Arsenal fans had plenty to cheer about as the Gunners cruised to a 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Emirates Cup, as they continue their preparations for the upcoming Premier League season.
In a display of dominance, Mikel Arteta's men took an early lead with first-half goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus.
By the 65th minute, Kai Havertz added a fourth, sealing the win before Leverkusen scored a consolation goal in the 76th minute.
The Gunners now head into the Emirates Cup final against Lyon with high spirits. Manager Mikel Arteta, aiming to break the club’s league title drought, has fans optimistic about the new season.
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Alonso's high praise for Arteta
Post-match, Bayer Leverkusen’s manager Xabi Alonso didn’t hold back in praising his counterpart, Arteta. “Competitive. He has always been a competitive animal,” Alonso said.
“You can see how he has developed a great project here. It’s the result of many decisions that have brought Arsenal to this point.”
"He's a competitive ANIMAL!" 🥵
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) August 7, 2024
Xabi Alonso with some great words for his close friend Mikel Arteta 😂
🔗 https://t.co/0IoPICEB8J pic.twitter.com/tYaoXSbBXd
Arteta’s efforts over the past two seasons have been commendable, though falling short of stopping Manchester City.
This summer, he’s bolstered the squad with Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori and is in talks to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino. An attacker is also on Arsenal's radar, though no deal has been finalized yet.
With these reinforcements, Arteta and his squad are gearing up for a promising 2024/25 campaign. Whether they can dethrone Manchester City remains to be seen, but the signs are promising for Arsenal fans.
