Arsenal Suffer Defeat In Penultimate Pre-Season Friendly

Arsenal have tasted defeat for the first time in pre-season, losing 1-2 to Brentford.

The Gunners have played six pre-season games in total so far, winning their first five.

The first was also behind-closed-doors, as Arsenal beat Ipswich 5-1.

Next was a trip to Germany, where 1. FC Nurnberg were beaten 3-5.

Mohamed Elneny thunderbolt klaxon! Arsenal are now level with FC Nürnberg, 2-2! 🚀 #afc pic.twitter.com/UJ10Lhoe1u

— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 8, 2022

Arsenal's pre-season tour of the US followed and the Gunners played three games, winning all of them.

Everton were the first Premier League opposition of the pre-season, but the Toffees were made short work of, Arsenal riding out comfortable 2-0 winners.

MLS side Orlando City were beaten next, the final score 1-3.

The most impressive victory came next however, as Arsenal dismantled London rivals Chelsea 4-0.

Alas, it is another London rival that has brought the winning streak to an end.

The team Mikel Arteta chose to deploy certainly his strongest, leaving out all of the players who started against Chelsea completely.

Some players who could potentially leave the club before the end of the window were also involved, including Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Nuno Tavares.

Arsenal XI that played Brentford today (2-1 loss): Turner; Cedric, Walters (Awe 46’), Holding, Tavares (Sousa 76’); Elneny, Lokonga, Maitland-Niles (Patino 85’); Marquinhos, Nelson (Sagoe Jr 90’), Nketiah. #afc

— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 27, 2022

Arsenal have not yet released highlights of the game, but did describe the key events:

"The scoring was opened after just nine minutes when Fin Stevens flicked the ball into space on the right flank for Trevitt to race onto, and his low centre found Mbeumo who tucked past the outstretched Matt Turner."

Eddie Nketiah continued his fine form, scoring the equaliser:

"Reiss Nelson did well to cut inside from the left, and after linking up with Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the ball found its way to Nketiah who slotted home."

Ben White, Fabio Vieira, Oleksandr Zinchenko & Héctor Bellerín among the players that watched Arsenal’s 2-1 friendly loss against Brentford at London Colney this afternoon. #afc pic.twitter.com/8DG9zVlugv

— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 27, 2022

Brentford retook the lead shortly after:

"... but just before the break Brentford got back in front when Rico Henry burst into the box and found Trevitt, who showed excellent composure to take a touch before picking his spot."

Arsenal did fight back but couldn't find a second equaliser.

Nketiah's goal is certainly a positive, the striker is expected to play a big role in the squad this season and has been prolific in pre-season.

Ultimately, this isn't a result that will cause great concern to fans. Next Friday is the day marked in the calendar, and Arsenal will be hoping to mark it with their first three points of the season.