Arsenal kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 4-1 victory over Segunda Division side Girona at Estadi Montilivi on Saturday. Kai Havertz and Christos Tzolis scored in the first half, before Zane Dowman and Gabriel Jesus struck after the break. Girona captain Arnau had briefly reduced the deficit with a header.
Summer signing Tzolis scored on his first official start for the club, cutting inside and finding the bottom corner via a deflection. Fellow new arrivals Piero Hincapie and Viktor Gyokeres also featured, along with Kai Havertz, after returning to training following the World Cup. Arsenal had beaten MK Dons 3-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly the previous weekend.
Match flow
Tzolis opened the scoring in the 30th minute. Havertz doubled the lead before half-time, and Arsenal went in at the break 2-0 up. Girona responded early in the second half when Arnau headed home from a set piece in the 50th minute. Arsenal hit back immediately: Dowman cut inside from the right and finished from the edge of the box, and two minutes later Jesus poked in after Girona's error in playing out from the back.
Second-half changes
Arsenal made wholesale changes during the second half, introducing several academy players. Substitute goalkeeper Meslier was called into action early, making two reflex saves to deny Ruiz and Pyshchur. Late on, Meslier was penalised for taking too long over a goal-kick under the new eight-second rule, conceding a corner to Girona.
The match was the first chance for supporters to see Mikel Arteta's side since their Champions League final defeat.
