The Short Fuse

Arsenal alt codes for the 25-26 season:

Viktor Gyökeres - ALT + 0246
Christian Nørgaard - ALT + 0248
Martin Ødegaard - ALT + 0216

Fulltime. 3-0 to Arsenal. Excellent final preseason showing.

Practice penalty shootout now.

Madueke has stood out this half in a good way!

That's a LOVELY goal from Kai Havertz. The pace to outrun the defender, the strength and balance to keep his feet, and the skill to finish far post.

That's an impressive recovery from Declan Rice but also there is ZERO need for him to do that in the preseason.

I would have been totally fine with him not full sprinting back at 2-0 up in a preseason match.

Jurrien Timber and Gabriel off, both are working back from injury.

Cristhian Mosquera and Myles Lewis-Skelly on.

Gyökeres hits the post with a diving header. Unai Simon may have gotten a fingertip to it.

Great service from Madueke.

Noni Madueke replaces Gabriel Martinelli, Ben White replaces Riccardo Calafiori.

I think David Raya traded kits with Inaki Williams just as the two stepped into the tunnel for halftime.

Halftime. 2-0 to Arsenal. A few loose moments at the back, but other than that, an excellent half.

Martin Zubimendi, que jugador

Part of Simon misjudging that / being caught out was because Arsenal transitioned into attack so quickly. He didn't have time to get his bearings and reset.

Bukayo Saka makes it two, good work from Gabriel Martinelli. Lovely ball from Martin Ødegaard.

Unai Simon wants that one back, terribly misjudged that ball into Martinelli. Thought he could cut it out and wasn't close to being able to do so.

Gyökeres gives Arsenal the lead, lovely glancing header from a magnificent Martin Zubimendi cross.

Tough to say which was better, the header or the service. Both were top class.

Not a fan of that challenge on Bukayo Saka, especially in the preseason. Needless.

He's fine, though.

In case you were curious, Bukayo Saka can still ball out.

On Arsenal's first progression from defense, Calafiori was heels on the touchline with Rice next to Zubimendi.

On the most recent one, he'd come infield into the double pivot with Rice playing inside left.

Two different looks quickly.

Interesting to see Gabriel Martinelli making the near post run to the right side post with Gyokeres moving more centrally as Arsenal worked it down the right side for the cutback / cross.

Really, really hope Riccardo Calafiori is able to stay relatively healthy this season. He makes stuff happen going forward. Simple as.

Arsenal and Athletic Club are underway from the Emirates! Curious and excited to see how this lineup does.

Hearing North London Forever at the Emirates on the Arsenal stream brings back extremely fond memories of singing (yelling) it outside a pub in Eindhoven back in March before the Champions League match.

That was a special, unique feeling and an incredible day.

Both Martin Ødegaard and David Raya are yucking it up with Inaki Williams from Athletic Club in the tunnel before the walkout.

Right, yours truly has finished mowing the lawn and is ready to go for Arsenal's final preseason match.

I'll be honest, there have been some uncharacteristic errors* this preseason that have me worried. Gotta iron out those issues before Manchester United.

*lots of typos in my observations

Thanks!

Any word on why Kai Havertz wasn't in the matchday squad?

Fulltime. 3-2 to Villareal. Saw plenty of good things from the Gunners. A few concerns as well, but I think they stem more from preseason intensity levels more than anything else.

I am a big Cristhian Mosquera stan.

Once again. The kid has got JUICE.

Such a difference between the Arsenal supporters in the ground and the "supporters" online.

Cheers across the board when Madueke first touched the ball compared to the keyboard warriors moaning behind a screen.

Noni Madueke replaces Gabriel Martinelli on the left. Will be interested to see how Noni fares on the left, he's played mostly on the right in his career.

Zinchenko replaces Myles Lewis-Skelly.