Emile Smith Rowe scores wonder goal but Arsenal lose to Atletico on penalties
Updated 26/07/2018 at 14:20 GMT
International Champions Cup, Singapore National Stadium – Atletico Madrid 1 (Vietto 41') Arsenal 1 (Smith Rowe 47') - Atletico win 3-1 on penalties
Goalkeeper Antonio Adan scored the winning penalty as Atletico Madrid beat Arsenal 3-1 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw in the International Champions Cup.
Unai Emery handed debuts to Matteo Guendouzi and Bernd Leno and saw his side dominate the first half, forcing Jan Oblak into three impressive saves.
And similar to the Europa League semi-final last season, it was against the run of play that the Spanish side took the lead through a bullet header from Luciano Vietto.
The Gunners responded well to going behind in the second half and equalised through youngster Emile Smith Rowe’s wonder strike from the edge of the box which flew into the top corner.
The inevitable mass substitutions from both sides, with Arsenal slinging on ten players in Singapore including bringing on summer signing Sokratis, disrupted the flow of the game in the final 30 minutes.
And in the shootout, Henrikh Mkhitariyan, Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock missed their spot-kicks with keeper Adan firing the winning penalty past Petr Cech to seal victory.
Emery's side are next in friendly action against Paris St-Germain on Saturday.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal): The 17-year-old was impressive at set pieces and his driving runs. And he capped off a mature display with a wonder strike.
PLAYER RATINGS
ARSENAL: Leno 6, Bellerin 5, Mustafi 5, Holding 4, Kolasinac 7, Ramsey 7, Guendouzi 6, Nelson 7, Smith Rowe 9, Aubameyang 6, Lacazette 6. Subs: Cech 7, Sokaratis 5, Chambers 5, Mkhitariyan 4, Osei-Tutu 5, Nketiah 5, Mavropanos 5, Maitland-Niles 5, Perez 4, Willock n/a.
ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak 8, Juanfran 7, Montero 6, Partey 5, Moya 5, Rodrigo 6, Olabe 6, Joaquín 5, Correa 7, Gameiro 5, Vietto 8. Subs: Adan 8, Pinchi 5, Aitor 5, Borja 5, Carlos Isaac 5, Mollejo 7, Mikel Carro 5, Solano 6, Tachi 5.
KEY MOMENTS:
22’ - GOOD SAVE! Arsenal break through Ramsey who finds Lacazette in the box who eventually fires a shot at the near post from a tight angle which is blocked by Oblak.
32’ - GOOD SAVE! Sublime through ball from skippeer Ramsey to Lacazette who is through on goal and is shot is well blocked by the arm of Oblak.
39’ - GREAT SAVE! Oblak with a strong hand to parry Lacazette's low shot and Olabe beats Nelson to the rebound. The move was started by a good run from Smith Rowe.
41’ GOAL FOR ATLETICO! A bullet header from Vietto from close range from Correa's fizzing cross from the right.
47’ - GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Smith Rowe goes on a jinking run and fires the ball into the top corner as he slides on the turf.
58’ - GREAT SAVE! Ramsey make a mess at the back and Vietto's shot from close range forces a fine point blank stop from Cech.
KEY STATS
Atletico are unbeaten against Arsenal in the three games they have faced each other in 2018.
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