Arsenal slip to friendly defeat against Villarreal | OneFootball

Arsenal suffered a 3-2 defeat to Villarreal in their latest pre-season outing.

Scorers: Nørgaard 36, Ødegaard (pen) 76'; Pépé 16', Etta Eyong 33', Danjuma 68'

The visitors raced into a two-goal lead, first when Nicolas Pépé haunted his former employers by bundling the ball home from close range in the 16th minute.

El Submarino Amarillo doubled their advantage later in the half as Karl Etta Eyong converted the rebound after David Raya had parried Sergi Cardona's initial effort.

Christian Nørgaard halved the Gunners' deficit just three minutes later by meeting Gabriel Martinelli's corner from the left with a precision header.

But one-time Tottenham loanee Arnaut Danjuma rubbed fresh salt in the wounds of the hosts with a surging run and finish from Santi Comesaña's through ball.

Mikel Arteta's side were given fresh hope of a comeback as Max Dowman was fouled in the penalty area, allowing captain Martin Ødegaard to convert.

A pre-planned penalty shootout followed the final whistle, where Villarreal took the spoils in sudden death after Noni Madueke's miss proved costly for Arsenal.

Last season's Premier League runners-up face Athletic Club in the Emirates Cup on Saturday as part of their final preparations for the start of the new campaign.

📸 GLYN KIRK - AFP or licensors