Arsenal vs Girona: Player ratings as Gunners start their pre-season tour with a win

Champions Arsenal (there is a nice ring to that) got their pre-season tour up and running on Saturday night with a 4-1 win over Spanish side Girona FC.

Mikel Arteta named a strong team here featuring a mix of youth and experience as well as those who had an extended summer break (looking at you, Riccardo Calafiori). There was also an uncompetitive debut for Christos Tzolis on the left flank.

It all worked a treat as the Gunners “dominated” the first half, not that fans would know as technical issues on the Arsenal app meant no one actually saw it. Still, the 2-0 scoreline and a first goal for the new boy Tzolis suggest it had indeed been something of a smooth sail for the visitors on their first day back.

Player ratings from Arsenal’s comfortable 4-1 pre-season victory against Girona FC

Girona pulled one back just five minutes into the second half but Arsenal made it four moments after their consolation. First, Max Dowman restored the two-goal cushion with a tidy finish before Gabriel Jesus added further gloss to the scoreboard by being first to react to a loose ball which he put away in style.

Arsenal coasted to the win from that point on, and here are the player ratings from their comfortable victory at the Estadio Montilivi.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Kepa (GK): 6 – It seems even the back-up goalkeepers now face competition for places at Arsenal but Kepa did not get a chance to lay down a marker here, such was the ease with which the home team were kept at bay. His smart save in a one-on-one situation stood out as his best piece of work on the night.

Ben White (RB): 7 – Great to see Ben White back following the knee injury that cut his season short in May. He showed his tenacious streak by closing down as Girona tried to build from the back and it led to the third Arsenal goal. More of that next year, please.

Cristhian Mosquera (CB): 5 – Along with Marli Salmon, Cristhian Mosquera might have done a little more to prevent the Girona goal. He was otherwise steady and he will need to be given how William Saliba is out for the next few months.

Riccardo Calafiori (CB): 6 – Riccardo Calafiori continues to operate as a LB/CM/ST hybrid and tried his best to grab a goal himself. He appeared fit and firing in Spain – as he should do – and he will traumatise opponents if allowed to roam in the same fashion once the Premier League resumes towards the end of this month.

Piero Hincapié (LB): 5 – One of the returning World Cup stars who got just a brief run here prior to a 32nd minute withdrawal. The best you can say is that Arsenal did not really look like conceding during his time on the pitch.

Midfielders

Myles Lewis-Skelly (DM): 7 – Be grateful that Arteta spotted his talent before any limp summer move could materialise. Myles Lewis-Skelly was at his slick best here, shielding the ball ever so well under a lot of pressure and splitting the home defence expertly to tee up Dowman for the third Gunners goal on 53 minutes.

Kai Havertz (CM): 7 – The German got less than 30 minutes to make an impact yet he made the most of it. His finish when played through one-on-one demonstrated the calm head that Arsenal will need from him as first-choice striker next season, and it proved he is ready to move on from a poor World Cup campaign with his national team.

Ethan Nwaneri (CM): 5 – It was a quiet game in offensive terms for Ethan Nwaneri but he halted two Girona attacks in exchange. Hopefully he can get back to his best after a disappointing loan spell with Marseille in 2025/26.

Forwards

Max Dowman (RW): 8 – Friendlies are often quite flat so one can be grateful to Max Dowman for his efforts to light this one up! He bettered his lovely assist for the opener with a cool finish for the third (though he committed a foul in the build-up), while a poor back pass later on represents the sole blot on his copybook.

Christos Tzolis (LW): 8 – Christos Tzolis was quite the output machine for Club Brugge last season and he did not delay in opening his Arsenal account either. Expect to see more of those tidy finishes next term.

Viktor Gyokeres (ST): 5 – Like Havertz, the big Swede only lasted 32 minutes as he eases his way back in following the World Cup. He had one shot blocked and almost set up Calafiori to score until former Sp*rs goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga intervened.

Substitutes

Fabio Vieira (32’ for Havertz): 5 – How is he still here? Fabio Vieira could yet leave for Hamburg but he has made the pre-season tour and played a large chunk of this match, though he failed to make much of an impact.

Marli Salmon (32’ for Hincapié): 5 – Not much to report from one of the veteran youngsters among the Arsenal ranks. Maybe could have done better for the goal after initially doing well to deal with a cross into the box.

Gabriel Jesus (32’ for Gyokeres): 7 – There is still a player in there if he can keep fit. Gabriel Jesus was his usual lively self and got himself on the score-sheet to make it 4-1, effectively ending the threat of a Girona fightback. Arteta might be happy to keep him in reserve if Arsenal do not receive a good bid this summer.

Illan Meslier (61’ for Kepa): 8 – I take back every bad word about him! Meslier came on for Kepa on the hour mark and impressed between the sticks. Two fine reaction saves in quick succession made sure he would not be beaten in his first Arsenal game.

Reiss Nelson: 5 – How is he still here (part two)? Reiss Nelson is back for another pre-season runout though he made little impact. There was one good corner delivery from him in the second half, could Arteta keep that in mind moving forward?

Ismeal Kabia: 6 – Pre-season is a time for young players to exhibit their skills and Ismeal Kabia did so here with aplomb. His quick feet, passing and burst of pace frightened the Girona backline; they did not know whether to back off or close him down.

Ife Ibrahim: 6 – If this appearance is anything to go by, Ife Ibrahim could be one to watch. He looked so comfortable in possession and took charge of proceedings in place of Lewis-Skelly, proving to be very sharp in recycling possession.

Louie Copley: 5 – Louie Copley produced a nice lay off to Jesus and won the ball back well at a later point.

Brayden Clarke: 4 – Not much to discuss, though he was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty near the end.

Andre Harriman-Annous: 4 – Another ‘veteran’ of the Arsenal youth ranks that fans will expect to see a lot more of in future. Fairly anonymous here, with one of his crosses floating harmlessly wide for a goal kick.

Josh Ogunnaike: 5 – The game was over by the time Josh Ogunnaike arrived but he did what he had to do, his covering run to reach a long ball ahead of Girona goal-scorer Arnau Martinez being a good example of him remaining switched on.

Ceadach O’Neill: N/A

Demiane Agustien: N/A

Theo Julienne: N/A

Player of the match: Max Dowman

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