MLS All Stars 0-5 Arsenal
by Layth Yousif
at Audi Field, Washington DC

ARSENAL made a powerful start to their USA tour as they cruised past the select outfit coached by Wayne Rooney. 

Declan Rice made his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt as Mikel Arteta’s side eased to a comfortable 5-0 victory over Rooney's MLS All Stars at a sold-out Audi Field.

In front of a record crowd of 20,621, goals from Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho, Gabi Martinelli and Kai Havertz sealed the triumph on a hot and steamy evening in the American capital, that was matched only by the passion of the Stateside Arsenal supporters.

Rice, the former West Ham captain who signed for the North Londoners in a record £105m deal prior to the Gunners pre-season tour of the States, replaced Jorginho midway through the second half as the visitors sealed the rout, patrolling the areas expected by a No6 than a No8 as he anchored the midfield.

However, while the match as a contest may have been underwhelming, the passionate support of American Arsenal supporters is what will live long in the memory as fans in red and white took over the Buzzard Point area of Washington DC in a heartening show of loyalty, a mere 25 minutes’ walk from Capitol Hill.

Earlier, Jesus lifted the ball over All Star keeper Roman Burki, after Bukayo Saka fed the ball to the Brazil star on the edge of the area. Without missing a beat, the 26-year-old trumped the former Borussia Dortmund shotstopper with an exquisite chip to put Arsenal ahead in the fifth minute.

Trossard fired past Burki from distance to score a sumptuous long-range strike past the former Grasshoppers Zurich netminder to double the Gunners lead in the America capital on 23 minutes.

With searing temperatures due to a record-breaking heatwave across America, the humidity levels were as uncomfortable as the evening was hot. Yet, the lively Trossard nearly grabbed a second moments before the interval, but his free-kick flew narrowly wide.

Jorginho did make it three 180 seconds after the break when he slotted home his penalty past DC United keeper Tyler Miller – who replaced the beleaguered Burki at the break - after St Louis City MLS star Tim Parker was adjudged to have handled, prior to being substituted shortly afterwards by the record-breaking Rice. 

Arteta made six changes in total midway through the half, two of which saw Rice and Jurrien Timber make their first appearances for Arsenal - albeit in the garish new yellow kit, which while an utter monstrosity, will no doubt eventually gain iconic status with fans, similar to the way the 'Bruised Banana' shirt has entered the hearts and minds of many these days. 

As the clock ticked down Martinelli – who had impressed down the left flank - slotted home from close range on 84 minutes to make it 4-0.

There was still time for Havertz to score emphatically to make it five in only his second appearance for the Gunners, after racing onto a Marquinhos through-ball, as Arsenal saw out the match largely untroubled at the back.

The win marked the first of Arsenal’s three game US series that will take them to New York City to joust with Manchester United on Saturday, prior to taking on Barcelona in Los Angeles next week.

There will be far tougher challenges than Rooney’s invitational side, but at the very least we can say the 2023-24 season has begun in earnest – just ask the legions of passionate Stateside Gooners assembled in large numbers in the American capital to cheer on their heroes.