Havertz stays silent on debut as Jorginho scores peculiar own goal in Nurnberg 1-1 Arsenal match

Arsenal draws 1-1 with Nurnberg in pre-season match with bizarre own goal.

In a rather peculiar start to their pre-season campaign, Arsenal faced a 1-1 draw against Nurnberg, courtesy of an own goal by Jorginho. The Gunners seemed to be comfortably cruising through the match in Germany until the 62nd minute when substitute goalkeeper Karl Hein made a careless mistake, playing a loose ball while he was 20 yards away from his line. This forced Jorginho to take evasive action against Kanji Okunuki, but unfortunately, his attempt to clear the ball ended up sending it straight into the net. Although Okunuki claimed the goal, it is unlikely that Jorginho will deny him that credit.

While this was Arsenal's first proper outing of the summer, Mikel Arteta would not have been pleased with his team's lackluster response to the equalizer. It was a far cry from their dominant 5-3 victory in the same fixture last season. Nurnberg managed to hit the woodwork late in the game, leaving Arsenal looking disorganized, albeit not entirely unexpected given the circumstances.

Another cause for concern for Arteta was Kai Havertz's subdued debut off the bench. The German was deployed in his anticipated new midfield position but struggled to make an impact at either end of the pitch. The drop-off in performance was evident after a solid start by Arsenal at the Max-Morlock-Stadion, especially considering Martin Odegaard had to be withdrawn from the lineup due to injury.

Bukayo Saka, however, showcased his brilliance early on by drilling a trademark cut-in and finish to score the opening goal. He expertly held off his marker and had opportunities to extend Arsenal's lead before halftime. Folarin Balogun also had a golden chance to make it 2-0, but unfortunately hit the post from a tight angle.

After Nurnberg's unexpected equalizer, they had the better chances on the counterattack. Balogun once again missed a glorious opportunity to secure the win in the dying moments of the game. Despite rounding the goalkeeper, he disappointingly hit the side netting with the goal wide open.

Overall, Arsenal's pre-season opener was filled with twists and turns, leaving Arteta with plenty to ponder. The team's response to adversity and individual performances will be crucial as they prepare for the upcoming season.

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