Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirms there will be no behind closed doors games after Bilbao saying: “The week towards Manchester United will be preparation…”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Max Dowman featuring in the first team when the season starts: He says emphatically: “If he continues to impress, then without a doubt…incredible…he deserves to have chances like this…”

Arsenal boss Arteta says during his post-match press conference: It was good for him [Viktor Gyokeres] to start here [today]

Right, now for Mike Arteta's post-match press conference...

Don't forget to read Nick Manfredi's on the whistle match report on our site onlinegooner.com right now

And that's the end of penalties with Villarreal winning 4-3 on spot kicks after beating Arsenal 3-2 after 90 minutes

FT: Arsenal 2-3 Villarreal - but wait, there's a penalty shootout...(!)

Noni Madueke fires in a cross that is blocked. Corner to Arsenal with moments remaining...

Three minutes added time announced - which prompts a rush for the exits

87 - Odegaard drills a low shot wide

81 - Villarreal's No 17 Tajon Buchanan tests Kepa with a low shot that the new Arsenal keeper gathers

As well as Zinchenko on for MLS with Madueke replacing Martinelli

Those earlier Arsenal subs in full: Rice, Dowman, Odegaard, Gabriel, Kepa and Timber on for Raya, Saliba, Gyokeres, Nwaneri, Kiwior and Saka

it should be an interesting last 13 minutes or so as Arsenal chase an equaliser with the score 2-3 to Villarreal....

76 - GOAL: Arsenal 2-3 Villarreal - Martin Odegaard sends keeper Luis Junior the wrong way to pull a goal back after Max Dowman was fouled

GOAL!!!!!

Referee Sam Barrott awards a penalty to Arsenal after Max Dowman is felled in the box

PENALTY!

Arnaut Danjuma firs across Kepa and low into the net to make it 3-1 to Villarreal). Assisted by Santi Comesaña

67 - GOAL: Arsenal 1-3 Villarreal

GOAL

And that's Gyokeres last action as he is replaced as a raft of substitutes gear up to come on - we will have the full list in a moment as Max Dowman comes on for his first taste of first team action at the Emirates (hands up who saw him play for Arsenal U18s vs Man Utd U18s in the FA Youth Cup quarter finals here last March

Good to note Gyokeres is getting more and more into the game

60 - Villarreal keeper Luis Junior saves from Gyokeres - if that had gone in it would have brought the house down

60 - SAVE

59 - Martinelli fires a weak free kick at Villarreal keeper Luis Junior who gathers easily

Gyokeres wins the ball and drives at the heart of the Villarreal backline but his ball to Saka is cut out as the Emirates crowd roars its approval at the first part of his attack

Saka is blocked off on the edge of the box but referee Sam Barrott refuses to give anything. Again...

54 - Yellow card for Villarreal's Eyong after felling Gabi Martinelli who was about to embark on a driving run

There's a break in play as Villarreal's No23 Sergi Cardona is treated by the physio after running into the man. mountain that is Mosquera

The teams are out for the second half - Mosquera on for White during the interval

Don't forget to keep an eye out for exciting new Arsenal writer Nick Manfredi's report and reaction to tonight's game. Nick will be writing for us this season on the men, as well as covering U21 games

And that's half time here at the Emirates with the score Arsenal 1-2 Villarreal

And that's half time here at the Emirates with the score Arsenal 1-2 Villarreal

And that's half time here at the Emirates with the score Arsenal 1-2 Villarreal

And that's half time here at the Emirates with the score Arsenal 1-2 Villarreal

Juan Foyth surely fouls Gyokeres in the middle of the park but referee Sam Barrott refuses to give a foul

Gyokeres jinks and turns in a bid to find space as Arsenal look for an equaliser before half time

FYI: Norgaard's header for his goal on 34 minutes came from a Gabi Martinelli corner

Arsenal 1 (Norgaard 34) - Villarreal 2 (Pepe 17, Eyong, 32)

Goal! Arsenal 1-2 Villarreal. Almost immediately the Gunners pull a goal back after new boy Christian Norgaard steers a low header past Luiz Junior in the visitors goal

GOAL!!!!

Arsenal 0-2 Villarreal (Pepe, 17, Eyong 32)

32 - GOAL Arsenal 0-2 Villarreal. The visitors double their lead just after the half hour through No29 Etta Eyong who guides the ball past David Raya after pressure from the Yellow Submarines

GOAL

30 - Half an hour gone and it's still 1-0 to Villarreal as the crowd get behind the Gunners

There is practically a full house at Emirates - good to see plenty of old faces while flogging the Gooner before the game at Arsenal tube. Also good to note there are new ones too. Important for those who can't always make league games to be able to watch their heroes in the flesh at the Emirates. They certainly seem excited enough every time Arsenal attack

There is practically a full house at Emirates - good to see plenty of old faces while flogging the Gooner before the game at Arsenal tube. Also good to note there are new ones too. Important for those who can't always make league games to be able to watch their heroes in the flesh at the Emirates. They certainly seem excited enough every time Arsenal attack

There is practically a full house at Emirates - good to see plenty of old faces while flogging the Gooner before the game at Arsenal tube. Also good to note there are new ones too. Important for those who can't always make league games to be able to watch their heroes in the flesh at the Emirates. They certainly seem excited enough every time Arsenal attack

It is noticeable that Arsenal are hitting the flanks before attempting to cross the ball into the box for Gyokeres. Hasn't come off yet, but I do believe we have had an insight into how Mikel Arteta wants his team to play this season...

FYI: Pape Gueye had hit the post with a shot moments before Pepe scored

17 - GOAL: Arsenal 0-1 Villarreal - Former Gunner Nicolas Pepe scores for the visitors but refuses to celebrate

17 - GOAL

15 - Gerard Moreno header is saved As Villarreal attack

13 - Saka crosses but Gyokeres can't make contact with an attempted hook

While we're in a bit of a lull here, if you can, please do consider taking out a subscription to the Gooner Fanzine - out standard rate for the 2025-26 season is a mere £30 - which works out at 8p a day (eight pence). We need to reach the bare minimum of 1,000 subscribers by the end of August and we were more than 200 short when we launched the campaign two days ago. Save The Gooner!

9 - Saka drives at the Villarreal backline before his cross is headed away with Gyokeres waiting to pounce in the middle

Good to note Viktor Gyokeres is starting. Lovely to see him in a red and white shirt

Good to note Viktor Gyokeres is starting. Lovely to see him in a red and white shirt

Angel (North London Forever) rings out as football returns to the Emirates!

Big cheers for all the new players, as well as the existing squad

And here they come, as the Emirates crowd gives them a big cheer as Good Old Arsenal plays over the tannoy - football is back in N5!

The teams will be out soon - not long now to kick-off on a balmy August evening here in North London

Arsenal substitutes this evening: Kepa, Tommy Setford, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel, Cristhian Mosquera, Alex Zinchenko, Sambi Lokonga, Martín Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Declan Rice, Max Dowman, Andre Harriman-Annous

Arsenal startting XI to face Villarreal at the Emirates: David Raya, Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, Christian Nørgaard, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Viktor Gyökeres, Bukayo Saka (c), Gabi Martinelli

Hello, and welcome back to Emirates, it's like we've never been away. How's your summer been? Arsenal's has certainly been busy, with new sporting director Andrea Bertha landing a raft of new players, including, finally, a striker in Viktor Gyokeres. Team news coming up...