Leeds 1-1 Villarreal
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Scottish Sun
6 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Arsenal 2 Villarreal 3: Viktor Gyokeres upstaged by £72million forgotten Gunners flop on Emirates Stadium bow
The way Gyokeres moved and his hair saw him compared to an Arsenal flop VIKTOR GYOKERES is wearing the No14 shirt made famous by Thierry Henry and the Swede is also looking to become an Arsenal legend. Unfortunately for the club's big summer signing, he had just 14 touches on his Emirates debut before being replaced in the 62nd minute, so this will not be a night he looks back with fondness. 5 Viktor Gyokeres was upstaged on his Emirates debut as Arsenal crashed to defeat Credit: AFP 5 Forgotten £72m flop Nicolas Pepe opened the scoring against his old club Credit: Getty 5 But things only got worse as Arnaut Danjuma went on to score the La Liga sides third Credit: Reuters 5 Martin Odegaard bagged a late consolation from the penalty spot but it wasn't enough to win the game in normal time Credit: AFP Play Dream Team now! Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season Free to play Over £100,000 in total prize money Play in Mini Leagues against your mates Submit a team for Gameweek 1 to enter £5,000 prize draw Play via Dream Team's app or website today! Not that it really matters, obviously. If Gyokeres fires the goals to end Arsenal's role as permanent Premier League bridesmaids to clinch the title, and there is no reason why he cannot, the Swede will be forgiven if he takes time to adjust in north London. On the night all eyes were on the new arrival from Sporting Lisbon, absolutely no-one had taken any notice of Villarreal's Nicolas Pepe. So while we all expected an expensive signing by Arsenal to score, you would not have had any money on it being £72m Arsenal flop Pepe. Villarreal's Ivory Coast international scored the first goal and Karl Etta Eyong made it 2-0 before new arrival Christian Norgaard scored with a header. Yet while we have spent the last few weeks talking about the need of a top striker, Mikel Arteta's team will have to defend better than this, and sub Arnaut Danjuma made it 3-1 before Martin Odegaard pulled one back from the penalty spot. Villarreal then won a penalty shoot-out 4-3 with another new arrival, Noni Madueke, missing the decisive spot-kick. Gyokeres, who cost £8.5million less than Pepe, made his club debut as a 77th minute substitute against Spurs in Hong Kong but was given a heroes' welcome at a packed Emirates. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK If Arsenal are to get the best out of their new all-singing, all-dancing goal machine, they will have to give him more ammunition. Equally, Gyokeres did not have a proper pre-season as he barely trained in Lisbon. Arsenal's 2025-26 third kit 'leaked' and fans absolutely love it He will soon be in better shape and has another run-out on Saturday against Athletic Bilbao. Gyokeres tried to score his first goal in spectacular style but failed to connect with an attempted bicycle kick from Bukayo Saka's cross and he had few other chances. In terms of the way he moves and the fact has blonde hair, it was a bit like having Nicklas Bendtner back at the Emirates although it is safe to say Gyokeres will do a bit better than the cocky Dane. Arteta also gave second half Emirates debuts to Christhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke. Yet the comedy moment of the night was Pepe opening the scoring from close range and then refusing to celebrate. Pepe arrived from Lille for that massive amount in 2019 and scored just 27 goals in 112 appearances before joining Trabzonspor on a free transfer in 2023. Many Arsenal fans probably did not realise that Pepe was even playing in this fixture although there was a mixture of jeers and applause when his name was read out after scoring. Etta Eyong scored at the far post for 2-0 before former Brentford captain Norgaard pulled one back with a far post header before the break. The biggest roar of the night came just after the hour when 15-year-old Max Dowman was unleashed. Villarreal caught Arsenal on the break with former Bournemouth forward Danjuma making it 3-1 before Dowman won a penalty and Odegaard, who replaced Gyokeres, got Arsenal's second. There was still a shoot-out although Madueke saw his shot saved with one fan shouting: 'send him back to Chelsea.' Meanwhile, Arsenal - yet again - have fitness concerns. Both defender Riccardo Calafiori, who suffered an injury on the tour, along with Kai Havertz, were missing from the squad.
Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Son Heung-min officially says goodbye to Tottenham as club legend reads emotional letter to fans after completing move to LAFC
Tottenham Hotspur officially confirmed the departure of club legend Son Heung-min on Wednesday evening by sharing a video of the 33-year-old saying goodbye. The video — which was shared via social media and captioned: 'Dear Spurs fans... Sonny's letter to you' — was accompanied by sombre music. It began with Son sitting down in front of a camera and saying: 'Dear Spurs fans, you're always in my pictures. Every time I celebrate I make a memory of you. It's our moment. I make the frame, so I don't forget.' This was a reference to Son's trademark goal celebration, which sees him mime taking a photo. It is a celebration Tottenham supporters have seen a lot, considering Son has netted 173 goals since joining the club from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. Son continued: 'You welcomed me to north London, you watched me grow. Beautiful moments; the Golden Boot, the Puskas award... you were there. 'When I suffered you were still there. You stayed with me and I stayed with you. 'I never imagined captaining this team, but I always dreamed that I would win something for you. 'We won the Europa League, and you all deserve it. Thank you for these years. Keep every picture. You were always in the frame.' 'Thank you so much, love Sonny.' Dear Spurs fans... Sonny's letter to you 🤍 — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 6, 2025 Son Heung-min waved goodbye to Spurs fans last week - now the club has said its farewell Moments after posting the video, Spurs uploaded a 419-word statement on their official club website. It began: 'The Club can confirm the permanent transfer of Heung-Min Son to LAFC. 'Sonny, 33, arrived at Tottenham Hotspur a decade ago - in August, 2015 - and has since established himself as one of the Club's all-time greats. The South Korea international went on to make 454 appearances in Lilywhite, scoring 173 goals, the fifth-highest tally in our history. 'Appointed captain in 2023, there have been countless memorable moments for Sonny on the pitch during his decade at the Club. In April, 2019, he etched his name into the history books with the first official goal at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and later that same season was an integral member of the first Spurs side to reach a Champions League final, scoring important goals in the round of 16 and quarter-final. 'Sonny won the FIFA Puskas Award in 2020 for an extraordinary solo goal against Burnley, which saw him dribble the length of the pitch before finding the net. Both a scorer of great goals and a great goalscorer, he added to his personal accolades in 2021/22, receiving the Premier League Golden Boot for his 23-goal return in the division. 'During his time at the Club, Sonny also became the highest-scoring Asian player in Premier League history and, in addition to leading South Korea to Asian Games success in 2018, has been named 'Best Footballer in Asia' a record nine times. 'Sonny's greatest achievement in our colours came in May, 2025, as he led the Club to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao. By doing so, he wrote his name into Spurs folklore, becoming one of 13 captains in our history to lift a major trophy.' Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was quoted as saying: 'Sonny is one of the greatest players to ever wear the famous Lilywhite shirt and he has been a joy to watch over the past decade. Not only is he a wonderfully gifted footballer, but he's also an incredible human being who has touched hearts and inspired people throughout the Club and all over the world. 'The Europa League triumph in Bilbao was a truly magical moment in the Club's history and Sonny lifting the trophy is a perfect lasting memory from his fantastic decade at Tottenham Hotspur. 'Sonny has given so much to this Club, both on and off the pitch, and for that we are forever grateful. We wish him all the best for the future, and he will always be welcome back at the Club as a beloved and cherished member of our Spurs family.' It was no secret that the 33-year-old was on his way this summer. Speaking last week before his final appearance for Spurs in a pre-season friendly in his native South Korea, Son broke into tears at a press conference as he declared: 'I have decided to leave the club this summer. Respectfully the club is helping me with this decision. 'It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. Such amazing memories. It was so hard to make the decision. 'I came to north London as a kid - a very young age, a young boy came to London who even didn't speak English. Leaving this club as a grown man is a very, very proud moment.' Son will reunite with former Spurs team-mate Hugo Lloris at LAFC. The Los Angeles side topped the Western Conference last season, but lost to Seattle Sounders in the playoffs before city rivals LA Galaxt won the MLS Cup.
The Sun
7 minutes ago
- The Sun
Arsenal player ratings: Jakub Kiwior's mistakes cost Gunners again – but Nwaneri a rare shining light against Villarreal
ARSENAL endured an underwhelming return home with a second pre-season defeat to Villarreal. The club's fourth pre-season friendly, their first at the Emirates, saw all six summer signings make their north London debuts. 7 7 However, it was not a game they will be rushing to remember. Former Gunner Nicolas Pepe, who joined the club for a then-record £72million in 2019, opened the scoring for the visitors from close range. Karl Etta Eyong then capitalised on some poor defending to make it two. New boy Christian Norgaard got one back for the hosts with a composed header at the back post following a Gabriel Martinelli corner. Villarreal restored their two-goal lead following a counter-attack which culminated in a strike from ex- Tottenham man Arnaut Danjuma. Teenager Max Dowman, who made his Emirates debut, then won a penalty in the final 15 minutes for captain Martin Odegaard to bury. However, it wasn't enough to fire the Gunners to a comeback. Arsenal then lost the post-match penalty shootout 4-3. Here's how SunSport's Emillia Hawkins rated the performance. David Raya - 5 Arguably could've done better for the opening goal, perhaps even the second. Didn't look too comfortable when there were numbers in the box. Arsenal's 2025-26 third kit 'leaked' and fans absolutely love it Ben White - 5 Back making those overlapping runs with Saka on the right. Lost his runner, Gerard Moreno, in the build-up to the second goal after initially being caught slightly out of position. Made a few crosses from the right but didn't really challenge the Villarreal defence too much. William Saliba - 5 Doesn't look his best without favoured centre-back partner, Gabriel Magalhaes, by his side. Was caught quite high up the pitch for Villarreal's second and dragged out wide, leaving plenty of space in the box. Jakub Kiwior - 4 Failed to make the clearance before Pepe's opening goal after being out-muscled in the six-yard box. Also made a failed attempt to win the ball for Villarreal's second. 7 Myles Lewis-Skelly - 6 Lost track of Pepe at times out wide but did well moving centrally. Battled well and drew some fouls in the middle. Out of position for the visitors' third goal. Christian Norgaard - 7 Made some important interceptions and challenges in midfield. Had a wild half-volley shot from the edge of the box which bounced out for a throw-in but redeemed himself with a composed header at the back post to get one back for the Gunners. Mikel Merino - 5 Didn't make much of an impact at all in midfield. Very quiet. Returned to the No9 position in the second half when Gyokeres went off. Ethan Nwaneri - 7 Very sharp in the first half when in control of the ball, taking on players and working well with Saka on the right. Played centrally in the No10 position as opposed to the wing. Bukayo Saka - 6 Far from his best performance. Didn't have too much luck out on the right and failed to cause any real problems for goalkeeper Luiz Junior. Gabriel Martinelli - 6 Looked sharp at the start of the match by making some direct runs down the left and some good crosses. Had a bit of a dip mid-first half but got the assist for Norgaard's goal. Viktor Gyokeres - 5 Had a very quiet evening. Had a few promising opportunities cutting inside from the left during the first half. Plenty of Arsenal's chances came from crosses - perhaps he would have done better had the ball been played directly to his feet. Didn't really look up to speed - not surprising given he didn't really have much of a pre-season. SUBSTITUTES Cristhian Mosquera (for White, 46) - 6 Looked fairly comfortable alongside Gabriel after coming on. Martin Zubimendi (for Norgaard, 46) - 6 A promising debut home performance from the midfielder, who worked well alongside Rice. Declan Rice (for Nwaneri, 62) - 6 Worked well with new boy Zubimendi in the middle. Gabriel Magalhaes (for Kiwior, 62) - 6 A fairly composed performance. Still working his way back up to full match fitness. Martin Odegaard (for Gyokeres, 62) - 6 Scored the penalty which made it 3-2 by tucking his shot nicely into the bottom-right corner. Jurrien Timber (for Saliba, 62) - 5 Didn't get involved too much. Max Dowman (for Saka, 62) - 7 Got one of the biggest cheers of the evening as he was introduced to the home fans for the first time while making his way onto the pitch. Looked to make an impact from the off and came close with a low-driven chance cutting inside from the right. Won the penalty after being tripped by Pau Navarro. Kepa Arrizabalaga (for Raya, 62) - 5 Beaten by a low-driven strike from Danjuma just minutes after coming off the bench. Not the best start to his time at the Emirates. Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Lewis-Skelly, 77) - 5 Beaten slightly too easily which could have seen the visitors get a fourth. Noni Madueke (for Martinelli, 77) - 6 Not a bad start for the winger, especially considering he only joined his team-mates for the first time a few days ago.
