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.
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.
Minamino was the only player not to score in the shootout, with centre-back Gabriel firing home the winning penalty after Kai Havertz, Jorginho, Fabio Vieira and Martin Odegaard had all scored for Arsenal, with Kevin Volland, Krepin Diatta, Youssouf Fofana and Caio Henrique on target for Monaco.
The penalty shootout 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 in which Fofana’s headed 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.
Arsenal confirmed ahead of kick-off that Jesus had suffered a knee injury and would need to be assessed, with no word yet as to the severity or a potential time frame for his return. Nevertheless, it is a worrying update for a player who missed three months of action last season after surgery on a knee issue suffered while on duty with Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar.
We wait to see if Jesus will be fit to play any part in Sunday’s Community Shield showdown with former club Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday, with pre-season now done and dusted for Arsenal as they open the new Premier League season at home to Nottingham Forest on August 12.
More to follow
