Mikel Arteta praised Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel for their performances in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Manchester United in a pre-season friendly. Notably, the trio joined the squad late after completing international duty with their respective nations.
Subsequently, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel flew to the United States to join their teammates after representing their countries during the summer. In particular, Havertz played a crucial role in Germany’s Euro 2024 campaign; however, Spain eliminated his team in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Martinelli and Gabriel reached the Copa America quarter-finals with Brazil, ultimately losing on penalties to Uruguay. Despite their late arrival, Arteta expressed satisfaction with their contributions.
“They had a day and one training session. Nevertheless, they came back in very good condition,” Mikel Arteta said after Arsenal’s victory. “We know the boys are high-speed at the moment. Consequently, they won’t have time to prepare, so they need to catch up with that rhythm, and fortunately, they look really good.”
Furthermore, Arteta expressed delight with the competitive match against Manchester United, which provided excellent preparation for the team. “I think it was a really competitive match and good opposition for us. As a result, I’m very happy we managed to win. It was a significant test against an opponent in form. They’re having a good pre-season, and thus, turning around the result is great practice for us.”
Looking ahead, Mikel Arteta mentioned the upcoming challenge against Liverpool. “We’ll play Liverpool next, undoubtedly a very tough opponent. Therefore, it’s time to adapt, travel to a different time zone, meet different people, and play in new stadiums. Overall, these are all positive experiences for us to improve.”
In conclusion, Gabriel Martinelli marked his return to the Arsenal squad with a goal in the final 10 minutes, thereby securing the victory over United. The team will return to action on Thursday to face Liverpool, now under the management of their new boss, Arne Slot.
