Arsenal wrapped up their pre-season preparations with a solid 2-0 victory over Lyon at the Emirates Stadium, showcasing the strength of their defensive unit.
The Gunners’ centre-backs, William Saliba and Gabriel, delivered both goals, capitalizing on set-piece opportunities to secure the win.
Throughout the 2023/24 season, Arsenal’s defence emerged as one of their most formidable assets, with Saliba and Gabriel forming an unbreakable partnership at the heart of the backline.
Their ability to command the defence while also posing a threat in the opposition’s box made them invaluable to Mikel Arteta’s side.
As the new season approaches, it appears Arsenal will once again depend heavily on this dynamic duo.
In the victory over Lyon, Saliba was the first to break the deadlock, heading in a well-placed cross from Declan Rice. The French defender’s powerful header left the Lyon goalkeeper with no chance, setting the tone for Arsenal’s performance.
Shortly after, Rice delivered another pinpoint corner, this time finding Gabriel, who expertly guided the ball into the net to double Arsenal’s lead.
These goals not only secured the win but also underscored a strategy Arsenal seems poised to exploit throughout the 2024/25 season, scoring from set-pieces.
Much of the credit for this tactical success goes to coach Nicolas Jover, whose influence on Arsenal’s set-piece routines is clear.
Whenever the team is on the verge of attempting a shot near the penalty area, Jover can be seen animatedly directing from the touchline. It’s a case of “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”—Arsenal knows they have a winning formula, and they intend to continue leveraging it.
The Gunners’ set-piece threat is set to be further enhanced by the addition of Riccardo Calafiori.
Standing at 6’2”, the Italian defender was signed from Bologna this summer for a fee that could rise to £42 million.
While some questioned the need for another defender given Arsenal’s already robust backline, Calafiori’s arrival is expected to bolster the team’s defensive and offensive capabilities.
Calafiori made his eagerly anticipated debut in the win against Lyon, coming on in the 64th minute to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The Emirates crowd greeted him with enthusiastic applause, eager to see the new signing in action.
Slotting into the left centre-back position after a brief stint at left-back, Calafiori displayed calmness and composure, seamlessly integrating with his new teammates.
With Saliba, Gabriel, and now Calafiori, Arsenal’s defenders could once again be central to their success this season.
These three players have the potential to be at the core of everything positive for Arsenal at the Emirates.
As they prepare to kick off their 2024/25 campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 17 August, Arsenal will be looking to make an immediate statement, proving that they are ready to challenge for honors from the very start.
