Arsenal and Villarreal compete LIVE, with Pepe scoring during his comeback to Arsenal, as Arteta's team suffers a loss in their second-to-last pre-season match
In a disappointing pre-season outing for Arsenal, the North London club lost 3-2 to Villarreal at The Emirates Stadium on August 6, 2025. The match, marked by defensive lapses and counter-attack issues, showcased both individual performances and ongoing tactical challenges for the Gunners.
Key Player Performances
Viktor Gyökeres, making his first start for Arsenal, had a relatively quiet game, failing to make a significant impact on the scoreline. His best effort was saved by Villarreal's keeper3.
Christian Nørgaard, a summer signing from Brentford, shone with a well-taken header to score Arsenal’s first goal3.
Martin Ødegaard, captaining the team, came on in the second half and converted a penalty to keep Arsenal in the contest1.
Max Dowman, a 15-year-old debutant, impressed the crowd with his promising talent, displaying potential for Arsenal's future5.
A Mixed Performance
Defensively, Arsenal struggled, particularly in conceding two early goals. Former Arsenal player Nicolas Pepe scored against his old club, contributing to Villarreal's lead1.
Arsenal made multiple substitutions, including the introduction of newcomers Cristhian Mosquera and Martín Zubimendi at halftime, signifying Mikel Arteta's attempt to find a winning combination3.
The Final Stages
In the final minutes of the game, Villarreal ran down the clock, holding the ball in Arsenal territory. Arsenal won the ball back and tried to create one last opening, but the game ended without further scoring1.
The referee brought the game to a close, with Villarreal securing a 2-2 draw. A penalty shootout ensued, with Villarreal emerging victorious with a score of 4-32.
Arsenal's pre-season defeats, including this match and a prior loss to Tottenham, suggest ongoing tactical and personnel challenges as they prepare for the Premier League season15.
Goal Scorers
- Christian Nørgaard (Arsenal)
- Nicolas Pepe (Villarreal)
- Ette Eyong (Villarreal)
Penalty Shootout Results
- Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal)
- Pau Cabanes (Villarreal)
- Santi Comesana (Villarreal)
- Jonny Balu (Villarreal)
- Noni Madueke (Missed, Arsenal)
- Gabriel (Missed, Arsenal)
- Mikel Merino (Missed, Arsenal)
- Denis Suarez (Missed, Arsenal)
- Pau Torres (Villarreal)
- Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal)
- Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
- Arnaut Danjuma (Missed, Villarreal)
- Santi Cazorla (Villarreal)
- Oleksandr Zinchenko (Missed, Arsenal)
- Nicolas Pepe (Villarreal)
- Jonny Balu (Villarreal)
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Missed, Arsenal)
- Cristhian Stuani (Villarreal)
- Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal)
- Gerard Moreno (Villarreal)
- Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
- Dani Parejo (Villarreal)
Return of Gabriel
Gabriel returned to action for Arsenal this evening, marking his first appearance since his injury in the FA Cup final1.
A Close Encounter
Despite the loss, Arsenal's attacking promise was evident, with set-piece effectiveness and contributions from new signings. However, the team's inability to hold Villarreal's counter-attacks and defensive lapses proved costly1.
As the Premier League season approaches, Arsenal will be looking to address these issues and find a winning formula to compete at the top level.
- The attacking promise was evident for Arsenal in their pre-season game against Villarreal, with Christian Nørgaard scoring a well-taken header and Martin Ødegaard converting a penalty.
- During the match, the Gunners struggled defensively, particularly in the initial stages, and their inability to hold Villarreal's counter-attacks proved costly, resulting in a 3-2 loss, which was later decided by a penalty shootout (4-3 in Villarreal's favor).
