Arsenal debut by Kai Havertz fails to impress as Jorginho red-faced with Nurnber
Arsenal staggered to a 1-1 draw with German outfit Nurnberg of their first pre-season pleasant, with debutant Kai Havertz unable to stamp his mark on proceedings. The German, signed from Chelsea for £65million this switch window, made his long-awaited bow in a Gunners shirt.
Bukayo Saka scored Arsenal’s solely purpose, slicing inside from the correct and, in trademark fashion, flashing a left-footed drive into the far nook. Having scored after simply six minutes, it appeared like final season’s Premier League title challengers may go on to win handsomely.
But that was not the case. Mikel Arteta’s aspect ambled to a draw with a number of younger gamers provided the chance to stake a declare for extra involvement subsequent season.
Ethan Nwaneri, the Premier League’s youngest-ever participant, was notably spectacular, exhibiting just a few neat touches and shut management. However, this appeared like little greater than an extravagant coaching train for the extra senior members of Arteta’s squad.
Havertz was launched at half-time, enjoying within the central midfield position that he’s anticipated to occupy underneath Arteta. Likely gone are the times of the previous Bayer Leverkusen star being shoehorned into an especially unnatural centre-forward place, identical to he was at Chelsea.
The 24-year-old drifted across the pitch, linking up together with his fellow midfielders and striker Gabriel Jesus. He was unable to create any main moments – however that won’t fear Arteta at this early stage.
Folarin Balogun struck the publish for Arsenal moments earlier than the Gunners conceded in calamitous circumstances. Karl Hein’s move to Jorginho was merely not on, and the previous Chelsea star lofted the ball again in direction of purpose.
Unfortunately for the midfielder, it nestled into the underside nook of the purpose, filed underneath the class of: get it out the way in which in pre-season. Nurnberg’s gamers even had the gall to have a good time.
Most worryingly for Arteta will likely be an injury suffered by captain Martin Odegaard prior to the game. The membership captain had been named within the beginning line-up however was pulled out after choosing up a “knock” in the course of the warm-up, with Fabio Vieira taking his place.
Arteta and Arsenal’s followers will hope that the difficulty is just not critical, as an alternative taking the Norwegian out of the group as a precaution. The Gunners boss will want final yr’s finest participant prepared for the season opener towards Nottingham Forest on August 12.