Mikel Arteta: I didn't tell my Arsenal players to go after Barcelona

The Gunners emerged triumphant in a captivating friendly match against Barca at SoFi Stadium in California, securing a 5-3 victory with Leandro Trossard netting twice, and Bukayo Saka, Fabio Vieira, and new signing Kai Havertz also finding the back of the net.

Despite being a "pre-season friendly", the game was characterised by robust tackles and intense battles. In total, there were 34 fouls throughout the 90 minutes, with Arsenal players responsible for 22 of them.

"I said to Mikel at the end of the game, it was like a Champions League tie with the intensity they put in," Xavi told the press after the game.

"It was not normal for a friendly, but I understand everyone wants to win. For us, it was our first friendly and we went into it off the back of loads of players having had a bug."

Arteta saw it differently, and responded, "At the end of the day, soccer belongs to the players.

"We're playing in front of 70,000 people and as soon as the game starts they'll rebel against the coaches as soon as the game starts and they'll do what they want.

"As soon as there's the first foul of the game they'll start getting intense and they'll start playing."