Arsenal have retained the Emirates Cup after holding their nerve in a penalty shootout win over Monaco.
Aaron Ramsdale ended up being the hero for the Gunners on Wednesday night, saving an effort from former Liverpool winger Takumi Minamino to ensure that Mikel Arteta’s side triumphed 5-4 on spot-kicks after a tense 1-1 draw over 90 minutes with no extra time.
It was a timely boost for the England goalkeeper as it came as Arsenal pursue a serious rival to his status as undisputed first-choice between the posts in north London by trying to sign David Raya from Brentford.
Japan international Minamino was the only player not to score in an otherwise high-quality shootout, with centre-back Gabriel firing home the winning penalty after Kai Havertz, Jorginho, Fabio Vieira and Martin Odegaard had all scored for Arsenal from 12 yards, with Kevin Volland, Krepin Diatta, Youssouf Fofana and Caio Henrique on target for Monaco.
The penalties would have taken place anyway regardless of the result of the match itself, but with no extra time scheduled, ended up settling proceedings after a lively encounter full of chances.
Fofana’s opener for the visitors just past the 30-minute mark was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by a cushioned close-range volley from a corner by Eddie Nketiah, leading the line for Arsenal in the absence of injured fellow strikers Gabriel Jesus and Folarin Balogun and surprisingly handed the captain’s armband by Arteta on the night with regulat skipper Odegaard starting on the bench.
Arsenal confirmed ahead of kick-off that Jesus had suffered a knee injury and would need to be assessed, with no word initially as to the severity of the problem or a potential time frame for his return. Nevertheless, it was a worrying update for a player who missed three months of action last season after surgery on a knee issue suffered while on international duty with Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar.
Arteta later confirmed that Jesus had undergone a knee procedure earlier on Wednesday morning in an effort to resolve lingering discomfort and irritation that he said was linked to last season’s problem, rather than being a new injury.
Jesus is now expected to be sidelined for a number of weeks, missing Sunday’s Community Shield showdown with former club Manchester City at Wembley, plus the start of the new Premier League season, which Arsenal begin against Nottingham Forest at home on August 12.
