Villarreal narrowly defeated Arsenal 2-3 away in a pre-season friendly at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

In the first half, Pépé and Etta Eyong scored from close range, and Nørgaard scored from a header. In the second half, Danjuma volleyed home, and Ødegaard converted a penalty kick. Ultimately, Villarreal defeated Arsenal with a 2-3 away win.

First Half

In the 6th minute, William Saliba made a straight pass from near the midfield center circle. After quickly following up and got the ball, Ethan Nwaneri took a few steps before taking a left-footed long shot from outside the penalty area, but his shot went wide of the right side of the post.

Shortly afterwards, Mikel Merino crossed from the left side of the box. Bukayo Saka rose high and attempted with a header in the box, however his effort went just over the crossbar.

In the 16th minute, Nicolas Pépé passes horizontally from the right wing. Pape Gueye stopped the ball and fired a left-footed long shot from the edge of the penalty area. His shot hits the bottom left corner of the  post and bounced off, causing chaos in the penalty area. Pépé quickly followed up and after picking up the loose ball, strucked the ball into the top right corner of net with his right foot from a very close distance in the box. Villarreal broke the deadlock early to take a 0-1 lead! After scoring, Pépé, who played against his former club, refused to celebrate out of respect for his former club!

Six minutes later, Arsenal was awarded a free kick. Nwaneri took the free kick from outside the penalty area by crossing it into the box. Mikel Merino rose high and attempted with a header in the box, however his effort was saved by Luiz Júnior.

In the 33rd minute, Sergi Cardona passes horizontally from the left wing. Gerard Moreno quickly followed up and got the ball, before striking a left-footed shot from the left side of the box. His shot was initially saved and cleared off not far away by David Raya. After quickly following up and picking up the loose ball, Karl Etta Eyong volleyed the ball into the high center of the net from a very close distance in the box, extending Villarreal's lead to 0-2!

Three minutes later, Arsenal had a deadly corner kick opportunity. Gabriel Martinelli took the corner by crossing it into the box, where Christian Nørgaard headed it home, bringing the scoreline back to 1-2 for Arsenal. This was the former Brentford captain's first goal as a Gunners player!

In the 41st minute, Martinelli passes horizontally from the front. Viktor Gyökeres quickly followed up, got the ball and took a few steps before volleying a right-footed shot from the left side of the box, but his shot was blocked by Rafa Marin.

At the end of the first half, Arsenal trailed Villarreal by 1-2 going into the halftime break.

Second Half

Both teams switched sides as the match continued. In the 60th minute, Merino made a through pass from the right wing. After successfully beating the offside trap, Gyökeres quickly followed up, got the ball and took a few steps before volleying with his right-foot at a difficult angle from the right side of the box against the outrushing Júnior, but his shot was saved by the latter.

Seven minutes later, Villarreal launched a deadly counterattack. Santi Comesaña made a diagonal through pass from the midfield center circle. Arnaut Danjuma quickly followed up, got the ball dribbled into the right side of the box before volleying the ball into the bottom left corner of the net with his right-foot, leaving Kepa Arrizabalaga unable to reach it. Villarreal regained their two-goal lead at 1-3! The former Girona loanee scored against Arsenal again after six-months!

In the 75th minute, Max Dowman was brought down by Pau Navarro just inside the penalty area. The referee immediately blew his whistle to award Arsenal a penalty, which Martin Ødegaard converted with his left foot. Arsenal pulled one back at 2-3!

When the final whistle is blown, Villarreal narrowly defeated Arsenal 2-3 away from home.