Pain in the Arsenal
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FC Nurnberg 1-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners held in opening friendly

By James Cormack

NUREMBERG, GERMANY - JULY 13: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates with team mates after scoring their sides first goal during the pre-season friendly match between 1. FC Nürnberg and Arsenal FC at Max-Morlock Stadion on July 13, 2023 in Nuremberg, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
NUREMBERG, GERMANY - JULY 13: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates with team mates after scoring their sides first goal during the pre-season friendly match between 1. FC Nürnberg and Arsenal FC at Max-Morlock Stadion on July 13, 2023 in Nuremberg, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal were held to a 1-1 with FC Nurnberg in their first pre-season friendly of 2023.

It didn’t take the Gunners long to score their first goal of their summer and it came via the left boot of a familiar source. A trademark Bukayo Saka sequence was too much for the Nurnberg to handle with the England international crashing home his effort from inside the box.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1679538679532904455

A new look XI took to the field for the second half as Mikel Arteta made six changes, while nine of the starters were replaced by the hour.

The change in personnel certainly hindered the Gunners’ fluency, however, and Nurnberg drew level thanks to a Karl Hein hospital pass which killed Jorginho – who bagged an own goal from distance.

The hosts then hit the woodwork after Hein spilt a thunderous long-range effort, with Arsenal struggling to create after Gabriel Jesus and Folarin Balogun went close before Nurnberg equalised. The latter did have a great chance to win it late on, but his effort hit the side netting after rounding. the keeper.

And thus, Arsenal were unable to get their summer off to a winning start.

FC Nurnberg 1-1 Arsenal player ratings

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from Arsenal’s opening friendly of the summer

There’s a new inverted full-back in town. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
There’s a new inverted full-back in town. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) /

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 5/10 – Had nothing to do while he was out there.

Ben White (RB) – 6.5/10 – Dynamic first-half showing from right-back as he quickly restored his stellar relationship with Saka down that flank.

William Saliba (CB) – 6.5/10 – It was such a pleasant surprise seeing this bloke back in the XI. God, he’s good.

Gabriel (CB) – 6/10 – Arsenal’s defensive rock last season wasn’t troubled by a Nurnberg side that offered very little in possession to start the contest.

Jakub Kiwior (LB) – 6/10 – Kiwior went full Zinchenko for this one as he was tasked with inverting from the left. I see the potential, and he started brightly, but the Pole still has some way to go until he can be trusted in this function in a more competitive environment.

Continued on the next slide…