Two players of Nigerian descent Folarin Balogun and goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo were handed pre-season minutes as Arsenal overcame a two-goal deficit to beat German 2. Bundesliga side FC Nurnberg 5-3 in a friendly staged at Max-Morlock-Stadion on Friday evening.

 

Manager Mikel Arteta opted to take the Anglo-Nigerians to the training camp at Adidassler Sportplatz in Herzogenaurach, Germany despite speculation surrounding their future, with both linked with temporary departures from the Emirates Stadium in the summer transfer window.

 

Balogun and Okonkwo came off the bench midway through the second half, replacing Reiss Nelson and Matt Turner respectively.

 

The goalkeeper conceded once when Schleimer scored with his first touch of the ball with seventeen minutes left on the clock.

 

Balogun didn’t get too many scoring opportunities and was unable to add to his pre-season tally, after opening his account in the 5-1 demolition of Sone Aluko’s Ipswich Town last weekend.

 

FC Nurnberg raced into a two-goal inside 29 minutes with Geis breaking the deadlock and Kwadwo Duah doubling the advantage.

 

The Premier League side took control of the game in the second half, netting five times through Gabriel Jesus (2), Mohamed Elneny and own goals from Schindler and Handwerker.

 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel