Arsenal were handed a 3–2 defeat by Spanish side Villarreal in their first home fixture of pre-season, with former Gunner Nicolas Pépé delivering the opener and haunting his old club at the Emirates. Despite fielding all six of their summer signings and dominating long spells of the match, Mikel Arteta’s side were undone by lapses in transition and sharp finishing from their La Liga opponents.
The game began with promise for the Gunners, who looked energetic and aggressive in possession. New striker Viktor Gyökeres showed intent early on, linking well with Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri, while debutant Christian Nørgaard anchored the midfield with calm authority. But Arsenal’s early control counted for little after a chaotic sequence in the 16th minute allowed Pépé to pounce and give Villarreal a surprise lead. The Ivorian, who made over 100 appearances in North London, refused to celebrate but made his presence felt.
It was the first of several reminders that pre-season rust remains. A second Villarreal goal followed after another rebound wasn’t cleared, and although Nørgaard pulled one back with a well-placed header from a Martinelli corner, Arsenal’s defensive fragility was again exposed in the second half when Arnaut Danjuma broke free to make it 3–1.
There were bright moments amid the frustration. The Emirates crowd rose in support of Max Dowman, the 15-year-old academy gem who earned a penalty just minutes after coming on, a second successive game where he’s made a real impact. Martin Ødegaard converted from the spot, trimming the deficit, but Villarreal held firm under late pressure.
Arteta will be concerned by how easily his team were exposed on the counter, especially with tougher tests ahead. Arsenal looked impressive in phases, and there’s growing excitement around Dowman, Nørgaard and the influence of summer recruits. But with just one game remaining before the Premier League kicks off, issues around defensive discipline and second-ball recovery persist.
Arsenal’s final pre-season match comes this Saturday against Athletic Club in the Emirates Cup, before they head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday, August 17 in their league opener. Villarreal, meanwhile, leave the Emirates with a statement result, and a reminder that even friendly fire can sting.
