Arsenal earned a huge pre-season win today on the back of a superb Gabriel Jesus hat-trick, but Manchester United were beaten by an aggressive Atletico Madrid side.
The Gunners were the biggest winners on the day, thrashing Sevilla 6-0 in the Emirates Cup in London, six days before they open their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace.
Jesus, signed from Premier League champions Manchester City this summer, scored thrice, with Bukayo Saka adding a brace and Eddie Nketiah netting once.
Saka opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the ninth minute and Arsenal were incredibly 4-0 up before the 20-minute mark.
Jesus scored twice in the 13th and 15th minutes and Saka struck his second of the afternoon in the 19th minute as the Gunners ran riot.
The scoring eased off a bit before two late goals from Jesus in the 77th minute and Nketiah 11 minutes later gave Arsenal their biggest win of this pre-season.
It’s Mikel Arteta’s side’s sixth straight pre-season victory after wins over Ipswich, Everton, Nurnberg, Orlando City and Chelsea (a 4-0 thumping).
Arsenal, who finished fifth last season after a faltering end to the campaign, will begin their Premier League quest away to Crystal Palace on Friday night.
Fellow London side Chelsea also concluded their pre-season on a winning note, beating Udinese twice in two days: 3-1 yesterday and 2-0 today.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have had a mixed pre-season, losing to Charlotte City on penalties and heavily to Arsenal, while beating Club America and Udinese.
Chelsea start their season proper with a trip to Everton on Saturday.
In Oslo, Manchester United suffered their first defeat of pre-season and their first reverse under Erik ten Hag, losing 1-0 to a very physical Atletico Madrid side.
Substitute Joao Felix scored the game’s only goal in the 88th minute against a dominant United side, while Fred was sent off in added time for a second yellow card, and Christian Eriksen made his unofficial debut.
Before today’s defeat, United had beaten Liverpool, Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace, and drew with Aston Villa.
United play their final pre-season tomorrow at Old Trafford against Rayo Vallecano, while their first game of the Premier League campaign is at home against Brighton on Sunday next week.
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