Friendly round-up: Arsenal and Chelsea both suffer defensive injuries a week before start of Premier League season
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger’s defensive crisis deepened a week before his side’s opening Premier League fixture as centre-half Gabriel was stretchered off during today's 3-2 friendly victory over Manchester City in Gothenburg.
Wenger is short of defensive reserves after a knee injury ruled World Cup winner Per Mertesacker out for up to five months and Laurent Koscielny is not yet deemed ready to return following his Euro 2016 exploits with France.
That potentially leaves Wenger with Calum Chambers and rookie Rob Holding at his disposal for Sunday’s clash with Liverpool.
“He’s in pain,” said Wenger of Gabriel. “Let’s hope the pain is not a sign of bad news. It’s certainly an ankle sprain. Laurent is back in training but Liverpool may come a bit too soon.”
Goals from Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott and Chuba Akpom propelled Arsenal into a commanding lead after Raheem Sterling’s opener for City, while Kelechi Iheanacho grabbed City’s consolation.
Chelsea skipper John Terry, meanwhile, is also a doubt for his side’s top-flight opener against West Ham on Monday after leaving the field with a head injury during a 4-2 win over Werder Bremen. Eden Hazard, Oscar, Diego Costa and Pedro netted for the Blues.
West Ham marked the official opening of their new home, the London Stadium, with a 3-2 to defeat to Serie A champions Juventus. Andy Carroll scored twice to haul the Hammers level at 2-2 before Simone Zaza hit Juve’s winner.
Liverpool lost 4-0 to one of Jurgen Klopp’s former clubs Mainz, only 24 hours after thrashing Spanish champions Barcelona by the same scoreline at Wembley.