Arsenal warmed up for Manchester United by beating Athletic Club to clinch the Emirates Cup on Saturday.
Big money summer signing Viktor Gyokeres got off the mark with a brilliant header in the first-half and further goals from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz ensured the Gunners were crowned winners of the annual summer competition once again.
In Arsenal’s final friendly before the 2025-26 Premier League campaign gets underway, Mikel Arteta named a team that could very well take to the pitch at Old Trafford next weekend.
Gabriel and Jurrien Timber both made their first starts of pre-season, while Riccardo Calafiori returned at left-back and there was a first signing of what might be the Gunners’ first-choice midfield trio.
And it was Martin Zubimendi who created the first goal. The Spaniard’s inch-perfect cross was headed home by Gyokeres to break the deadlock just after the half hour mark. The strike was no more than the hosts deserved as the Swede along with Saka and Calafiori had all come close to scoring beforehand.
Speaking of Saka, he doubled Arsenal’s lead two minutes later, slotting the ball into an empty net after great work by Gabriel Martinelli centrally.
Gyokeres came close to doubling his own tally in the second half but this time his header - from substitute Noni Madueke’s cross - came back off the post.
In truth, the second half was a relative low-key affair but Havertz served a timely reminder of his qualities with a brilliant run and finish to seal an impressive win for Arsenal as they tuned-up for the big Man Utd fixture.
A penalty shootout followed the final whistle, with Arsenal claiming victory in that too as Zubimendi netted the decisive spot-kick after David Raya had made a superb save from Adama Boiro in sudden death.
