Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta quick response to Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez complain about Arsenal style of play after Arsenal won Barcelona 5-3 in their pre-season clash
- Arteta responded to Xavi’s post match comment
- Arsenal won Barcelona 5-3 as they both clash at California
- Xavi accused Arsenal for playing a physical style of play
Arsenal won Barcelona 5-3 at California
In an interesting friendly match held at the SoFi Stadium in California, the Gunners emerged victorious with a thrilling 5-3 win against Barça. Leandro Trossard was the standout performer, netting two goals, while Bukayo Saka, Fabio Vieira, and new signing Kai Havertz also found the back of the net.
Despite being labeled a ‘pre-season friendly,’ the game was far from timid, as it witnessed intense physicality with hefty tackles and fierce duels. Throughout the 90 minutes, a total of 34 fouls were committed, with 22 of those being attributed to Arsenal players.
Xavi’s Post match comment
After the match, Xavi expressed his concerns to Arteta about Arsenal’s approach, stating, “I spoke to Mikel at the end of the game, and the intensity they displayed made it feel like a Champions League encounter. It was quite unusual for a friendly, but I comprehend the desire to win. For us, it was our initial friendly, and several players were recovering from a bug.”
Mikel Arteta responded to Xavi’s post match comment on Arsenal style of play
In response to Xavi’s remarks, Arteta retaliated by addressing the press and shedding light on the intense nature of the game: “Ultimately, soccer belongs to the players. We play in front of 70,000 passionate fans, and once the match begins, they take charge and act according to their instincts. The game becomes intense right from the first foul, and they play with their hearts on their sleeves.”
The victory against Barcelona marked Arsenal’s second triumph during their pre-season tour of the USA. Looking ahead, the Gunners are set to compete against Monaco in the Emirates Cup on Wednesday, 2nd August, followed by the season-opening Community Shield clash against Manchester City the following Sunday.
