Barcelona 2 – 1 Arsenal: Iwobi missing in Gunners Pre Season game
Super Eagles’ playmaker, Alex Iwobi was not part of Arsenal’s last pre-season friendly match against Barcelona at the Nou Camp last night.
Gunners’ boss Unai Emery had left out new signing Nicolas Pepe, Alexandre Lacazette and Iwobi who just resumed training with the squad last week.
Luis Suarez scored a 90th-minute winner to help Barcelona come back from a goal down to beat Arsenal 2-1 and win the 2019 Joan Gamper Trophy yesterday.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put Arsenal 1-0 up in the first half, before the hosts drew level after the break thanks to an Ainsley Maitland-Niles own goal. Suarez would strike late on a day when Antoine Griezmann made his home debut for Barca and fellow summer import Frenkie de Jong appeared for the first time, while Lionel Messi was rested.
Pepe who joined from Lille OSC for a record transfer fee was omitted because he needed time to reach game levels, while Lacazette was rested after concerns of an ankle injury.
Meanwhile, Iwobi had been on international duties with Nigeria at the AFCON 2019 and has only recently resumed pre-season practice.
The Joan Gamper trophy was Arsenal’s final pre-season friendly before their opening game in the premier league for the new season against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on August 11.