FAB FINISH
Arsenal 1 Bournemouth 1: Fabio Vieira scores wondergoal as he shines in new role on pre-season tour
The Premier League’s youngest ever player Ethan Nwaneri impressed for Mikel Arteta's side
FABIO VIEIRA was denied a wonder goal winner as Cherries sub Antoine Semenyo’s deflected equaliser secured an unexpected draw for Andoni Iraola’s men.
Vieira looked to have volleyed Arsenal to a winning start of their pre-season tour of America as he stood in for Bukayo Saka in style.
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The pre-match talk was all about fellow Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, who sat out the match on the bench ahead of his imminent Fulham club record £37million move to Arsenal’s West London rivals.
Mikel Arteta said afterwards: “There are things happening in the background at the moment. We decided the best thing to do was to keep him away from the game today.”
Asked to comment on the impending arrival of Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori, he added: “There is no update. As soon as we have something to say we will be the first one to say. You know I don’t like talking about external players. But this is the situation at the moment.”
Smith Rowe, who turns 24 on Sunday, made way for the latest generation of Hale End stars trying to show boss Arteta they are worth a first team punt for the upcoming season.
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The Premier League’s youngest ever player Ethan Nwaneri looked more than at home at this level and there were promising starts for teenage defender Ayden Heaven and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Skipper Martin Odegaard came on for the second half, along with the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
But it was the skill and finishing of Vieira that set the sides apart for most of the match.
The 24-year-old still has a lot to prove following his £30million-plus move from Porto two years ago.
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But he might have found his best role in the right-sided wing slot usually occupied by Saka, who is still recovering from his efforts for England at the Euros.
He seized his chances to show Arteta he could be the ideal back up man to the England star with a convincing display.
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His 17th minute strike, following a brilliant run and cross from Reiss Nelson on the left, was one Saka would have been proud of and worthy of winning any match.
Arsenal had already threatened before taking the lead with the highly skilled Nwaneri laying on a decent chance for first half captain Eddie Nketiah.
It took a brilliant fingertip save on to the bar by keeper Karl Hein to deny Dominic Solanke from levelling before the half-time break.
And the Estonian was equally alert to stop a stinging second half shot from Bournemouth sub Dango Outtara.
Hein was left stranded, however, when Ben White inadvertently deflected a powerful Semenyo shot looping over his head with only 18 minutes to go.
Leandro Trossard had Arsenal’s best effort to win the match saved by Neto in what was largely an exercise in building up pre-season fitness.
Tougher tests for Arsenal out here will follow in the form of Saturday night’s match against Manchester United and next week’s clash with Liverpool, in Philadelphia.
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Gabriel Jesus slotted in the winning penalty in the post-match shoot-out, which Arsenal won 5-4.
Arteta has long insisted on shoot-outs taking place after all friendlies during his reign as a bid to prepare them for the real deal in European and domestic cup ties.
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