LONDON:
Leandro Trossard bagged a second-half brace as Arsenal twice got here from behind to defeat Spanish champions Barcelona 5-Three in a pre-season pleasant in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Belgian worldwide Trossard netted within the 55th and 78th minutes because the English Premier League runners-up accomplished an emphatic victory on the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
The beginning of an entertaining encounter on the house of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams was delayed by 30 minutes after Arsenal’s staff bus was held up in visitors en path to the stadium.
When the sport lastly kicked off, Barcelona started the brighter, with Moroccan ahead Abde Ezzalzouli producing a scintillating run down the left flank to arrange the Catalans’ opener.
Ezzalzouli’s cross was met by Raphinha, whose first-time shot was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, however solely so far as Robert Lewandowski, who rammed within the end within the seventh minute.
Arsenal nonetheless have been swift to reply, with England worldwide Bukayo Saka grabbing an equalizer within the 13th minute after a defensive lapse by Barcelona centre-half Andreas Christensen.
Saka missed the prospect to fireplace Arsenal into the lead from the penalty spot on 22 minutes, the winger screwing his shot vast of the put up after Ronald Araujo had dealt with within the space.
Barca nonetheless regained the lead simply after the half-hour mark, with Raphinha’s long-range free-kick deflecting off Martin Odegaard within the Arsenal wall to deceive Ramsdale.
Odegaard made amends simply earlier than half-time nonetheless, flicking on to Arsenal’s new signing Kai Havertz, for the ahead to jab within the end from shut vary.
Arsenal dominated for lengthy durations of the second half, with Saka lacking a golden likelihood to place the Gunners forward early within the second half, capturing over from 5 yards out with the objective begging.
Arsenal’s strain lastly advised although with Trossard scoring within the 55th and 78th minutes to make it 4-2.
Ferran Torres scored a late comfort for Barcelona within the 88th minute to present the Catalans a glimmer of hope, however Fabio Vieira made sure of victory with a long-range strike a minute earlier than full-time.