Arsenal thrash Girona 4-1 in pre-season friendly, 16-year-old Dowman shines with goal and assist, Ziolis scores on debut
Arsenal got off to a winning start in their first pre-season friendly in front of their fans, thrashing Girona 4-1. The standout figure was 16-year-old Max Dowman, who delivered a goal and an assist, clearly outperforming most of the Catalan side's players. The match took place on Saturday local time, and the Gunners' opener was orchestrated by the youngster: he dribbled through the gap between Las Kuruma and Alex Moreno, then produced a precise through ball to send Kai Havertz through on goal. Havertz calmly slotted past Paulo Gazzaniga to break the deadlock in the 16th minute.
In the 30th minute, Arsenal doubled their lead. New signing Christos Ziolis — who joined from Club Brugge this summer for £34 million ($45.7 million) — scored on his debut. He received a pass from Riccardo Calafiori, cut inside past Arnau Martínez, and fired a low shot that deflected in off Alejandro Francés.
Just five minutes into the second half, Martínez made amends at the other end: he rose high in the box and headed in a corner from Kim Min-su, pulling one back for Girona. But that was only the start of the goal flurry that followed. Three minutes later, Dowman was again the protagonist, collecting a pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly that split the defense, cutting in and drilling a low shot from the edge of the box that beat Gazzaniga to find the bottom corner. Girona felt Moreno had been fouled in the build-up and that a free kick should have been awarded, but the referee waved away their protests. Two minutes later, Arsenal scored again: a poor pass out from the back by the home side was intercepted by Ben White, and the ball fell to substitute Gabriel Jesus, who poked it home with ease.
A total of 26 substitutions were made in the match, making the closing stages somewhat disjointed, but Arsenal ultimately held on to their win. Their next match will take place on Wednesday local time in Dublin, against Real Betis.