Girona v Arsenal LIVE – Updates from Gunners’ pre-season friendly

Kepa delays over a goal kick, so Girona are awarded a corner. Look out for that one causing a lot of controversy in the Premier League this season.

Arsenal playing possession football to see this over the line and Mikel Arteta uses the opportunity to make yet another two subs as Demiane Agustien and Theo Julienne come on with Gabriel Jesus and Louie Copley coming off.

Apologies to the stattos out there, but I managed to miss hitting the ‘publish’ button when Ismael Kabia came on for Fabio Vieira and Myles Lewis-Skelly was replaced by Reiss Nelson. Yes, they are both still Arsenal players!

No more planned for Arsenal, barring injuries, but Girona have just made too many changes to mention too and the home fans are celebrating with a Mexican wave. The Arsenal fans do not seem to bothered about joining in. Spoil sports!

Mikel Arteta has just made SIX changes:  Ibrahim, Copley, Clarke, O’Neil, Harriman-Annous, Ogunnaike are on. Tzolis, Nwaneri, Dowman, White, Mosquera, Calafiori are off.

Stay with us for the latest updates and post-match interviews, but Arsenal have announced they have found a solution to the technical issues blocking their coverage…

The match had hardly restarted before Gabriel Jesus scores Arsenal’s fourth goal. The ball broke his way after Ben White’s strong midfield challenge and the Brazilian striker reacted superbly to score right-footed.

A wonder goal from teenage superstar Max Dowman, who restores two-goal advantage. Cutting in from the right wing, he rinsed a posse of chasing defenders before scoring with a low left foot shot.

Big Girona defender David Lopez heads in straight from a well taken corner. Myles Lewis-Skelly is claiming he was fouled by the scorer, but there is no VAR to save him and Arsenal and the goal stands.

Midfielder Christian Norgaard is here in Catalonia, watching alongside team-mates in the stand behind the Arsenal dug-out, but it is being strongly reported he will be signing for Everton next week.

No further changes as the second half kicks off with Arsenal attacking the end where their travelling fans are making all the noise just to the right of the Girona goal.

Reports coming out of the UK that Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes will have a medical on Monday before completing his expected transfer to Arsenal. We will ask Mikel Arteta post-match for a reaction.

Referee Marta Huerta De Aza blows for half-time. Two goals, with Kai Havertz and debutant Christos Tzolis, the scorers and a clean sheet for Kepa and his defenders marks a positive start to the pre-season for Mikel Arteta and his Premier League champions.

That second Arsenal goal is being credited to Tzolis, who now officially marks his debut by getting on the scoresheet. It was the slightest of deflections, if any, so the Greek winger fully deserves his name on the scoresheet.

Mikel Arteta uses a quick water break to take off World Cup players Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Piero Hincapie. On came Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira and Marli Salmon.

Debutant Christos Tzolis cuts in from the left to shoot right-footed and appears to have scored his first goal for the club, but it Kai Havertz might have deflected it in as it flashed past him. To be continued….

Just a reminder that Max Dowman is still only 16-years-old. Looks ready for regular first team action. He is playing on the right tonight – star boy Bukayo Saka’s place. Dowman’s weekly age is said to be £350-a- week, the standard youth academy scholar terms. Arsenal top earner Saka is reportedly on £350,000-a-week!

Kai Havertz runs clear from a great Max Dowman through ball and keeps his cool to drive in a low shot past the Girona keeper.

First free-kick of the pre-season campaign and it is new signing Chritos Tzolis who comes across to whack a Declan Rice style curler towards the far post as the moves ends with Riccardo Calafiori having a header comfortably saved.

Mikel Arteta has a strong line-up tonight. Plenty of big names missing but three key players who all featured at this summer’s World Cup: Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie.

as the Arsenal fans sing Champions again ole ole to the players for the first time, teenagers Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Max Dowman all get early touches as Girona struggle to cope with some rapid passing from Mikel Arteta’s side.

A quick reminder of the Girona and Arsenal line-ups with kick-off now less than two minutes away

utes away

So much for SUNNY SPAIN.

It is raining as hard as you can imagine here in Girona.

No sign the match will be postponed, but fair to say a few players from both sides have elected to take cover