a game of two halves: excellent first 45, nightmare after the break.
But Maitland-Niles was mostly good at right back as Arsenal started with a conventional back four, he worked hard up and down the flank and looks to have got some of his self belief back. In truth, Kingsley Coman caused him problems when he came on, but Maitland-Niles stuck to his task.
Arsenal could be without Hector Bellerin until late autumn, Maitland-Niles will be playing games at right back again and this was a good start.
5. Shkodran Mustafi is not an option
Unai Emery could limp on, play Mustafi and bank on the fact that here is a German international, he cost £35m so he can’t be that bad, can he? Oh, yes he can.
Mustafi kicked off pre-season where he left off last term with some sloppy defending, a lack of concentration and generally not looking anywhere near good enough.
Honestly, Valencia must still be laughing about the time they got £35m for the defender who somehow played for Germany.
His distribution was poor, he put team mates in danger, was sloppy and indecisive. Mustafi switched off, lost his man and allowed Robert Lewandowski to head home the equaliser. It was embarrassing.
It is easy to say just sell him. But there are no takers and Mustafi does not want to leave. Why would he? However, they cannot afford to play him any longer as it will just cost them more goals.
