Arsenal became the first Premier League team to lose to an MLS side this summer when the New York Red Bulls beat the Gunners 1-0.
Arsenal lose 1-0 to an MLS side, the New York Red Bulls in a pre-season friendly
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored the lone goal against his father's old club, but most of the focus was on former Arsenal star Thierry Henry, who nearly scored in the first half but for a strong save from Wojciech Szczesny.
Arsene Wenger gave a start to 17-year-old Gedion Zelalem in front of the American fans who hope to one day see him in a U.S. national team shirt.
Arsenal tried to respond, with a couple of dangerous darts and shots by Jack Wilshere before half-time, but New York were good value for their lead at half-time. Arsenal made seven changes at half-time, and did introduce a striker – Chuba Akpom coming in for Mikel Arteta.
They duly looked more direct early in the second 45, especially after Henry was withdrawn in the 53rd minute, to a round of sentimental applause. Arsenal fans looked to be cheering again three minutes later when Abou Diaby had the ball in the net, only for the goal to be called back for an offside.
Briefly Arsenal’s pressure appeared to be building, as the Red Bulls began to sit deeper, inviting trouble. But as the half went on the hosts continued to gamely try to take the game to Arsenal, even as the visitors began to look more dangerous on the counter, while Akpom should have scored after beating the offside trap in the 79th minute, but Luis Robles was out well to block.
At the other end the New York substitute Peguy Luyindula had a free header that should have put the game away a couple of minutes later, before an even better close range chance fell to his team-mate Andre Akpan late on.
In the event it didn’t matter as New York saw the game out. Arsenal could have done with an Henry.
“It was our first game, and I believe physically it was a bit too high for us for a first game, because some of the players came back just last Monday and had to play a game today that was a bit too high a level,” said Wenger. “It was not ideal. But we got away with it, without any injuries and the bad thing is that we couldn’t score and lost the game. The good thing is that we gained something physically as well but we lacked a bit of pace without any centre forward.
“Thierry can be dangerous from anywhere and you can see today why he was a great player because when he played in midfield his passing was excellent and his vision as well.
“When our opponent is better than us, we have to say, “well done” and that was the case today.”
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