Arsenal Forced to Admit Villarreal’s Superiority in Preseason Match at the Emirates

Arsenal had to acknowledge Villarreal’s superiority in a preseason match at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. The Gunners lost 2-3 in a game filled with interesting moments, including a goal from their former player Nicolas Pepe and a captivating performance by 15-year-old Max Dowman.

Despite dominating certain phases, Arsenal couldn’t contain Villarreal’s rapid counterattacks and had to settle for defeat—both in regular time and in the penalty shootout. This match also drew attention for featuring many new faces and sent a signal to Mikel Arteta that improvements are needed before the Premier League begins.

Villarreal Strike First, Arsenal Slow to Warm Up

The match was just 18 minutes old when Nicolas Pepe, former Arsenal player now wearing Villarreal’s colors, opened the scoring for the visitors with a powerful shot that Arsenal’s backup goalkeeper couldn’t stop. The goal was met with silence from the home fans—not because it wasn’t beautiful, but because it came from someone they once admired.

Villarreal kept pressing and showed great efficiency in attack. In the 34th minute, they doubled their lead through Karl Etta Eyong, who took advantage of open space caused by poor coordination between Arsenal’s center backs. The Gunners’ defense looked fragile, slow to transition, and too easily exploited by through balls.

However, Arsenal didn’t just stand by. Right before halftime, they managed to reduce the deficit to 1-2. The goal came from Christian Norgaard, who headed in sharply after a free kick delivered by Odegaard. Set-pieces were one of Arsenal’s bright spots in this match.

Dowman Shines, Odegaard Stays Calm, but Arsenal Fail to Come Back

The second half began with Arsenal trying to increase the pressure, but Villarreal stayed disciplined. They actually extended their lead to 1-3 in the 58th minute through Arnaut Danjuma. Once again, Arsenal lost the ball too easily in midfield and failed to close the space on the left side of defense.

The main highlight of the match came from Max Dowman, the 15-year-old academy midfielder. Despite his lack of experience, he played courageously, actively demanded the ball, and made a real contribution. He showed remarkable composure when driving into the box and was fouled, earning a penalty for his team.

Martin Odegaard stepped up as the taker and scored Arsenal’s second goal in the 74th minute. This goal gave hope that Arsenal might equalize. Unfortunately, even though The Gunners dominated possession in the last 15 minutes, they couldn’t create any clear chances to score a third goal.

After regular time, the match went to penalties. Villarreal once again showed better mentality, winning 4-3 as Arsenal failed to convert three of their spot-kicks: Merino, Gabriel, and Madueke.

Evaluation: Gyokeres Not Yet at His Best, Defense Needs Improvement

Aside from the defeat, there were plenty of lessons for Arsenal. Viktor Gyokeres, the new striker signed this summer, hasn’t shown his best yet. He was active in the penalty area but didn’t get enough quality service and often found himself isolated.

The main issue was in defense. Two of Villarreal’s goals came from quick counter-attacks that should have been anticipated. Communication between defenders is still a problem, as is the defensive midfielder’s ability to cover space. Arteta will likely focus on this before the final preseason game against Athletic Club.

Although the result was disappointing, this match provided important insight for the coaching staff. Experiments with young players like Dowman, combinations in midfield, and tactical testing could become valuable investments in the long run.

The result against Villarreal is a reminder that even though the season hasn’t started, challenges are already clear—especially in terms of defensive organization and finishing efficiency. Yet behind the negative result, there’s a positive signal from young talents like Max Dowman, who could be a pleasant surprise for the coming season.

On the other hand, the defense showed that issues with transitions and communication among senior players remain unresolved. Two of Villarreal’s three goals came from similar mistakes: marking was too loose and they failed to read the opponent’s movement.

This defeat is certainly painful, especially as it happened at home and involved former players like Nicolas Pepe. But that’s preseason—not about winning or losing, but about reading the situation. Coach Arteta must use this match as a moment for serious reflection.

With one more friendly remaining against Athletic Club, Arsenal have a final opportunity to reshape their strategy, sharpen team chemistry, and ensure new players like Gyokeres and Norgaard can adapt better. If addressed properly, this defeat could become a crucial turning point.