English Premier League giants Arsenal claimed its first victory of the preseason on Wednesday after blanking the MLS All-Stars at Audi Field.
Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho, Gabriel Martinelli, and Kai Havertz all scored as Mikel Arteta’s squad earned a 5-0 victory in the 2023 MLS All-Star Game. It was the first loss that the MLS All-Stars suffered since falling 3-0 to Atletico Madrid in 2019 in Orlando, Florida.
Jesus needed only five minutes to spring the London-based club in front 1-0. A fast break from the visitors was capped off by the Brazilian’s long-range chipped finish into the top-left corner of Roman Burki’s net.
Trossard doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 23rd minute after picking up a pass from Bukayo Saka before unleashing a right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner.
Arsenal extended its lead to 3-0 in the 47th minute after MLS veteran defender Tim Parker was whistled for a hand ball in the box. Jorginho stepped up and scored to truly put the MLS All-Stars into a major hole on home soil.
Despite several lineup changes in the second half, Wayne Rooney’s squad struggled to create any goalscoring chances.
Arsenal also made a slew of changes in the second half, giving Declan Rice his Gunners debut and also calling on U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun. Fellow USMNT defender Auston Trusty also played the final 10 minutes against several of his former opponents from his past time in MLS.
Gabriel Martinelli capped off Arsenal’s shutout win by drilling a low shot into the bottom-right corner with six minutes to play. Kai Havertz added an insurance goal for his first goal for the club.
The Gunners will next face Manchester United at MetLife Stadium on Saturday.
Going into the night my only question was who would lose by more MLS or Wrexham. To be fair to MLS, Chelsea hardly played anyone on their first team roster and Arsenal played almost all their big names. This is what happens when MLS plays real teams and those teams try instead of playing third teamers and youth.
Also should give some people pause when some young guy like Luna or Cowell comes along. Maybe slow the “he’s going to star at Barcelona or Man City” talk. Marquinhos is 20 and Sako is 21 anyone think Cowell makes that ability jump in a year or two?
I don’t really read much into All Star games even if the All stars win. It’s an exhibition game with a bunch of players who have never really played with each other before having at most two training sessions together. This game has zero meaning on the continued development of MLS teams and its players. I have seen MLS teams compete quite well with EPL teams in friendlies in the past. I remember a young Jordan Morris with Seattle putting up a hat trick on Tottenham in a preseason friendly. I don’t really get excited when an MLS team beats an EPL team in these summer friendlies because EPL teams are in preseason mode.
There have been other times when the MLS All Stars have done quite well against mostly all first teamers. I recall when they defeated Bayern and Guardiola got really upset with the game. That was pretty much the same Bayern team that had won the world team championship.
Guardiola was upset because of the awful fouls on his players during a friendly game. Not because of the score.
Clearly Arteta learned from his mentor and had his team more mentally prepared. Mueller, Robben, Neuer, Gotze, Boatang, Lamm, Schweinstieger, were all coming off the WC and played less 10 minutes. MLS All Stars also happened to be full of guys that had recently just left Europe Clint, Bradley, Martins, Edu, Cahill, some guy named Henry. 7 starters were regulars with USMNT so probably were a lot more organized than last nights group.
I think the most I took from that was the information that Tim Parker is apparently still playing in MLS. Who knew?
How did Balogun look?
He held the ball up quite well, and got teammates involved. Had one chance towards the end where he made a great run, got on a thru ball and had his shot from a tight angle saved. Was on the field for their last two goals but can’t remember how involved he was in buildups, I got distracted towards the end of the game and turned it off after Havertz scored. MLS started strong and played well in the first half, just didn’t have that final ball in front of their goal, a little unlucky on Jesus beauty of a chip. After Arsenal scored their second, MLS dropped off, and the second half with their third stringers was pretty poor from MLS.
This is what happens when you PLAY IN A FORMATION that most MLS teams do not adhere to, start MLS’s highest goal scorer as a LM, play a bad former 32 yo EPL player as your CF, put one of the league’s best attacking midfielders as a LW, try a strong RW as a LB and have Wayne Rooney as your coach……AGAINST A WELL OILED MACHINE LIKE ARSENAL, THAT ARE FAVORITES TO WIN THE EPL THIS COMING SEASON? hahahaha…..bruh, this was painful
What did you expect?
That was brutal to watch. But that’s what happens when put a bunch of players together in a team who have never played with each other.
Was this game even on TV? Weird. I think this is a sign that an All-star game, like our other major sports, doesn’t work for the MLS. And probably, all-star games don’t work for our other major league sports anymore either.
Like anything MLS it was on Apple TV.
I didn’t watch this All Star game. I thought, Liga MX v MLS plus skills challenge was a good watch last year.
The All Star game only really works for baseball.