Mikel Arteta expressed satisfaction with his youthful Arsenal side’s performance as they secured a penalty shootout victory over Bournemouth in their first pre-season tour game.
With many regular starters still on international duty, Arteta entrusted several young players against a strong Bournemouth squad. Fabio Vieira opened the scoring midway through the first half, but Arsenal were later equalized by Antoine Semenyo. The Gunners maintained their composure and clinched the win from the spot.
“I’m very pleased,” Arteta commented post-match. “Today was a very different scenario with so many young players, most of whom were making their debuts for us. It was great to see their enthusiasm and understanding that they would be involved.”
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“The senior players performed well too. It was a competitive match against Bournemouth as expected. They had more preparation time than us. It was a good, competitive game with plenty of positives to build on.”
Arteta acknowledged the challenge of integrating young players into the team’s current standards but praised their positive impact: “The young players have impressed us in a very positive way. It’s not easy to step up to our current level and standards, but they have been a joy to work with.”
While Arteta noted the absence of senior players and expressed readiness for their return, he emphasized the team’s preparedness to adapt and improve despite limited time.
Arsenal’s next match is against Manchester United on Sunday at 01:00 (BST).