Excellent goals from Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz – as well as a Jorginho penalty – gave us a richly-deserved win in the MLS All-Star match in Washington.

We repeated our success of 2016, when we triumphed 2-1 in this showpiece fixture in San Jose, but this was a much more comfortable win.

In fact it’s the biggest winning margin against the MLS All-Stars since 2000, and was the perfect way to get our series of three fixtures in the USA underway.

Following the pre-match show of fireworks, pyrotechnics, the national anthem and a flyover, it took less than five minutes for Jesus to prove that Arsenal were the main attraction tonight.

We dominated possession in the opening exchanges, before Bukayo Saka was released by a raking Jorginho pass. He found Jesus just outside the box, and the Brazilian clipped a delightful first-time chip over the keeper and just under the cross bar.

Cheered on by the vast majority of the sell out 20,000 crowd inside Audi Field, we continued to dictate proceedings, and scored another stunner midway through the half.

Saka – who would win the MVP award – again caused trouble by cutting inside from the right wing before sliding his pass across to Trossard. The Belgian shifted it onto his right foot then cracked home from 20 yards, giving Roman Burki no chance.

The All-Stars, managed by Wayne Rooney, made a host of changes as early as the 30th minute, with former Premier League striker, and star of host club DC United, Christian Benteke among those taken off.

On the stroke of half-time the impressive Trossard struck a free kick just wide, but we were good value for our two-goal lead at the break.

Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Karl Hein were all introduced at half-time, and within seconds of the restart we increased our lead after being given a penalty for handball.

Jorginho tucked away from 12 yards in typical fashion, leaving the keeper flat footed, and rolling it home into the corner.

With 25 minutes remaining, Mikel Arteta sent on Declan Rice for his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt. Jurrien Timber also came on for his non-competitive debut, playing at right back with Ben White moving to the centre.

Both were heartily cheered whenever in possession. We continued to look the most likely to score, despite the wholesale changes.

Odegaard’s superb pass set up our fourth goal, as he found the advancing Martinelli on the left, who took the ball into the area before dispatching his shot low into the corner.

Havertz got in on the act late on, with a thunderous drive, after bringing the ball down superbly at the far post.

Arsenal: Ramsdale (Hein 46), White (Trusty 80), Saliba (Timber 65), Gabriel (Tomiyasu 65), Kiwior (Tierney 65), Jorginho (Rice 65), Trossard (Martinelli 56), Vieira (Marquinhos 65), Saka (Havertz 46), Nketiah (Odegaard 46), Jesus (Balogun 65).

Subs not used: Runarsson, Holding, Cozier-Duberry.

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42 Comments

  1. Just two years ago, the only goalscorer this game that was on our squad was Martinelli. In addition, Saka and Gabriel are the only remaining starters from our squad two years ago unless you want to include Partey if he stays. Our team has changed so much and improved for the better. Let's go Gunners 🔥

  2. Can't wait for the season to begin. We are just having fun in these matches. Wait till it gets serious. We are looking strong and ready. Loving the flow of the team. Arteta and Edu are geniuses

  3. No complaints from me! Didn't concede a goal, scored five, and our squad is gaining valuable minutes. I'm hoping Kai and his confidence is boosted by that goal, too 🔴⚪

  4. El capitan is showing that he can come in from the bench with 30 minute's left and do something straight away, he usually need like an hour gametime to analyse and read the opponents before he strike, but Ødegaard is entering his peak now. He will have alot of goal's and assist this season.

  5. Let me tell you guys who talk about Gabriel Jesus because he call his mother crying. We Brazilian have we are family people and mom I everything for us. I had said you guys Engish,American and European people criticism Gabriel Jesus to call his mother listening guys we are not cold like you guys we love family and family is everything for we are very different form you all we dance when we are happy. And let me tell you guys something that right you guys American, British and European are all funk up you guys don't have feeling. For us mam can cry we are not a nation of macho man. So go funk off all of you if I need to cry I am going to look for my mother because we are not funking cold like you guys

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