Arsenal wonderkid hits brace in Fiorentina win

Forward Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal (right) celebrates with teammate Tyreece John-Jules after scoring the winning goal against Bayern Munich during their International Champions Cup football match at the Dignity Health Stadium in Carson, California on July 17, 2019. PHOTO | MARK RALSTON |

By  AFP

What you need to know:

  • The 20-year-old striker, who fired the game-winner two minutes from time in a win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday, picked up right where he left off with goals in the 15th and 66th minutes
  • Fiorentina could have made things more difficult for the Gunners but for a series of missed chances in the first half and solid work by Emi Martinez in the Arsenal goal
  • On Tuesday Unai Emery's men take on Real Madrid at FedEx Field, home of the NFL's Washington Redskins

WASHINGTON

Youngster Edward Nketiah made it three goals in two matches Saturday with a brace that boosted Arsenal to a 3-0 win over Fiorentina in a pre-season friendly in North Carolina.

The 20-year-old striker, who fired the game-winner two minutes from time in a win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday, picked up right where he left off with goals in the 15th and 66th minutes.

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Joseph Willock added an exclamation point with a goal to make it 3-0 in the 89th.

Fiorentina could have made things more difficult for the Gunners but for a series of missed chances in the first half and solid work by Emi Martinez in the Arsenal goal.

Nketiah displayed a crisp scoring touch, putting Arsenal up 1-0 as he seized on Sead Kolasinac's low cross, dodged his defender and fired home with his right foot.

He was perfectly positioned in the 66th to slot home a pass from Alexandre Lacazette after good work up the left side by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The victory in sweltering heat before a crowd of 34,902 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte made it three wins in three matches for Arsenal in a tour that began with unsettled captain Laurent Koscielny refusing to make the trip in a bid to force a transfer.

On Tuesday Unai Emery's men take on Real Madrid at FedEx Field, home of the NFL's Washington Redskins.

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