MLS All-Stars 0 – 5 Arsenal – Match report

Excellent goals from Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz – plus a Jorginho penalty – gave us a well-deserved victory in the MLS All-Star game in Washington.

We repeated our success in 2016, when we prevailed 2-1 in this final in San Jose, but this was a much more comfortable win.

In fact, it was the largest winning margin against MLS All-Stars since 2000, and the perfect way to kick off our three-game series in the USA.

Early fireworks

After a pre-match display of pyrotechnics, pyrotechnics, the national anthem and flyover, it took less than five minutes for Jesus to prove Arsenal were the main attraction of the night.

We dominated possession in the opening exchanges, before Bukayo Saka was released with a Jorginho assist. Finding Jesus just outside the penalty area, the Brazilian blasted a delightful first-time shot over the keeper and just below the bar.

The vast majority of the 20,000 crowd inside Audi Field cheered, we continued to dictate the proceedings, and scored another great goal midway through the half.

Saka – who would go on to win the Player of the Year award – again caused trouble by cutting in from the right wing before slotting his pass to Trossard. The Belgian moved it onto his right foot and then stormed home from 20 yards out, giving Romain Burki no chance.

Managed by Wayne Rooney, the All-Stars made a host of changes as early as the 30th minute, with former Premier League striker and host D.C. United star Christian Benteke among those taken off.

At the end of the first half, the fantastic Trossard had a free kick on target, but we put in good value and went two goals up at half-time.

Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Karl Hein were all introduced at half time, and within seconds of the restart we had solidified our lead.

Jorginho pulled away from 12 yards in typical fashion, leaving the goalkeeper level, and rolled it home into the corner.

Rice makes his bow

With 25 minutes remaining, Mikel Arteta headed home Declan Rice for his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt. Jurrien Timber also made his non-competitive debut, playing right cornerback and Ben White moving to centre.

Both of them were cheering heartily as they gripped me. We continued to search for the most likely to record, despite the wholesale changes.

Odegaard’s superb pass set up our fourth goal, finding striker Martinelli on the left, who fired the ball into the area before sending his shot into the corner.

Havertz got into action late on, with a resounding push, after dropping the ball gracefully at the far post.

Arsenal: Ramsdale (Hein 46), White (Trusty 80), Saliba (Timber 65), Gabriel (Tomiyasu 65), Kiwior (Tierney 65), Jorginho (Rice 65), Trossard (Martinelli 56), Vieira (Marquinhos 65), Saka (Havertz 46), Nketiah (Odegaard 46), Jesus 65.

Submarines not used: Runarsson, Holding, Cozier-Duberry.

What then

We move on to New York next, where we will face Manchester United at MetLife Stadium on Saturday. We then conclude our summer tour of the US with a friendly against Barcelona in Los Angeles next Wednesday. Details of how to stream these games on Arsenal.com here.