Arsenal suffers a 2-0 defeat to Juventus on the 17th of November 2022, while Eddie Nketiah looks dull in front of Gunner’s attack, while the Gunners face another injury crisis.
Eddie Nketiah came up empty in his penultimate practice before replacing Gabriel Jesus when Arsenal resume their title defense.
After Jesus underwent knee surgery this month, Eddie Nketiah is Mikel Arteta’s only healthy striker.
The Gunners academy graduate had one more opportunity to impress Arteta and hone his skills before the Boxing Day visit from West Ham, but he fell short against Juventus despite scoring twice in three friendlies so far this month.
Arsenal will return to the Premier League schedule leading Manchester City by five points, but with serious doubts about how to fill the void left by Gabriel Jesus.
Mikel Arteta selected as strong a team as he could for their penultimate game before the Premier League returned because a few prominent players were still away, either during the World Cup or after it.
Reiss Nelson drove forward and slammed a shot into the side netting after only 43 seconds, giving them a chance to get off to a fast start against the Italian giant.
The first half was played under the Gunners’ control, but they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities.
A well-placed volley by Fabio Vieira was saved at the near post, while a strike by Eddie Nketiah was disallowed for offside.
Eddie Nketiah missed a wonderful opportunity to score from the ensuing free kick after Juventus goalkeeper Mattia Perin and defender Fabio Miretti made a mistake, leaving the ball at his feet yards from the goal.
The striker rapidly fired across the goal, but he was able to miss the net and hit the far post. It was the kind of opportunity that, in a title chase, one should not afford to miss.
The journey that led to Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the friendly game started when Granit Xhaka scored an amusing own goal.
The tragic situation happened after the Gunners suffered a rare defeat during first-half injury time.
In Saturday’s match against Arsenal, Xhaka made his comeback from Switzerland’s World Cup journey. However, he had an impact while fending off a Juve raid at the wrong end of the field.
The Italians advanced along the right wing before sending in a curling cross as Arsenal players kept busy in their box.
Xhaka did not fare as well when he attempted an aerial clearance. As Juventus whipped in the ball, the midfielder brushed his head against it.
But instead of rebounding back outside the area, it sailed right past Aaron Ramsdale and into the back of the net against Arsenal.
After Xhaka’s header, Rob Holding scored an own goal late in the game.
To give the visitors a 2-0 victory, the center-back turned in a shot from Samuel Illing-Junior of Juventus.
Eddie Nketiah had a great opportunity to change the outcome before Xhaka’s blunder, though.
Arsenal faces another injury blow;
Reiss Nelson limping out of Arsenal’s final friendly before the Premier League return has dealt the Gunners another attacking injury blow.
The first half of Arsenal’s 2-0 loss to Juventus saw 23-year-old Nelson, who earlier this week scored against AC Milan in Dubai and has two goals in two Premier League outings this season, injured his hamstring.
All season long, Nketiah was expected to leave Arsenal, with Crystal Palace frequently mentioned as a potential destination.
But since there was no transfer, he now has the potential to succeed at the Emirates.
