It didn’t start well for the Londoners! Both blue and red parts of the British capital can be somewhat worried after their first pre-season matches on the US tour. Arsenal faced the Premier League side Bournemouth in Carson, California, and drew 1-1, while Chelsea failed to beat Wrexham, which compete in the third tier of the English football – 2-2.🚨 GOAL | Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth | Fabio VieiraARSENAL HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD!pic.twitter.com/G1nNjynft7— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) July 25, 2024 🚨 GOAL | Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth | SemenyoBOURNEMOUTH HAVE EQUALIZED!pic.twitter.com/GAENDfTfC9— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) July 25, 2024 Mikel Arteta mixed things up, leaving some of the regular starters, like Jorginho, Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, on the bench while the convalescent Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Thomas Partey, and Eddie Nketiah got the chance in the starting 11. The Gunners took the lead in the 18th minute through Fabio Vieira’s volley goal and kept the advantage until the break.Chalobah has spent 17 years with Chelsea and this is what he gets for his loyalty!?In the second half, Arteta made numerous subs, but their impact was weak. Moreover, the Cherries managed to equalize thanks to the Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo in the 73rd minute. After 90 minutes, the penalty shoot-out was to determine the winner and entertain the crowd in the US. Trossard was the only one to miss for Arsenal, while the Gunners’ young keeper Karl Hein saved Philip Billing’s and Ryan Christie’s shots and brought his team at least some sort of victory.Nkunku absolutely smashes that into the goal. He is too good man pic.twitter.com/fWXNKTCAt6— Conn (@ConnCFC) July 25, 2024 In the other part of California, in Santa Clara, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea disappointingly drew against League One side Wrexham, owned by renowned Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds. The Blues’ new gaffer opted for a very strong starting lineup with Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Cristopher Nkunku, Reece James, and Noni Madueke. Subsequently, the newcomers Marc Guiu and Tosin Adarabioyo were also starters.Ugochukwu goalpic.twitter.com/kFq8YgD7zi— FC CHELSEA (@CFCkoke) July 25, 2024 Chelsea had the lead at the break thanks to Nkunku’s 35th-minute goal. However, after Maresca’s ten subs at the beginning of the second period, his team lost control of the game, which resulted in two goals conceded and Wrexham taking the lead. Finally, the sub, Leslie Ugochukwu, equalized eight minutes before the end for at least a slightly better impression of the London side. The beginning could’ve looked much better, but the Italian manager has recently arrived and will definitely need more time to implement his ideas.##NAJAVA_MECA_8228505##
