MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal LIVE! Pre-season friendly result, match stream, latest reaction and updates today

MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal LIVE!

Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber made their debuts as Arsenal hammered the MLS All-Stars 5-0 in Washington. The pair were named on the bench at Audi Field and watched on as the Gunners took control against the All-Stars, Gabriel Jesus opening the scoring inside five minutes with stunning finish into the far corner before Leandro Trossard whipped his strike into the back of the net from 20 yards out.

Barely 15 seconds of the second-half had been played when the referee pointed to the penalty spot and Jorginho stepped up with the usual hop and the usual outcome to make it 3-0. Mikel Arteta made six changes midway through the half, two of which saw Rice and Timber make their first appearances for Arsenal.

Gabriel Martinelli was also introduced and he got himself on the end of Martin Odegaard’s superb pass and provided a calm finish, before Kai Havertz netted his first goal for the club as he lashed home after chesting down Marquinhos’ dinked cross.

MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal latest news

• GOAL! Havertz off the mark for Arsenal

• GOAL! Martinelli extends advantage

• GOAL! Jorginho converts penalty

• GOAL! Trossard doubles Arsenal’s lead

• GOAL! Jesus with stunning opener

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04:26 , Matt Verri

Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber made their debuts as Arsenal hammered the MLS All-Stars 5-0 in Washington. The pair were named on the bench at Audi Field and watched on as the Gunners took control against the All-Stars, Gabriel Jesus opening the scoring inside five minutes with stunning finish into the far corner before Leandro Trossard whipped his strike into the back of the net from 20 yards out.

Barely 15 seconds of the second-half had been played when the referee pointed to the penalty spot and Jorginho stepped up with the usual hop and the usual outcome to make it 3-0. Mikel Arteta made six changes midway through the half, two of which saw Rice and Timber make their first appearances for Arsenal.

Gabriel Martinelli was also introduced and he got himself on the end of Martin Odegaard’s superb pass and provided a calm finish, before Kai Havertz netted his first goal for the club as he lashed home after chesting down Marquinhos’ dinked cross.

Read our full report here!

Easy as you like...

04:03 , Matt Verri

Balogun asked about his Arsenal future

03:51 , Matt Verri

“I try not to look into the future, I let my agent and my family handle that sort of thing,” the forward tells Apple TV

“But for sure I’m happy here and enjoying every minute, just looking forward to the future.”

03:43 , Matt Verri

Bukayo Saka given the man of the match award for his first-half display.

He’s asked, very bluntly, whether he wants to play in the MLS. He politely swats that away with a “maybe” and “I’m focused on Arsenal”.

Probably for the best, they’d have whipped out a contract there and then if he’d been more enthusiastic.

Havertz caps perfect night!

03:40 , Matt Verri

FT: MLS All-Stars 0-5 Arsenal

03:37 , Matt Verri

Perfect night for Arsenal.

Jesus, Trossard, Jorginho, Martinelli and Havertz all on the scoresheet, as the Gunners hammer the All-Stars.

Bigger tests to come, against Barcelona and Man United, but that was a really strong performance.

03:33 , Matt Verri

90+3 mins: Six minutes added on - fair to say the MLS players have had more than enough of this.

Not sure Arsenal have though, they continue to push. Might need to count the yellow shirts on the pitch, seem to be about five of them in space at all times.

GOAL! MLS All-Stars 0-5 Arsenal | Kai Havertz 89'

03:29 , Matt Verri

Make that five!

Havertz has his first Arsenal goal. Marquinhos dinks a ball to the back post, Havertz chests it down and lashes a finish into the back of the net.

03:28 , Matt Verri

88 mins: Odegaard tries his luck from distance, always rising over the bar.

Considering Arsenal are still pretty early in their pre-season, this has been a sharp performance. Particularly against these MLS players, who are in the middle of their campaign.

GOAL! MLS All-Stars 0-4 Arsenal | Gabriel Martinelli 84'

03:24 , Matt Verri

Arsenal have a fourth!

You won’t be catching Martinelli once he’s through on goal, with Odegaard playing him in with a glorious pass.

The Brazilian bursts into the box and just passes it into the far corner.

03:20 , Matt Verri

80 mins: Trusty gets his chance in his home country, replacing White for the final ten minutes or so.

He was the hero in the Skills Challenge last night, winning it for Arsenal as he hit the crossbar.

03:17 , Matt Verri

78 mins: Martinelli should score!

Odegaard slides the ball wide to Marquinhos, fired across the face of goal. Falls for Martinelli at the back post, but he lashes it over the bar as he looks to whip the ball into the far corner.

One final drinks break is called.

03:15 , Matt Verri

75 mins: “It’s not over yet,” says the pitchside reporter of the All-Stars’ hopes of a late comeback.

I would suggest that might be slightly optimistic, with the score 3-0 and just 15 minutes remaining. We’ll see.

03:12 , Matt Verri

72 mins: Martinelli looks dangerous whenever he gets the ball, so direct with his running.

It’s all very controlled from Arsenal at the minute, no risks being taken. Pace has slowed down again as they knock the ball around.

03:08 , Matt Verri

68 mins: Big roar from the crowd as Rice has his first touch! Haverz, Odegaard and Rice the Arsenal midfield now - could we see that on the opening weeked of the season against Nottingham Forest?

Balogun also very popular at Audi Field, as you’d expect in the USA.

03:05 , Matt Verri

65 mins: Here we go! Rice and Timber are on for their Arsenal debuts.

Saliba, Kiwior, Jorginho, Jesus, Gabriel, Vieira are all off. Timber, Tierney, Rice, Balogun, Tomiyasu and Marquinhos the six to come on.

03:03 , Matt Verri

63 mins: Oh, we have VAR. And they’re looking at a possible penalty for Arsenal.

Jesus appealed for it, chopping back inside and claiming it hit Miazga’s arm as he slid in. Referee having a long old check of this at the monitor.

He returns... no penalty!

03:01 , Matt Verri

61 mins: This referee cannot get enough of the yellow cards.

Havertz with a foul, not a serious one at all, but he’s the latest player into the book. That’s the sixth yellow of the night.

All very unnecessary.

02:59 , Matt Verri

59 mins: Cross into the Arsenal box, White across and heads the ball to safety.

Hasn’t been much of a threat from the MLS All-Stars for much of this match, all pretty easy for the Gunners defence. Not sure there’s been a shot on target at that end of the pitch.

02:55 , Matt Verri

55 mins: Bit of concern for Arsenal, Trossard down and receiving treatment. Injured himself committing a foul, maybe took a knock to his knee.

He’ll be coming off - not a bad sub to make, Martinelli coming on for the final 35 minutes or so of this match.

02:52 , Matt Verri

52 mins: Really good from Gabriel, reads the danger and intercepts the pass that looked set to open Arsenal up.

Been a strong showing so far from the centre-backs, Saliba in particularly has been cruising through the match.

02:50 , Matt Verri

50 mins: Vieira playing further out on the right now, with Havertz and Odegaard in the middle in front of Jorginho. Trossard primarily from the left.

All very comfortable for the Gunners, they’re knocking the ball around confidently. Saying that, they lose it cheaply and Jorginho has to commit the foul.

GOAL! MLS All-Stars 0-3 Arsenal | Jorginho 47'

02:46 , Matt Verri

Jorginho makes no mistake!

The usual skip from Jorginho and the usual outcome, rolling the ball into the bottom corner. Perfect start to the half for Arsenal.

PENALTY ARSENAL!

02:45 , Matt Verri

Wow! The clock was on about 13 seconds of the second-half, and the referee points to the spot.

Ball launched forward, Jesus looks to clip the ball into the middle and Parker is penalised for handball. Bit harsh really.

Back underway!

02:44 , Matt Verri

Second-half has begun in Washington.

Havertz, Odegaard and Hein on for Arsenal, replacing Nketiah, Saka and Ramsdale.

Debuts to come?

02:40 , Matt Verri

Rice, Havertz, Martinelli, Odegaard, Balogun, Timber...

It’s a seriously strong Arsenal bench tonight, with Rice and Timber expected to come on at some point and make their debuts.

Just what the MLS All-Stars wanted to see.

Trossard’s not bad either!

02:37 , Matt Verri

Some finish from Jesus...

02:32 , Matt Verri

HT: MLS All-Stars 0-2 Arsenal

02:28 , Matt Verri

And that’s half-time.

Two brilliant goal for Arsenal, Jesus and Trossard ruthless when their half-chances came and that’s the difference at the break.

The All-Stars have had some decent moments in attack, but haven’t been able to make anything of them.

02:27 , Matt Verri

45+6 mins: Take two. Nketiah causing the defence real problems again, skipping past three challenges and then Glesnes arrives with the four. Cynical, yellow card, free-kick.

This one slightly closer but a fair bit wider, Trossard standing over it again.

He dinks it into the box instead, Gabriel is there but he powers the header over the bar.

02:25 , Matt Verri

45+4 mins: Lovely flick from Jesus and Nketiah has all sorts of space to drive into.

He takes the ball into the All-Stars half, still unchallenged as he gets to within 25 yards out... shoved over. Free-kick Arsenal in a great position. Yellow card fro Almada.

Trossard takes it, knuckleball... just wide! Super effort.

02:21 , Matt Verri

45+1 mins: Settle in... six minutes added on!

Pace has gone out of the match, could probably do with half-time. Fourth official has other ideas though.

02:20 , Matt Verri

44 mins: Arsenal looking very vulnerable at the back all of a sudden, Espinoza’s shot blocked and it trickles through to Ramsdale.

Good spell for the All-Stars they’ve been camped in Arsenal territory over the last few minutes. Yet to create a really big chance tonight though.

02:18 , Matt Verri

42 mins: Vieira back up, no problems there.

Camera was focused on Declan Rice while Vieira was receiving treatment - got to imagine we see Rice, and Jurrien Timber, make an Arsenal debut in the second half.

02:15 , Matt Verri

39 mins: Vieira down for Arsenal, though he’s spending most of his time complaining so I think he’s fine.

Looks to have taken a slight blow to the head as he won the ball back, maybe an elbow caught him by mistake.

02:12 , Matt Verri

36 mins: Almada takes it with his first touch since coming on, whipped into the side-netting.

All-Stars quickly back on the attack, Gil with a great chance but he balloons the effort miles over the bar. He was completely free, 12 yards out.

He was also offside - stand down.

02:10 , Matt Verri

34 mins: Loads of changes for the All-Stars during that break - Arsenal unchanged as you’d expect.

Hollingshead is one of those still on the pitch for the MLS outfit, he bursts forward and gets brought down by Nketiah, free-kick in a great position.

02:07 , Matt Verri

31 mins: Bouanga drives into the box, ball into the middle takes a slight deflection and Ramsdale turns it behind for a corner.

And the All-Stars nearly halve the deficit! Somehow comes all the way to Hollingshead in the middle, he diverts it towards the bottom corner but the ball bobbles wide of the far post.

Time for a drinks break.

02:04 , Matt Verri

28 mins: Huge chance missed!

Nketiah back to Trossard, all the time in the world to clip a ball into the box. He does just that, Jesus completely free at the back post but he can’t get the header on target. Should have scored.

02:02 , Matt Verri

26 mins: Poor Barreal is having a miserable time of it at left-back. On a yellow and he has Saka running at him, and skinning him, endlessly.

Here we go again... this time Barreal does get a foot in. Comes to Jorginho, and he’s clipped by Puig.

GOAL! MLS All-Stars 0-2 Arsenal | Leandro Trossard 23'

01:59 , Matt Verri

Arsenal double the lead!

This isn’t a bad finish either. Saka again involved, nothing knew there. A constant threat down the threat, again he cuts inside and plays the ball to the edge of the area.

Trossard takes a touch, works it onto his right foot and then whips it into the corner from 20 yards out.

01:55 , Matt Verri

19 mins: That will be another yellow card, can’t complain about that. Barreal cleans out Saka as the Arsenal man knocks the ball past him, too quick.

Saka takes it himself, Benteke back in his own box to head it away to safety.

01:52 , Matt Verri

16 mins: Kiwior is one more mistake away from Arteta marching onto the pitch and grabbing him.

Twice in a minute he takes far too long on the ball and gets caught, really sloppy so far. Puig steals it and is briefly in on goal, but Saliba is swiftly across to block the shot.

01:50 , Matt Verri

15 mins: Nketiah and Trossard with a lovely one-two, All-Star scramble it behind for a corner.

Referee is certainly not treating this as a friendly. Already a booking and now he’s delaying the set piece to warn both sets of players about holding in the box. Chill out.

01:47 , Matt Verri

12 mins: Dear me. Jorginho so casual on the ball deep in his own half and he should be punished.

Puig drives forward, slides Benteke in and it’s a truly awful touch. Anything vaguely decent and he would have been free to get a shot away. Judging by how Arsenal are attacking and defending, there are plenty more goals in this match!

Martinez meanwhile earns the first yellow card of the match, hauling Saka down. Not very subtle.

01:45 , Matt Verri

10 mins: Benteke clean through on goal... whistle has gone though.

Bouanga a bit too keen in closing Gabriel though, clipped his heels and that is a free-kick for Arsenal. Just as well, Benteke only had Ramsdale to beat as the ball came to him in the box.

01:44 , Matt Verri

8 mins: Well that was some finish.

The All-Stars look for an immediate response, but it’s Benteke breaking away down the ring and that’s not really his strength, to put it politely.

GOAL! MLS All-Stars 0-1 Arsenal | Gabriel Jesus 5'

01:41 , Matt Verri

That is stunning!

Arsenal in front and it’s glorious from Jesus. Jorginho sets Saka away, he cuts inside and lays the ball off to Jesus. Just outside the box, dinks a lobbed finish to the far corner and it floats in off the inside of the post.

01:40 , Matt Verri

4 mins: Not great defending from Arsenal, as Barreal charges away down the left wing. White got sucked in, but gets back and blocks the cross behind for a corner.

Drops to the edge of the box, Puig lurking but Saka is there to boot the ball up the pitch.

01:38 , Matt Verri

3 mins: We’ve played about 90 seconds and play is halted due to a flat ball. Flying start.

It’s Jesus playing through the middle in the opening minutes for Arsenal, with Nketiah out on the right wing. We’ll see if it stays that way.

KICK-OFF!

01:36 , Matt Verri

It’s taken long enough, with a flyover and yet more interviews, but we are finally underway at Audi Field!

Big fan of the referee blowing his whistle with the countdown from the crowd still at four.

01:31 , Matt Verri

Players are out onto the pitch. As is Josh Kroenke, of course. Jesus with the captain’s armband for Arsenal tonight.

Time for the national anthem and then we’ll be ready to get up and running.

Not long now...

01:24 , Matt Verri

The Apple TV pundits continue to emphasise how seriously both teams will take this match, seemingly stunned that professional football players might be fairly competitive and keen to win.

Kick-off coming up in just over five minutes - we can expect plenty of goals if the two lineups are anything to go by!

Warm-ups done!

01:18 , Matt Verri

Could go to a shootout

01:13 , Matt Verri

If tonight’s match finishes level, we will go to a penalty shootout. No extra-time, which is something we can all get behind.

The All-Stars side should have the edge in terms of fitness, current mid-season in the MLS so the players will be fully up to speed. Arsenal... not so much!

A match behind closed doors against Watford and then a draw with Nurnberg is the extent of their pre-season so far.

01:08 , Matt Verri

Pitch-side reporters doing their best to interrupt the warm-ups, just strolling into the middle of a rondo. Rooney not looking particularly impressed.

For the best they didn’t try that with the Arsenal players, might have seen Arteta come flying in with a two-footer...

Pre-match thoughts from Wayne Rooney

01:05 , Matt Verri

“I’ve been really impressed with all the players. There’s some incredible players.

“I think we can cause Arsenal problems - if the players relax, we can really cause them problems. I’m looking forward to it.”

Arteta: Rice will make others better

Thursday 20 July 2023 00:58 , Matt Verri

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has explained what he is looking for in Declan Rice, describing him as the Gunners’ “lighthouse”.

The 24-year-old has become the most expensive British footballer of all time after joining from West Ham in a deal worth up to £105million.

Arsenal may have gone trophyless last season, but finished second behind title winners Manchester City after leading the Premier League for 251 days - a record without lifting the trophy.

“I see him like a lighthouse,” Arteta said of Rice. “He is willing to put the light in others, improve others and make the team better.

“We discussed a while ago how he could evolve the team and compliment the players and take that winning hunger into a team with players who really want to push themselves to a different level.

“He has an aura. The experience he has in this league is going to bring the team to a different dimension. He has the physical qualities we were missing for a while.”

New signings have to wait...

Thursday 20 July 2023 00:54 , Matt Verri

Rice and Timber will have to wait to make their Arsenal debuts, with the pair named on the bench tonight.

It’s a very attacking midfield, with Vieira and Trossard playing ahead of Jorginho, while Nketiah gets his chance to impress up front. Jesus looks to be starting out on the right, though plenty of flexibility there.

It’s a strong bench - Havertz, Odegaard, Martinelli and Balogun among those in reverse along with Rice and Timber.

MLS All-Stars team news

Thursday 20 July 2023 00:46 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Burki, Hollingshead, Zimmerman, Glesnes, Barreal, Martinez, Puig, Mukhtar, Bouanga, Benteke, Acosta

Subs: Petrovic, Miller, Morris, Giakoumakis, Ferreira, Morris, Herrera, Gallagher, Espinoza, Miazga, Gil, Almada, Parker, Choiniere, Zelarayan, Kamara, Tolkin

Arsenal team news

Thursday 20 July 2023 00:37 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Jorginho, Vieira, Trossard, Saka, Nketiah, Jesus

Subs: Runarsson, Hein, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Timber, Holding, Trusty, Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Martinelli, Marquinhos, Cozier-Duberry, Balogun

In the building!

Thursday 20 July 2023 00:31 , Matt Verri

Odegaard: Arsenal will bounce back

Thursday 20 July 2023 00:18 , Matt Verri

Arsenal will use their “anger” at missing out on last season’s Premier League title to repeat history in the upcoming campaign, says Martin Odegaard.

The Gunners captain believes his side have the motivation to finally lift the trophy that they led the way for until losing out to Manchester City in the home stretch.

On Arsenal’s side, according to Odegaard, is the fact that they comfortably qualified for the Champions League last season having rallied after missing out on a place in the top four in 2021-22.

“What we have to do is learn from last year, to use the disappointment, the anger and all the bad feelings,” he told reporters.

“It still hurts and it’s still painful for us. It’s important to use it in a good way to come back even stronger and to show we have learned and improved.

“We were very close and had the big dream and goal to win something. To be so close to doing it with this team is always going to hurt but you have to deal with it in a good way and move on and that’s what we’re going to do as a team. That is the only way.

“That’s what we did last year after we missed the Champions League the year before. We came back stronger and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

Tonight’s venue!

Thursday 20 July 2023 00:08 , Matt Verri

Decision yet to be made on Balogun

Wednesday 19 July 2023 23:59 , Matt Verri

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will make a decision on the future of Folarin Balogun after giving him a chance to impress on their pre-season tour of the United States.

The striker’s Gunners future has been subject to increasing doubt despite a prolific loan spell last term in which he scored 22 goals in 39 matches during a season-long stint in France with Ligue 1 side Reims.

Balogun wants to secure a regular starting role next season and that is unlikely to come at Arsenal, who are ready to cash in on the 22-year-old as a result, with Inter Milan having now made him their top striker target for the summer.

Inter cannot meet Balogun’s £50million asking price, though Standard Sport understands that they could drive down the cost by inserting a buy-back clause into the deal or else offer a favourable percentage of any future sale.

Asked for his thoughts on Balogun and if he was going to stay at Arsenal this summer, Gunners boss Arteta said: “Great, because he’s done incredibly well and now we have to think what is best to do.

“We want to see him, we want to experience him in the next few games. He played the last game against Nurnberg and he will do again in the next few games. Then we will make the best decision.”

Trusty the hero for Arsenal

Wednesday 19 July 2023 23:49 , Matt Verri

Arsenal had forgotten man Auston Trusty to thank for winning the MLS All-Star Skill Challenger after Kai Havertz struggled.

The Gunners beat their MLS counterparts in Washington on Tuesday evening across five events, testing the players’ shooting, passing, touch, finishing and accuracy.

Each team chose 10 players to take part, with defenders Jurrien Timber and Jakub Kiwior stepping up to the penalty spot for the shooting challenge to beat the likes of striker Christian Benteke for the opponents.

Havertz and Marquinhos took on the touch challenge, with the aim to control and volley crosses into different areas, and again the Gunners came out on top with the help of Trusty and Jorginho.

The £65million summer signing had less luck in the finishing challenge, as he scored zero points and failed to hit the target and MLS All-Stars won the round with ease.

Trusty, Jorginho and Kiwior restored Arsenal’s two-round advantage in the passing challenge before the crossbar challenge settled matters.

Sunglasses at the ready

Wednesday 19 July 2023 23:40 , Matt Verri

Brace yourselves - Arsenal will be wearing their new away kit tonight.

It’s... loud. The claim is that it “celebrates the club’s Islington roots”, which I’m sure you all knew as soon as you saw it.

This is just the men’s away kit - the Arsenal women’s team will have their own strip. A lucky escape.

Standard Sport prediction

Wednesday 19 July 2023 23:34 , Matt Verri

The All-Stars have won 11 of the 19 matches held for this traditional summer contest and Arsenal looked a little rusty against Nurnberg.

They MLS outfit might not have the same quality as the Arsenal side, but history says back the team that’s midway through its season.

MLS All-Stars to win, 3-2.

MLS All-Stars team news

Wednesday 19 July 2023 23:27 , Matt Verri

Christian Benteke and ex-Chelsea defender Matt Miazga are among the former Premier League faces on the MLS roster.

Lionel Messi is not named in the squad, despite his recent move to the MLS, while Carlos Vela, the former Gunners forward now playing at Los Angeles FC, is also not involved.

Arsenal team news

Wednesday 19 July 2023 23:18 , Matt Verri

Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are hoping to make their Arsenal debuts in tonight’s friendly match.

Mikel Arteta has assured fans that £105million capture Rice is not suffering from an injury despite being pictured working away from the group in training earlier this week.

“We just wanted to manage him,” Arsenal boss Arteta said of the England international.

Obviously a lot has happened to him in the last five or six days. He had a very hectic schedule and he had a few training sessions that went really good, but prior to that, he didn’t do much before he joined us.”

Along with potential places for Rice and Timber, Arteta could hand Kai Havertz a first start having brought him off the bench for the draw with Nurnberg last week.

It would not be a surprise to see Arteta start strong against the All-Stars and he will have been monitoring the fitness of Oleksandr Zinchenko ahead of the game.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

How to watch MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal

Wednesday 19 July 2023 23:12 , Matt Verri

TV channel and live stream: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Apple TV, via their MLS Season Pass service.

Live blog: You can follow all the action right here with us!

Good evening!

Wednesday 19 July 2023 23:05 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal!

The Gunners began their pre-season schedule by drawing to Nurnberg and are now in the USA to continue their preparations for the new campaign.

It’s Wayne Rooney in charge of the All-Stars side - should be a fun one!

We’ll have all the latest build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 1.30am BST from Audi Field in Washington.