Arsenal vs. Villarreal score, result, highlights as Gunners punished on counter in preseason friendly defeat

Arsenal will be wary of their defensive miscues after they fell to preseason defeat to Villarreal at home by a 3-2 score on Wednesday.

The Gunners were largely the better side throughout the match, but with Mikel Arteta deploying an uncharacteristically high defensive line, the hosts were punished on three separate counter-attacks by the Spanish visitors.

Christian Norgaard and Martin Odegaard were the goal-scorers for Arsenal, who troubled Villarreal at the back throughout but found themselves denied on multiple occasions. Viktor Gyokeres remains without a goal since joining earlier this summer, while Bukayo Saka also failed to profit despite a strong hour from the England star.

Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe scored the first goal for Villarreal in a bitter moment for the home fans, while Etta Eyong and Arnaut Danjuma also struck as they battle for a place at the head of the Villarreal attack.

The match also featured a penalty shootout at the conclusion, which went to six attempts with Villarreal emerging as winners by a 4-3 score. Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Conde made a pair of very impressive saves, first a highlight-reel stop on Gabriel’s attempt with Arsenal looking to win the shootout, before the decisive moment next time around against Noni Madueke.

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Arsenal vs. Villarreal final score

Starting lineups:

Arsenal (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Raya (GK — Kepa, 63′) — 4. White (Mosquera, 46′), 2. Saliba (Timber, 63′), 15. Kiwior (Gabriel, 63′), 49. Lewis-Skelly (Zinchenko, 77′) — 22. Nwaneri (Rice, 63′), 16. Norgaard (Zubimendi, 46′), 23. Merino — 7. Saka (Dowman, 63′), 14. Gyokeres (Odegaard, 63′), 11. Martinelli (Madueke, 77′).

Villarreal (4-4-2, right to left): 1. Junior (GK — Conde, 62′) — 8. Foyth, 3. Marin, 15. Mourino, 23. Cardona (Pedraza, 62′) — 19. Pepe, 18. Gueye, 10. Parejo, 20. Moleiro — 7. Moreno (Buchanan, 46′), 29. Eyong (Danjuma, 62′).

Arsenal vs. Villarreal goals, highlights

PENALTY SHOOTOUT

Round 6:

Villarreal: Into sudden death here’s young Pau Cabanes whose penalty…SCORES! Struck well in with the goalkeeper going the wrong way!

Arsenal: Now Noni Madueke must make his effort to keep Arsenal alive, and it’s…SAVED! Denied by the goalkeeper’s leg in an awkward stop, and Villarreal take both the game and the shootout!

Round 5:

Villarreal: With the score level here’s Jean Ilves Valou, who…MISSES! He strikes the ball hard and well, sending Kepa the wrong way, but he’s blasted the ball against the crossbar!

Arsenal: To win it for the Gunners here is Gabriel, whose effort is…SAVED! Oh my it’s a WONDERFUL save from the goalkeeper! Who at full stretch gets his upper arm vertical and fingertips the ball off the crossbar and just out, bouncing down off the line and away! WHAT a spectacular save!

Round 4:

Villarreal: Now for the Spanish side is Santi Comesana who…SCORES! He wastes no time sending Kepa the wrong way and rolling the ball calmly into the empty net. He’s shown Merino how it’s done!

Arsenal: For the Gunners here is Oleksandr Zinchenko, who…SCORES! That’s an emphatic penalty that ripples the net with the keeper sent the other way!

Round 3:

Villarreal: With his side trailing, here is Arnaut Danjuma who is also booed quite vociferously for his short time at Tottenham. He…SCORES! Kepa went the right way, but the ball just squeezes in past his outstretched arms.

Arsenal: Here’s deputy forward Mikel Merino for the Gunners, who…MISSES! Merino embarrasses the goalkeeper with a stutter-step, as Conde flops the wrong way meekly, but Merino puts himself off as well as he sends the ball a yard wide of the post!

Round 2:

Villarreal: Here is Denis Suarez who steps up to a chorus of boos, and…SAVED! Kepa taps it off the post and away!

Arsenal: Now for Arsenal is Declan Rice who…SCORES! A thunderous penalty absolutely blasted into the top corner!

Round 1:

Villarreal: New signing Alberto Moleiro steps up and…SCORES! Sends Kepa the wrong way.

Arsenal: Having scored in the second half from the spot, up steps Martin Odegaard who…SCORES! The Villarreal goalkeeper dives the right way but Odegaard’s stutter-step produces an unsaveable delivery inside the post.

FULLTIME: Arsenal 2-3 Villarreal

The Gunners fall to defeat in the 90-minute friendly, done in largely by counter-attacks, but overall Mikel Arteta will be pleased with what he saw from his side. The Gunners looked to play a higher line than they are used to from last season, and there’s clearly going to be some growing pains in that new approach.

There will be a penalty shootout at the end of this friendly, as both managers will relish the chance to practice this kind of setting.

75th min: Penalty, Arsenal! Max Dowman is fouled on the right edge of the penalty area, and the referee points to the spot! It’s right on the line, but there’s no doubt it’s a foul as Villarreal substitute Pau Navarro fells the youngster.

With Viktor Gyokeres brought off, Martin Odegaard steps up to take the spot-kick, and…GOAL! ARSENAL! He sends Diego Conde the wrong way while slotting it inside the right post!

68th min: GOAL! VILLARREAL! Arsenal are undone on the counter-attack for a THIRD time this season, as Arnaut Danjuma is sprung free down the right! He takes it the whole way himself, finishing across the face of goal as Kepa Arrizabalaga can only get a fingertip to the ball!

Arsenal have largely dominated the second half, as they did for much of the first 45 minutes, but have been punished for their high line down the other end!

62nd min: Arsenal have pummeled the Villarreal net over the past five minutes, but like much of the first half, produce nothing to show for it. They are making a whopping six changes as Mikel Arteta protects a number of key players and looks to give others some minutes.

David Raya, Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres, Jakob Kiwior, William Saliba, and Ethan Nwaneri all come off. In their places enter Kepa Arrizabalaga, Max Dowman, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel, Declan Rice, and Jurrien Timber. Mikel Merino moves back into the striker role as he did for much of last season, while Villarreal make three changes of their own, including in goal as well.

2nd half kickoff: The second half is under way as Mikel Arteta makes a pair of substitutions. Martin Zubimendi comes into midfield for the goal scorer Christian Norgaard, while Cristhian Mosquera makes his first appearance as an Arsenal player replacing Ben White at the back.

For Villarreal, Canada international Tajon Buchanan enters for Gerard Moreno.

HALFTIME: Arsenal 1-2 Villarreal

While Arsenal will largely feel good about the first 45 minutes of this match, they will know that better defensive acumen in transitional play is necessary. Finishing is an issue as well, although Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior had a lot to say about that as well, and their last-gasp defending was exquisite as well.

36th min: GOAL! ARSENAL! Finally the Gunners make good on their heavy attacking pressure, and the finish comes from the most unlikely of sources!

Off a corner, where Arsenal were so incredible last season, the new signing is completely unmarked at the far post, only requiring a simple headed finish by Christian Norgaard tucked between the woodwork and scrambling goalkeeper to nod home Gabriel Martinelli’s spot-on delivery!

33rd min: GOAL! VILLARREAL! Oh dear, the Gunners are down a pair now as they’re once again hit in transition! Once again, just like the opener, David Raya is forced to make a fantastic initial save, but it falls right to 21-year-oldl Etta Eyong who taps it in at the far post at an identical position as Pepe’s earlier strike!

Arsenal have been largely in control of this match and have troubled the Villarreal goal on multiple occasions, but unable to find the net themselves, they are staring down a multi-goal deficit!

16th min: GOAL! VILLARREAL! Arsenal have dominated the match to this point, but the visitors score against the run of play, and it’s former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe who finds the back of the net!

It’s poor defending from Arsenal, who see Villarreal counter-attack and profit at the end. After an initial shot from distance was saved exceptionally well by David Raya off the post and away, Villarreal recycle it back into the area. The Gunners had multiple chances to clear, with the ball ping-ponging around the six-yard box before Pepe roofs it at the far post from point-blank range.

Pepe enjoys a muted celebration while the Emirates Stadium faithful serenade their former flop with boos and whistles. 

Nicolas Pépé scores against Arsenal on his return to the Emirates 👀 pic.twitter.com/2sPtBzXFtE

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 6, 2025

Kickoff: They’re under way at The Emirates! Mikel Arteta has rotated his extremely deep midfield from the previous friendly, including new signing Christian Norgaard, but the attack features all three perceived starters at this point in time, headlined by big-money addition Viktor Gyokeres.

Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera, meanwhile, are both on the bench and will hope to get their first appearance in an Arsenal shirt later in the match.

Arsenal vs. Villarreal lineups, team news

Riccardo Calafiori, Leandro Trossard, and Albert Lokonga have all missed recent training due to minor injuries and were thought unlikely to participate. The first two are not in the squad, while Lokonga does appear on the bench.

Gabriel, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Reiss Nelson have all returned to training after recent fitness concerns, but may be treated with caution. None of the aforementioned players are in the starting lineup, with Jakob Kiwior in defence as Gabriel works his way back.

Viktor Gyokeres starts up front for the first time since joining from Sporting CP earlier this summer, while Noni Madueke is hoping to make his first appearance for the club after returning from an extended holiday following his time at the Club World Cup with Chelsea.

Gabriel Jesus is still working his way back from an ACL tear, hoping to be back in contention by October, while Fabio Viera is not with the team as he works on securing a move away. Kai Havertz was a surprise absentee from the squad.

Arsenal starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Raya (GK) — White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly — Nwaneri, Norgaard, Merino — Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

Arsenal subs: Kepa (GK), Setford (GK), Gabriel, Timber, Zinchenko, Zubimendi, Lokonga, Mosquera, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke.

Villarreal have banked significant funds on the departures of strikers Alex Baena and Thierno Barry this offseason, but have not replaced them as of now. They brought in winger Alberto Moleiro from Las Palmas, but he is not a like-for-like replacement at the head of the attack.

The thought could be to give Arnaut Danjuma another go after he returned from his loan at Girona last season, while aging Ayoze Perez, former Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe, or youth product Etta Eyong could get a chance as well. The latter two start today, with Pepe facing his former club.

Defender Logan Costa will be missing for likely the rest of 2025 after tearing his ACL in mid-July.

Villarreal starting lineup (4-4-2, right to left): Junior (GK) — Foyth, Marin, Mourino, Cardona — Pepe, Gueye, Parejo, Moleiro — Moreno, Eyong.

Villarreal subs: Matchday squad released one hour prior to kickoff

Arsenal vs. Villarreal live stream, TV channel

Here’s how to watch this preseason friendly match across selected areas of the world’s major regions: