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Arsenal continued their pre-season preparations in style with a commanding 4-1 victory over German champions Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners, playing their first home game since the final day of last season, showcased their attacking prowess and defensive solidity, much to the delight of the home crowd.
The match began with a bang for Arsenal as they raced into an early lead. Oleksandr Zinchenko opened the scoring with a well-placed shot, followed by a goal from Leandro Trossard, putting the Gunners 2-0 up within the first 20 minutes. Gabriel Jesus added to Leverkusen’s woes by capitalizing on a loose throw-in to score the third goal before halftime.
In the second half, Arsenal’s momentum continued. Substitute Bukayo Saka made an immediate impact, setting up a fourth goal with a clever cut-back. Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, now with Leverkusen, could only deflect the ball towards Germany forward Kai Havertz, who reacted quickly to score.
Despite Arsenal’s dominance, Leverkusen managed to pull one back late in the game through Adam Hlozek. However, it was too little, too late for the visitors, who finished unbeaten in the Bundesliga last season.
Arsenal will remain at home for their next pre-season fixture, facing Lyon in the Emirates Cup on Sunday. The Gunners will look to build on their impressive performance against Leverkusen and continue their strong pre-season form.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Aston Villa secured a dramatic 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium. Cameron Archer scored a late solo winner, rounding the goalkeeper to seal victory after a thrilling match.
Jacob Ramsey opened the scoring for Villa after a neat team move, but Bilbao quickly equalized through Yeray Alvarez. Jaden Philogene restored Villa’s lead on the hour mark, only for Gorka Guruzeta to level the score again for Bilbao. Archer’s late heroics ensured Villa ended the match on top.
Aston Villa will conclude their pre-season campaign against Borussia Dortmund at the German team’s Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, providing another stern test for Unai Emery’s side.
Arsenal and Aston Villa both showcased their strengths in their recent pre-season fixtures, setting the stage for an exciting upcoming season. With impressive performances and crucial victories, both teams have given their fans plenty to be optimistic about.
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