Max Dowman dazzled with a goal and an assist as Arsenal recorded a dominant 4-1 win against Girona in their first pre-season game at Montilivi in Catalonia.
The 16-year-old was at the heart of everything good for Arsenal, including their opener, where he produced a brilliant turn and through-ball to Kai Havertz, who slotted a composed finish past Paulo Gazzaniga with aplomb, before Christos Tzolis – who impressed on debut – got in on the act with a deflected finish that nestled in the bottom corner and doubled the Gunners’ lead.
A brief Girona fightback just after half-time – propelled by a Arnau Martinez header from a corner – was short-lived, as a determined Dowman blasted a powerful finish from outside the box home just three minutes after Arsenal conceded, and a defensive mix-up for Girona saw Gabriel Jesus pounce on a loose ball on the edge of the box and put the game to bed.
A plethora of changes for both sides followed, and a make-shift line-up filled with academy products saw Mikel Arteta’s side to their first pre-season victory before the Gunners head to Dublin to face Real Betis on Wednesday.
Kai Havertz of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal against Girona with Viktor Gyoekeres and Christos Tzolis
The key moments from Catalonia
16: GOAL! Dowman produces a magic moment with a beautiful turn that takes Moreno out of the game, and then provides an inch-perfect pass into the path of Havertz, who is clean through and slots neatly into the bottom left corner.
17: BIG CHANCE! Lewis-Skelly neatly feeds Havertz through with a lofted ball, but his low cross is batted away by Gazzaniga.
26: CLOSE! Tzolis is found with a neat through-ball from Calafiori setting him through on goal – his choice to pass is the wrong one, though Gyokeres can’t sort his feet out before a Girona player can stick a foot in, and Dowman’s eventual shot from the loose ball is blocked.
32: GOAL! Tzolis is rewarded for a brilliant first 30 minutes in an Arsenal shirt when his low driven effort takes a light deflection and nestles into the bottom left corner.
50: GOAL! Girona corner meets the head of Girona skipper Martinez, who heads powerfully into the top left corner after a steaming run into the box
53: GOAL! Dowman’s powerful shot finds a way past the keeper and in after cutting inside on his favoured left foot.
55: GOAL! A ricocheted ball trickles agonisingly backwards and towards an unmarked Jesus in the box, who finishes with aplomb.
Max Dowman of Arsenal is tackled by Alex Moreno in Arsenal’s game against Girona
What’s next for Arsenal?
- 5 August: Arsenal vs Real Betis – Dublin, 7:30pm
- 12 August: Arsenal vs Como – Emirates Stadium, 7:30pm
- 16 August: Arsenal vs Man City, Community Shield – Cardiff, 3:00pm
- 21 August: Arsenal vs Coventry, Premier League – Emirates Stadium, 8:00pm
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