4 things we learned from Arsenal's statement pre-season win over Bayer Leverkusen

Arsenal enjoyed an emphatic homecoming as they took to the Emirates Stadium pitch for the first time since last season, thrashing Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

It promised to be a challenging test for the Gunners, having returned home from a tour of the United States that produced a mixture of results against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Leverkusen romped to the Bundesliga title last season and haven't seen their squad be carved up in the way that clubs who disrupt the status quo so often do. This wasn't far away from their strongest XI, but Xabi Alonso was left ruing a performance "far below" the standards he expects.

Arsenal took full advantage. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Leandro Trossard both scored withing the opening ten minutes, followed by Gabriel Jesus making it 3-0 shortly before half-time. Kai Havertz went on to get a fourth, with only Adam Hlozek's consolation taking the sheen off.

1. Final preparations

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Havertz; Vieira, Jesus, Trossard: It isn't very far away from the starting XI fans might expect Mikel Arteta to name when Arsenal begin their 2024/25 Premier League campaign against Wolves on Saturday 17 August.

There were still a handful of half-time changes and further substitutions into the second half, but this is the bit of pre-season when things become a little more real - plans get firmer and experimentation is dialled way back.

If Arteta wanted a solid look at the team he will take into the opening game of the season, he got most of that here.

2. England players (& more) return

Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka got their first minutes of pre-season in this one. Neither England player, both of whom started the Euro 2024 final just over three weeks ago, had been involved on the American tour due to a period of well-earned rest. But the duo played the whole second half.

William Saliba was also back, having gone to the Euro semi-finals, while David Raya got his first outing after his back-up role for Spain.

3. Jesus steps up

Arsenal have long been eyeing a new striker without much progress. But, just maybe, Arteta won't be too upset going into the new season as is, given how Gabriel Jesus is performing.

The Brazilian hasn't really lived up to a £45m transfer fee since his 2022 arrival from Manchester City. Injuries and perhaps a loss of confidence have played a significant role in that, but his goal against Leverkusen was his second in four pre-season outings so far this summer.

"The first feeling when I saw him [this summer], it was something different. I could sense it. The energy was different. The way he looks is different. The way he moves is different…he looks good," Arteta reflected afterwards.

4. Warm reception for Xhaka

In his first trip back to the Emirates since leaving last summer, Granit Xhaka played 79 minutes for Leverkusen and it was pleasant to see the former Arsenal skipper get a decent welcome from the home crowd.

Xhaka had his up and down moments in a Gunners shirt, but fans got to their feet when the Swiss veteran was withdrawn. He also hugged Arteta as he departed the pitch and was warmly greeted by ex-teammates on the pitch after the final whistle as well. Before kick-off, a 'welcome back' message to the midfielder was also displayed on the big screen.

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