Arsenal closed out their pre-season in style, lifting the 2025 Emirates Cup trophy after a commanding 3–0 victory over Athletic Club at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Viktor Gyökeres marked his first goal in Arsenal colours with a powerful header from a “perfect inch-perfect cross” by Martin Zubimendi.
Just two minutes later, Bukayo Saka doubled the lead, before substitute Kai Havertz capped the afternoon with a composed late finish.
“We controlled the advantage comfortably,” Arsenal’s match report noted, as Athletic Club “barely threatened us in the second half.”
Bright First Half
From the outset, Saka was electric. The England winger “darted into the danger area from the right”, forcing early work from Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simón.
Gabriel Martinelli also tested the visitors before Zubimendi’s midfield tenacity created the opening goal.
Declan Rice swung the play wide to Saka, who laid it back to Zubimendi.
The Spaniard’s delivery was “venomously headed into the back of the net by Gyökeres for our new number 14’s first goal in red and white.”
With the visitors rattled, Martinelli fed Saka moments later, who slotted home coolly to make it 2–0 before the break.
Dominance After the Interval
Second-half substitute Noni Madueke wasted no time making an impression, while Gyökeres came inches from a second goal when his diving header struck the post.
Havertz, introduced in the 70th minute, had already been denied once when Saka sparked a rapid counter-attack.
The German forward “was off balance but still picked out the bottom right corner with aplomb” to seal the victory.
Penalty Shootout Practice
Regardless of the scoreline, both teams agreed to a post-match shootout. Zubimendi converted the decisive spot-kick as Arsenal won 6–5.
Eyes on Old Trafford
The win sets the stage for Arsenal’s Premier League opener away to Manchester United next Sunday at 4:30pm.
As the club put it: “Premier League football is back next weekend!”
