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Friendlies roundup: Nuno Tavares scores on first Arsenal appearance

Jul 18, 2021

New signing Nuno Tavares was on target as Arsenal earned a late draw away at Rangers. The hosts went ahead twice, through headers from Leon Balogun and Cedric Itten, against an Arsenal side whose starting lineup featured Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Emile Smith Rowe, Nicolas Pépé and Thomas Partey. The visitors drew level first from a smart finish from 21-year-old Tavares – who joined from Benfica last week – and then from Eddie Nketiah, who struck left-footed after working space inside the penalty area.

A winning start to his Tottenham tenure evaded Nuno Espírito Santo, whose side were held by Leyton Orient. Dele Alli, Harry Winks, Eric Dier, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn were all named in Nuno’s side but it was 17-year-old striker Dane Scarlett who opened the scoring with an angled finish after being played in by Moura. Spurs could come up with no reply, however, after Orient striker Ruel Sotiriou equalised with a fine curling effort in the second half to leave the scores level at one apiece.

Raúl Jimenez made his return from injury after 230 days on the sidelines for Nuno’s former club, Wolves, playing 33 minutes as his team were beaten 1-0 by Crewe Alexandra. Wolves, now managed by ex-Benfica coach Bruno Lage, fell behind to a Chris Long tap-in and could not draw level despite fielding a strong side, Patrick Cutrone missing the best of the visitors’ chances on a sweltering afternoon.

Patrick Vieira saw his team win at Walsall.

Patrick Vieira’s first game in charge of Crystal Palace ended with a 1-0 victory at Walsall, Wilfried Zaha slotting the winner four minutes before half-time to clinch the win for a largely second-string Palace side.

Hakim Ziyech scored a hat-trick as Chelsea beat Peterborough 6-1 at a behind-closed-doors friendly at Cobham. Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja also scored for Chelsea against a Peterborough side who went ahead with a penalty won and dispatched by Siriki Dembélé.


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