Arsenal was naive in their defense and paid a painful price, manager Mikel Arteta said that after the 3-2 friendly defeat, Villarreal left them with back-to-back in the previous season.
Arsenal, who started their preparations for the new season with victories over AC Milan and Newcastle United before he lost to London Rivals Tottenham Hotspur, stood 2-0 in 33 minutes against the Spanish Villarreal in the Emirates.
“Today I think the result is painful. I think they were super efficient, but we have been naive, especially the way we have defended in open spaces and that is something that we absolutely have to nail, especially the way we play,” Arteta said reporters.
“Today we have not been good at that department at all and that certainly cost us the game.”
However, Arteta was satisfied with what he saw from Spits Viktor Gyokeres, who completed his 63.5 million euros ($ 74.14 million) of Sporting last month, after he had handed his first start in an Arsenal shirt his first start.
“I think it was very important to him to start a competition and get the feeling and the connection with the team,” said Arteta.
“He has only been to us for a week or so, but I really saw a lot of things and a lot of goal, especially the way he attacked certain spaces.”
Arteta also praised the highly rated 15-year-old attacking midfielder Max Dowman, who won a penalty for Arsenal.
“He continues to impress without a doubt. The impact he had in the game today, the efficiency that he shows in every attack and action, it is incredible,” the Spaniard added.