Max Dowman (foto: Getty Images)
Max Dowman and Christos Tzolis impressed as Arsenal beat Girona 4-1, giving Mikel Arteta another glimpse of the club's attacking depth ahead of the new season.
Spremljajte Nogomanio kot prednostni vir na Googlu
Dodajte Nogomanio med priljubjene vire v Google News in
prejemajte najpomembnejše nogometne novice med prvimi.
Arsenal began their pre-season campaign with an impressive 4-1 victory over Girona, and while the result itself was encouraging, the biggest talking point was the performance of two exciting wingers, Max Dowman and Christos Tzolis.
The pair both found the net and played key roles in Arsenal's attacking display, offering Mikel Arteta plenty of reasons for optimism ahead of the new Premier League season.
Tzolis, who joined Arsenal from Club Brugge in a deal reportedly worth around £34 million, made an immediate impression. The Greek international constantly pressed Girona's defenders, attacked with confidence and was rewarded with a goal after cutting inside from the left before seeing his shot take a deflection on its way into the net.
Dowman, meanwhile, once again showed why he is regarded as one of the brightest talents to emerge from Arsenal's famous Hale End academy. The 16-year-old produced a moment of real quality to create Kai Havertz's opening goal, spinning away from his marker before delivering a perfectly weighted pass for the German striker to finish.
The teenager was not finished there. Early in the second half, after Arnau Martinez briefly gave Girona hope by making it 2-1, Dowman restored Arsenal's two-goal advantage with an outstanding solo effort, driving in from the right before firing beyond the goalkeeper.
Gabriel Jesus also got on the scoresheet after coming off the bench, converting from close range following good work by Ben White, who returned after recovering from the injury that ended his previous season.
Arteta also handed valuable minutes to several highly rated academy prospects, including Marli Salmon, Andre Harriman-Annous and Ceadach O'Neill, underlining Arsenal's continued commitment to developing young talent.
While one encouraging pre-season display is unlikely to change Arsenal's long-term transfer plans, Dowman and Tzolis demonstrated that the club already possesses impressive depth in wide attacking positions. Even with players such as Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Ebere Eze and Noni Madueke unavailable, Arsenal looked dangerous throughout the match.