WASHINGTON (AP) – If this is a Declan Rice reception in the US capital, imagine this season in London.
Arsenal’s new star midfielder came on as a second-half substitute and helped end a 5-0 win over the MLS All-Stars on Wednesday night. Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz all scored — but those weren’t the only highlights for the many red-shirted Arsenal fans in the crowd at Audi Field.
Rice moved from West Ham to the Gunners for a British record transfer fee last weekend, reported to be £105 million ($138 million). The crowd cheered as he entered the game for just over an hour and cheered again when he was in possession of the ball.
United States national team forward Folarin Balogun, whose days at Arsenal can be numbered, also entered the field for the London club at the same time as Rice.
By then, the Gunners were leading 3-0.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “I think we were suffocated by the weather… and we really couldn’t control the game. “But it is true that today we excelled in both boxes. Every time we get a good position in the bottom third, we put the ball in the net.”
MLS has beaten the likes of Chelsea and Bayern Munich in the past in this format, which often results in competitive matches with more defences than some other All-Star events. The MLS team – excluding the recent addition of Miami Lionel Messi – received four yellow cards before halftime.
Former Manchester United star and current DC United coach Wayne Rooney, who leads the MLS team, said: “I think the referee turned the game a bit in his favor. “I think that’s something that needs improvement in the MLS. I’ve been saying it all season, so this is a good opportunity for me to repeat it.”
Jesus opened the scoring with a beautiful chip in the fifth minute. His shot from outside the box went past St. Roman Burki. Louis and bounce the left vertical column.
Trossard doubled the lead in the 23rd minute with another goal from outside the box, slightly in the middle _ and with a stronger shot _ than Jesus’ shot.
Trossard suffered a concussion early in the second half and was brought on as a substitute.
In the first minute after halftime, St. Parker defender Tim Parker. Louis fouled a handball inside the box, and Jorginho made it 3-0. Martinelli and Havertz scored late to make it five.
“Arsenal have shown the quality they have,” said Rooney. “I think the All-Star boys, were a bit nervous and hesitant, especially in the first half when we got into some favorable areas.”
Havertz is another Arsenal newcomer, having been signed from Chelsea.
“He gives you something very different, with his quality, with his size, like when you have to beat the press, and use him as an attacker,” Arteta said. “I’m sure that throughout the season as well as in games we will have the option of using him in different positions.”
USA defender Auston Trusty was in the final game for Arsenal alongside Balogun.
“I think they deserved to enjoy that moment, get recognized and play in front of their crowd,” Arteta said.
Gearing up for their Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest on August 12, Arsenal play a friendly against Manchester United on Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey and against Barcelona on July 26 in Inglewood, California.
