Arsenal are 1-0 up in their first pre-season game of their tour of the United States of America against fellow Premier League outfit Bournemouth.
The Gunners got their pre-season campaign underway with a clash against the Cherries at the Dignity Health Sports Park. Mikel Arteta fielded a young team with as many as five academy youngsters in it.
The game was a low key affair lit up by a moment of quality in which Fabio Vieira volleyed home Reiss Nelson’s cross.
Karl Hein: Still looks a bit jittery when on the first team stage. Flapped a little at crosses and not the most assured playing out from the back. Made a good save from Solanke when he looked set to score though. 6.
Ben White: A sign of how he’s viewed in the squad that he’s still playing at right-back even with the shortage of centre backs. His versatility remains impressive. 6.
Jurrien Timber: A real leader in the backline. Constantly called the line and was firm with his younger teammates when needed. Looks a real character at the heart of defence. 7.
Ayden Heaven: Dominic Solanke was one of the best forwards in the Premier League last season, but Heaven dealt with him well. Stood up to the physical challenge. Just needs to watch the offside line from time to time. 6.
Myles Lewis-Skelly: Looked really impressive as a one-vs-one defender in the left back role. Inverted nicely and was largely assured on the ball. 7.
Thomas Partey: A few loose touches in the middle of the park from the Ghanaian, particularly when his back was to play. Lost the ball once just in front of the box too. 5.
Ethan Nwaneri: One really nice break in the early stages of the game where he drove through the Bournemouth midfield and showed great composure to play through Nketiah. A little quiet aside from that. 6.
Salah-Eddie Oulad M’Hand: Nice to see him out there on the first team stage after such rotten luck with injuries recently. Looked decent on the ball and just wasn’t quite quick enough when played through on goal. 6.
Fabio Vieira: Showed really impressive technique to volley home his goal, particularly with Nketiah in front of him. A little quiet aside and not the best set piece delivery. 6.
Eddie Nketiah: Decent hold up and link up play up top and showed some dribbling ability on the counter. A little wasteful with his shooting in front of goal though. 6.
Reiss Nelson: A really assured 45 minutes from the winger. His moment of real quality made the goal, while his confidence on the ball in tight spaces was great. Good set piece delivery too. No wonder he’s in such high demand!8.
