Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsdale both returned to Arsenal’s starting XI for today’s friendly against Juventus. However, it didn’t end well for the Gunners, as they were involved in a probably decisive moment of the friendly played at Emirates on Saturday night – Xhaka’s first-half stoppage-time own goal.The most Arsenal thing I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/XaVrXdbNFO— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) December 17, 2022 It turned out to be just the first of two that the Gunners would concede in the added time of both halves.Unlike Max Allegri’s Juve, which came to the English capital without a dozen regulars (Pogba, Chiesa, Vlahovic, Kostic, Bonucci, McKennie), the home boss lined up the almost best-possible squad. Still, it wasn’t enough for at least a goalless draw.Nketiah was up front as a striker, with Odegaard and Fabio Vieira feeding him with the balls in the offence. The defence was made of White, Gabriel, Holding, and Tierney, while Partey and Xhaka were given the task of controlling the midfield.It ends in defeat.🔴 0-2 ⚫️ (FT) pic.twitter.com/hWMLtUBlF6— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 17, 2022 Before the kick-off, it seemed the home side would dominate the game against a bunch of youngsters with no experience whatsoever. And it was like that, indeed, in terms of possession (75-25) and shots (19-2), but it didn’t pay off for Arteta’s boys.Instead, Juve exploited Arsenal’s flaws in the attack and waited for the chance to bite. Until it finally came in the very last seconds of each half.Instead of clearing the ball following a cross from the righthand side in the first minute of the stoppage time ahead of the interval, Xhaka accidentally buried a header behind Ramsdale for a shocking 1-0.Arteta brought on Elneny, replacing Partey with half an hour left on the clock, but it didn’t change too much regarding the outcome.Once again, in the stoppage time, Bianconeri netted, only this time it was not Xhaka but Holding who found the back of his team’s net in an attempt to block the cross near the edge of the six-yard box.##NAJAVA_MECA_6893005##
