Nketiah gives youthful Arsenal friendly win over Bayern

Young striker Edward Nketiah scored the winner just two minutes from time as a youthful Arsenal side beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in a pre-season friendly in California on Wednesday.

The Gunners finished off a rapid passing sequence in the 88th minute that culminated with teenager Tyreece John-Jules slipping the ball to the 20-year-old Nketiah who scored via his knee.

Arsenal won their second straight game on their US tour, but the Bundesliga champions gave them a stiffer test than the Major Soccer League’s Colorado Rapids who they routed 3-0 on Monday.

The fifth-placed finishers in the English Premier League last year opened the scoring courtesy of a 49th minute own goal in a front of a crowd of 26,700 in Carson.

Louis Poznanski failed to deal with a ball on the far side of the box and in trying to clear ended up kicking into his own net.

Robert Lewandowski equalised with a superb header in the 71st minute for Bayern, who completed the German double last season.

Former Arsenal midfielder Serge Gnabry sent a high ball into the box and Lewandowski leapt highest to redirect into the top corner to make it 1-1.

Unai Emery’s side came through their second fixture in America in good form, despite the saga surrounding unsettled captain Laurent Koscielny who decided to boycott their US tour to try to force a transfer. Thomas Mueller had the best chance for a wasteful Bayern but his first-half effort was kept out in spectacular style by Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

David Alaba crossed the ball to the centre of the box where the charging Mueller split the defence to shoot but Leno kicked out his right leg to make a stunning save.

Meanwhile, German investor Lars Windhorst wants to list Bundesliga soccer club Hertha Berlin, Germany’s Manager Magazin reported on Thursday, citing people close to Windhorst.

Windhorst bought a 37.5% stake in Hertha Berlin through Tennor for 125 million euros ($140.2 million), the investment firm announced last month, seven months after the private equity firm KKR divested its 36% stake in the club.

A spokesman for Tennor on Thursday declined to comment on “market speculation.”

A Hertha Berlin representative could not immediately be reached for comment. Tennor has previously said it would increase investment in players for the team, enhance its digital strategy and market the the club better globally.

Agencies