Arsenal vs Lyon - LIVE!

Arsenal showed no signs of rustiness as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Lyon in the Dubai Super Cup. Almost a month after the Gunners beat Wolves in their final Premier League match before club football went on a break for the World Cup, Mikel Arteta’s side looked as sharp as ever in their first of two matches in Dubai.

Goals from Gabriel, Eddie Nketiah and Fabio Vieira put the Gunners in complete control heading into the break, and that proved to be more than enough for victory. A penalty shootout took place after the match with an extra point on offer, and Karl Hein, with his four saves, was the only one to come out with real credit as the Gunners won 2-1 following a really poor set of spot-kicks.

Arsenal face AC Milan next week, before returning to London to play Juventus in a final friendly before the resumption of the Premier League.

Arsenal vs Lyon latest news

• Arsenal win penalty shootout!

• GOAL! Vieira with stunning finish before the break

• GOAL! Nketiah doubles the lead

• GOAL! Gabriel header put Arsenal in front

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18:00 , Matt Verri

Arsenal showed no signs of rustiness as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Lyon in the Dubai Super Cup.

Almost a month after the Gunners beat Wolves in their final Premier League match before club football went on a break for the World Cup, Mikel Arteta’s side looked as sharp as ever in their first of two matches in Dubai.

Goals from Gabriel, Eddie Nketiah and Fabio Vieira put the Gunners in complete control heading into the break, and that proved to be more than enough for victory. A penalty shootout took place after the match with an extra point on offer, and Karl Hein, with his four saves, was the only one to come out with real credit as the Gunners won 2-1 following a really poor set of spot-kicks.

Arsenal face AC Milan next week, before returning to London to play Juventus in a final friendly before the resumption of the Premier League.

Read our full report here

A lot of red... not much green!

17:42 , Matt Verri

17:36 , Matt Verri

Well we know for sure that Arteta is not spending many training sessions on penalties.

Cirjan must be a very happy man. His attempted panenka was a mess, but that was nothing in comparison to what followed from Cherki.

Barely made it to Hein, who just stood there waiting for it.

Arsenal win the shootout!

17:30 , Matt Verri

The worst of the bunch - and that’s saying something!

Cherki goes for a panenka, Hein doesn’t move and Arsenal take the shootout 2-1. That was truly woeful.

17:29 , Matt Verri

Walters to win it for Arsenal... miles over the bar!

It’s been about four years since someone last scored a penalty in this shootout.

17:28 , Matt Verri

Barcola struts up and Hein produces another save! What a crazy shootout, Arsenal goalkeeper has been brilliant. Guess what? It’s 2-1.

17:27 , Matt Verri

Cozier-Duberry for Arsenal, and it’s saved! This has not been a particularly impressive shootout. Nowhere near the corner, stays 2-1.

17:26 , Matt Verri

Hein with another brilliant save! Tete goes for power but the Arsenal goalkeeper guesses correctly. 2-1 Arsenal.

17:25 , Matt Verri

Cirjan... oh no. He’s gone for the panenka and the goalkeeper hasn’t move. Horrendous. 2-1 Arsenal still.

17:24 , Matt Verri

Mendes for Lyon, goes for the stuttering run-up and makes no mistake. That was very composed. 2-1 Arsenal.

17:23 , Matt Verri

Smith next up for the Gunners and it’s another great penalty, sends the goalkeeper the wrong way. 2-0 Arsenal.

17:22 , Matt Verri

Reine-Adelaide against his former side.... brilliant save! Superb from Hein to get down and keep that out. 1-0 Arsenal it remains.

17:21 , Matt Verri

Marquinhos steps up for the Gunners, takes his time before slotting it into the bottom corner. Great penalty. 1-0 Arsenal.

17:21 , Matt Verri

Here we go then - Arsenal to take the first penalty in the shootout.

FT: Arsenal 3-0 Lyon

17:17 , Matt Verri

And that is the end of the 90 minutes.

Now we have the main event - bring on the penalty shootout!

17:16 , Matt Verri

90 mins: How much added-time will we get?

One minute. Officials want to get these penalties underway as soon as possible. Quite right too.

17:12 , Matt Verri

86 mins: Brilliant ball across the face of the Arsenal goal, nobody in a white shirt is following it in at the back post though.

Whipped back into the box, Hein off his line once more to claim. He’s had a really solid game. It’s then great defending from Sousa a minute later in his own six-yard box, slides in and had to get that right.

17:08 , Matt Verri

82 mins: Reminder that there will be a penalty shootout after the match, with an extra point on offer for the winner.

Things have slowed down a bit in terms of the match, but it will all be worth it when we get the penalties. Hang on in there.

17:06 , Matt Verri

80 mins: So close to 4-0!

Never mind keeping them at bay, Arsenal almost extend the lead! Initial shot hits the post, Marquinhos from the rebound is then denied by a brilliant save.

17:04 , Matt Verri

78 mins: Back up and running.

Lyon getting a lot more joy now going forward as you’d expect, Arsenal will do well to keep them at bay in the final 15 minutes or so.

17:01 , Matt Verri

75 mins: Slightly strange timing for the drinks break, referee decided not to take it at the midway point of the half when all those changes were being made.

Anyway, a brief pause as Arteta calls everyone over.

16:58 , Matt Verri

72 mins: Corner Lyon, who will feel they should really be the better side now after all those Arsenal changes.

Swung in, too close to Hein and the goalkeeper claims confidently.

16:56 , Matt Verri

70 mins: Cozier-Duberry, Foran, Cirijan, Smith, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelley, Sousa, Walters and Butler-Oyedeji are all on for Arsenal. Hein the only player who started the match to still be on.

Lyon meanwhile should score, but Dembele heads wide when free in the box.

16:53 , Matt Verri

67 mins: Brace yourselves.

The entirety of north London is standing on the touchline, pretty much the whole team is about to be changed.

This could take some time.

16:50 , Matt Verri

64 mins: Chaos in the Lyon box, whistle didn’t go though!

Cross looped in, Lopes comes and doesn’t claim, left in a heap on the floor. Plays goes on, falls for Marquinhos but he drags the effort into the side-netting with the goal pretty much empty.

Not his finest moment.

16:48 , Matt Verri

62 mins: Loads of changes from Lyon - Cherki, Tete, Lepenant and Reine-Adelaide all coming on.

Arteta still pretty much keeping faith with his first-team stars, at least for now.

16:44 , Matt Verri

58 mins: Elneny... inches away!

Arsenal pushing for a fourth, patient play on the edge of the box and it comes to Elneny. He has time to take a touch, looks to pass it into the bottom corner but it’s just wide. Lopes didn’t move.

16:41 , Matt Verri

56 mins: Almost stunning from Marquinhos!

In fact it’s a brilliant save. Cuts inside onto his left foot, curling effort looks destined for the top corner but it’s tipped onto the bar.

16:39 , Matt Verri

53 mins: Marquinhos with his first chance to run with the ball, just skips past his man with ease.

Looks to cut the ball back to Odegaard, intercepted. The first part was very nice, at least.

16:36 , Matt Verri

50 mins: Not quite as much energy from Arsenal since the break, Lyon seeing more of the ball.

Nketiah tries to change that as he picks it up on the halfway line, gets hauled to the ground by Lukeba.

16:33 , Matt Verri

47 mins: Just the one Arsenal change in fact, Marquinhos on for Vieira.

Lacazette tries his luck from distance seconds after the restart, Hein always confident that was going over.

Back underway!

16:31 , Matt Verri

Up and running for the second-half. Looks like pretty much the same Arsenal side out there.

Penalty shootout regardless

16:25 , Matt Verri

Fair to say the result of this match is already in little doubt, unless Lyon are going to go full Istanbul 2005 on us.

Whatever happens in the next 45 minutes, there will be a penalty shootout at the end of the match.

Whoever wins that will get an extra point in the very prestigious and important Dubai Super Cup.

Options for Arteta...

16:20 , Matt Verri

It’s a very youthful Arsenal bench, plenty of young prospects waiting to get their chance.

Imagine the majority of them will get their opportunity at some point in the second-half. A reminder of who is on the bench:

Hillson, Foran, Walters, Sousa, Smith, Cirjan, Lewis-Skelly, Cozier-Duberry, Nwaneri, Marquinhos, Sagoe Jr, Butler-Oyedeji

HT: Arsenal 3-0 Lyon

16:16 , Matt Verri

Officials can’t be bothered with much added-time, so that’s the end of the first-half.

Arsenal so sharp and they have a 3-0 lead to show for it, goals coming from Gabriel, Nketiah and Vieira.

Slick passing, clinical finish, rarely troubled at the back... pretty perfect 45 minutes for Arteta and his side.

16:13 , Matt Verri

44 mins: Lyon with their first spell of sustained possession in a while. They’ve not really been in the game at all.

Interesting to see how many changes Arteta makes at half-time, or whether he opts to give his first-team players as much action as possible.

16:11 , Matt Verri

41 mins: Tierney looks to whip a cross in from out wide, blocked behind for a corner. Cedric over to take it.

Taken short, eventually comes in and Gabriel flicks a header wide. Almost had his second!

GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Lyon | Fabio Vieira 39'

16:08 , Matt Verri

What. A. Strike.

It’s a sublime Arsenal move, one-touch passing takes them into the Lyon box before it’s played out to Vieira.

He provides a sensational finish, whipping it into the top corner from distance. Nobody is saving that.

16:05 , Matt Verri

36 mins: Lyon almost respond immediately, Dembele bringing the ball forward and letting fly from 20 yards out.

Catches it sweetly, always rising over the bar though. That’s as close as the Ligue 1 side have come.

GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Lyon | Eddie Nketiah 33'

16:03 , Matt Verri

Lovely move!

Odegaard lays the ball back, Lokonga clips a brilliant pass out to Vieira and he’s got the freedom of the Lyon half.

Drives into the space, squares it for Nketiah and the striker just about finds the bottom corner as he loses his balance.

16:02 , Matt Verri

32 mins: Quick throw and all of a sudden Nketiah is in, ball bouncing awkwardly though.

Eventually drops enough for him to attempt to lift it over Lopes, goalkeeper gets enough on it to take the pace out of the ball and it’s cleared away.

15:59 , Matt Verri

29 mins: We’re back up and running. Doubt we’ll be seeing three hours of added-time, like in the World Cup, to make up for it.

Arteta will be pretty pleased with what he’s seen from his side so far, but he was still passing on plenty of instructions.

15:56 , Matt Verri

27 mins: Looks like we’ll be having a water break, clearly still pretty warm despite it now being almost 8pm local time in Dubai.

Arteta never one to turn down an opportunity for an extra team-talk.

15:54 , Matt Verri

25 mins: Arsenal starting to carve Lyon open at will.

Odegaard with so much space to drive into, opts to slide it wide to Tierney. He hammers the ball across the face of goal with Nketiah waiting for a tap-in, it’s put behind for a corner though.

Too close to Lopes this time, off his line to claim.

15:52 , Matt Verri

22 mins: Nketiah down after trying to avoid colliding with Lopes, ends up catching up and he’s stayed down. That’s about the last thing Arsenal want to see, with Jesus out injured.

He’s quickly back up though, looks like he’ll be fine to continue.

15:51 , Matt Verri

21 mins: Here come Arsenal again, Nketiah driving into the box. Forced to turn back, not many black shirts up with him.

Long ball played towards Vieira on the opposite flank, might have just about got on the end of that if he was ten feet taller.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Lyon | Gabriel 19'

15:48 , Matt Verri

It’s been coming!

Arsenal take the lead as Gabriel, who missed an early chance, makes no mistake this time.

Corner whipped in, and the Brazilian powers a header home.

15:47 , Matt Verri

17 mins: Vieira has to score!

Things open up for the Gunners, Odegaard slides a perfect pass through to Vieira. Only the keeper to beat, on his weaker right-foot and it’s straight at Lopes.

Tame effort in the end.

15:43 , Matt Verri

14 mins: Decent chance for Arsenal, as the free-kick is swung in.

Gabriel free in the middle but can’t quite time his jump, heads well over the bar. Holding was lurking behind him too.

15:42 , Matt Verri

12 mins: Gabriel looks for a big switch out to Nelson, the winger can’t catch up with it though.

Lyon have had a decent spell in the last few minutes, pushed Arsenal back a bit after the Gunners’ fast start.

15:39 , Matt Verri

10 mins: Big tackle from Gabriel on Lacazette, Frenchman sent flying to the floor. Always nice to catch up with old friends...

Lokonga then involved at the other end, just too much on the pass though and it runs through to the goalkeeper.

Caqueret leads a Lyon counter, opts to go by himself and the shot from distance is blocked. End-to-end all of a sudden.

15:36 , Matt Verri

7 mins: OFF THE POST!

Nketiah breaks away down the left, cuts it back to Nelson in the box.

Takes a touch, slightly tight angle but hammers a shot towards the near post and it smacks back off the woodwork. Great effort.

15:36 , Matt Verri

6 mins: Long throw from Tierney, towel comes out to dry the ball.

It’s... too long if anything. Flies over Gabriel and Holding into the six-yard box, headed away. His team-mates need to have more faith in his arm.

15:35 , Matt Verri

5 mins: Pass from Holding to Gabriel isn’t too far away from being cut out by Lacazette, brief scare for the Gunners.

They work it really nicely up the pitch though, Tierney throught to Nelson who tries to poke it back to him, it’s intercepted though.

15:32 , Matt Verri

3 mins: Arsenal with all of the early possession, Lacazette and Dembele not really putting on much of a press.

Tierney as ever flying forward on the left, Nelson gives away a foul though and the left-back has to trudge back into defence.

KICK-OFF!

15:30 , Matt Verri

We’re underway. Arteta is sitting down - it really is a friendly.

15:28 , Matt Verri

Thankfully there is no such thing.

Odegaard and Lacazette the two captains - feels almost inevitable the Frenchman scores against his former club.

Kick-off coming up next!

15:27 , Matt Verri

Players out onto the pitch, impressive stadium but safe to say it’s not full, or anything close to full.

They’re all standing there lined up waiting for something. The Dubai Super Cup anthem?

15:27 , Matt Verri

Players out onto the pitch, impressive stadium but safe to say it’s not full, or anything close to full.

They’re all standing there lined up waiting for something. The Dubai Super Cup anthem?

Not long now!

15:23 , Matt Verri

Teams will be out in just a few minutes.

Result not really the most important thing this afternoon, but Arsenal have got into good winning habit this season. Arteta will want his side to be right at it over the next few games, before the serious business gets back underway.

Gunners arrive earlier this afternoon...

15:14 , Matt Verri

Penalties to come

15:07 , Matt Verri

Each of Arsenal, Liverpool, Lyon and AC Milan will play twice in the Dubai Super Cup - the two English sides will not face each other.

There will be a penalty shootout after every match, regardless of the result. An extra point will be awarded to the winner of that.

Something to look forward to...

Jesus begins recovery

14:59 , Matt Verri

Gabriel Jesus yesterday posted an update following knee surgery.

The striker was injured during Brazil’s final World Cup group stage game against Cameroon and is now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

He put out a photo on his Instagram account which showed him waving his crutches in the air, captioned: “Time to go home.”

Arsenal connection

14:53 , Matt Verri

A couple of familiar names in that Lyon starting lineup for Arsenal fans.

Lacazette up front, after the Frenchman joined the club in the summer as his contract in north London expired.

Reine-Adelaide on the bench - he was never able to really make an impact with the Gunners.

Lyon team news

14:47 , Matt Verri

Lyon XI: Lopes, Henrique, Lukeba, Diomande, Gusto, Caqueret, Aouar, Tolisso, Faivre, Dembele, Lacazette

Subs: Riou, Bonnevie, Da Silva, Kumbedi, Laaziri, Sarr, Lepenant, Mendes, Reine-Adelaide, Barcola, Cherki, Tete

Arteta in the building!

14:44 , Matt Verri

Strong Arsenal side

14:39 , Matt Verri

That’s pretty much the sort of side Arteta has gone with in the Europa League so far this season, and it’s as strong a team as he could have named with those available to him in Dubai.

Holding and Gabriel partner each other at centre-back, with Tierney on the left. Odegaard captains the side in midfield, while Nelson gets his chance out wide and Nketiah leads the line.

Plenty of youngsters, including Marquinhos, who will surely get their chance off the bench at some point.

Arsenal team news

14:32 , Matt Verri

Arsenal XI: Hein, Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Elneny, Lokonga, Odegaard, Nelson, Vieira, Nketiah

Subs: Hillson, Foran, Walters, Sousa, Smith, Cirjan, Lewis-Skelly, Cozier-Duberry, Nwaneri, Marquinhos, Sagoe Jr, Butler-Oyedeji

Lacazette arrives with the Lyon team!

14:20 , Matt Verri

Arsenal’s squad in full

14:13 , Matt Verri

Goalkeepers: Karl Hein, Hubert Graczyk, James Hillson

Defenders: Kieran Tierney, Cedric Soares, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Lino Sousa, Reuell Walters, Gabriel, Rob Holding, Taylor Foran, Zane Monlouis

Midfielders: Albert Sambi Lokonga, Mohamed Elneny, , Matt Smith, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith-Rowe, Fabio Vieira, Catalin Cirjan

Attackers: Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, Marquinhos, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Charles Sagoe Jr, Amario Cozier-Duberry

Arteta: Arsenal will be ready for ‘huge demands'

14:06 , Matt Verri

Mikel Arteta is confident that this Dubai trip will leave Arsenal well-prepared for a huge five months ahead.

The Gunners sit top of the Premier League and eased through their Europa League group, ensuring there is plenty of excitement ahead of the return of club football.

“It’s a really good environment to work,” Arteta said ahead of the trip.

“The weather is spectacular and then the World Cup is so close, so for any player that is around there, it is so easy to get them back straight away. I think it ticks all the boxes that we need.

“We need good preparation mentally and physically to be ready for the huge demands that the second part of the season is going to bring to the team. We have two great games against Lyon and Milan and we are really looking forward to it.

“They’re two big clubs and it’ll be tough competition, and for us, it’s a great test to see where we are.”

Xhaka joins up with Gunners

13:57 , Matt Verri

Granit Xhaka flew straight to Arsenal’s training camp in Dubai as he tries to get over crashing out of the World Cup with Switzerland.

Xhaka and Switzerland were knocked out of the tournament in Qatar at the last-16 stage on Tuesday night after losing 6-1 to Portugal.

“Of course, emotionally it is not easy. But this is part of our business, part of football,” Xhaka told Standard Sport after losing to Portugal.

“You have to recover well. The Premier League is waiting and, of course, I wanted to be here longer than this. But we lost the game today and I am happy to go back now with the team.”

Read the full story on that here

Stage is set!

13:48 , Matt Verri

Arsenal’s friendly schedule

13:42 , Matt Verri

So it’s a match against Lyon this afternoon for the Gunners, before another game in the Dubai Super Cup on December 13 when they face AC Milan.

Arsenal will then return to the UK and play Juventus at the Emirates on December 17, in what will be their final friendly before the serious business gets underway.

West Ham at home for Arsenal on Boxing Day to get their Premier League campaign back up and running.

Arsenal beaten by Watford

13:33 , Matt Verri

Eddie Nketiah and Marquinhos were both on the scoresheet as Arsenal lost 4-2 to Watford on Saturday.

A team featuring Cedric Soares, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Odegaard, Reiss Nelson and Albert Sambi Lokonga took to the pitch for the first half at London Colney.

Midway through the half, Arsenal’s pressure told with a finish from outside the box by Brazilian youngster Marquinhos. An equaliser from Keinan Davis was cancelled out moments later by Nketiah heading home a cross from Tierney.

Premier League leaders Arsenal led at the break before both sides made a raft of changes.

Davis, Yaser Asprilla and Joao Pedro all scored for Watford in the second period after the Gunners switched to a line-up of academy players.

Prediction

13:26 , Matt Verri

The result naturally will not matter in a friendly and neither of these teams have played very much for a number of weeks.

Any prediction is a little bit of (a lot of) a guess - we’ll go for Arsenal to just about come out on top.

A 2-1 win for Arsenal.

Arsenal team news

13:19 , Matt Verri

Martin Odegaard, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Magalhaes and Mohamed Elneny formed a relatively strong starting XI for Arsenal in their behind-closed-doors defeat to Watford ahead of the trip to Dubai.

The same players should feature against Lyon with a number of academy prospects likely to get runouts, too.

The game will come too soon for Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Takehiro Tomiyasu and the other Arsenal players knocked out of the World Cup.

Gabriel Jesus could face three months on the sidelines in a massive blow after a knee injury suffered with Brazil in Qatar. Emile Smith Rowe is still injured, while Ben White left England’s training camp due to personal reasons.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Hein; Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Elneny, Lokonga, Odegaard; Nelson, Nketiah, Marquinhos.

How to watch Arsenal vs Lyon

13:09 , Matt Verri

TV channel: In the UK, the match will be shown live on pay-per-view via Arsenal’s club media.

Live stream: Fans can subscribe to watch the match online and via the Arsenal app for £5.99.

Live blog: You can follow all the action right here with us!

Good afternoon!

13:01 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Arsenal vs Lyon in the Dubai Super Cup!

Mikel Arteta’s side continue their preparations ahead of the resumption of club football afte the World Cup, with the Gunners set to name a relatively strong side this afternoon.

We’ll have all the latest updates and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 3:30pm GMT from the Al-Maktoum Stadium.