August 02, (THEWILL) – Arsenal emerged victorious in the Emirates Cup, successfully retaining the title after a penalty shootout against Monaco.
The Gunners’ goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, became the hero of the match, saving a crucial effort from former Liverpool winger, Takumi Minamino, to seal a 5-4 win on spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw in regular play. The triumph provided a timely boost for Ramsdale, as the club actively sought to secure the services of David Raya from Brentford, adding to the competition for the first-choice goalkeeping position.
The match saw a captivating encounter between the two teams, with exciting gameplay. Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana opened the scoring with a headed goal just past the 30-minute mark, but Arsenal responded swiftly as Eddie Nketiah netted a close-range volley from a corner, levelling the score on the stroke of half-time. As much as both teams tried, with the expected raft of substitutions in the second half, there were no other goals by the final whistle.
The match concluded without extra time, leading to the decisive penalty shootout that settled the proceedings. Notably, Gabriel’s spot-kick clinched the victory for Arsenal after successful conversions from Kai Havertz, Jorginho, Fabio Vieira, and Martin Odegaard, while Monaco’s Minamino was the sole player unable to find the net.
As Arsenal prepare for the new English Premier League season, the injury to Gabriel Jesus raises concerns for the club. Missing injured strikers, Gabriel Jesus and Folarin Balogun, Eddie Nketiah stepped up to the challenge and even donned the captain’s armband, impressively leading the line for the team. Arsenal now await updates on Jesus’s fitness for Sunday’s Community Shield clash against his former club Manchester City at Wembley. With pre-season wrapped up, the Gunners will kick off their EPL campaign at home against Nottingham Forest on August 12.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
