Arsenal kicked off their 2024 US tour with a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, followed by a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout victory at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles.

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Fabio Vieira #21 of Arsenal FC celebrates after scoring a goal against AFC Bournemouth during the first half at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024 in Carson, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
CARSON, CALIFORNIA – JULY 24: Fabio Vieira #21 of Arsenal FC celebrates after scoring a goal against AFC Bournemouth during the first half at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024 in Carson, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Fábio Vieira‘s stunning volley in the 17th minute gave the Gunners an early lead, however, Bournemouth, fielding a strong lineup, clawed their way back into the game.

Antoine Semenyo’s deflected shot in the 72nd minute levelled the score, setting the stage for a tense penalty shootout and as much excitement as a no deposit bonus Bitcoin casino.

Goalkeeper Karl Hein emerged as the hero of the night, making two crucial saves during the shootout to secure Arsenal’s victory. Jakub Kiwior sealed the win with a confident penalty, sending the Cherries’ goalkeeper Neto the wrong way.

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Fabio Vieira #21 of Arsenal FC is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against AFC Bournemouth during the first half at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024 in Carson, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
CARSON, CALIFORNIA – JULY 24: Fabio Vieira #21 of Arsenal FC is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against AFC Bournemouth during the first half at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024 in Carson, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

The match provided valuable minutes for both experienced players and promising youngsters in Mikel Arteta’s squad. Ayden Heaven, Ethan Nwaneri, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand, and Myles Lewis-Skelly all impressed with solid performances during a strong first half for the Gunners.

The second half saw a flurry of substitutions, including the introduction of Arsenal’s Euro 2024 stars, which injected fresh energy into the game. Both sides had chances to win it in the 90 minutes, but ultimately the match was decided by a dramatic shootout.

“I’m really pleased because we had really special circumstances today,” Arteta told Arsenal.com.

“We arrived two days ago, we had so many young kids playing with us that had never played before and I think we had a really strong performance against a side that is a bit ahead of us in their schedule.

“They had a full first-team available, so I’m really proud of them, both the young kids and the senior ones, because they have fulfilled their roles in a really impressive way.

“That was a different level today to the game that we played last Saturday, and it was another big step. We looked really connected and as a manager, it was just a joy to see the faces of those kids making their debut, participating, and the excitement showed, and as well to see our senior players put themselves in their shoes and give them the support and be the role models that we want.”

The team will now turn their attention to their next US tour fixture against Manchester United at SoFi Stadium on Saturday. The match promises to be another exciting encounter as both teams continue their preparations for the upcoming Premier League season.

Arsenal fans can watch the match live on Arsenal.com and the official app, or secure tickets if they are in the Los Angeles area.