Fans wave flags prior to the start of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match between Manchester United FC the Arsenal FC at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC defender Harry Amass kicks the ball against Arsenal FC during the first half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC forward Jadon Sancho, left, pushes off on Arsenal FC midfielder Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Arsenal FC defender Jurrien Timber, right, kicks the ball against Manchester United FC forward Ethan Wheatley during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC defender Will Fish, left, heads the ball Arsenal FC forward Gabriel Jesus during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
A fan cheers after Arsenal FC scores against Manchester United FC during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC defender Sam Murray, left, vies for the bal with Arsenal FC midfielder Fabio Vieira during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC defender Will Fish, right, heads the ball against Arsenal FC forward Gabriel Jesus during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC midfielder Christian Eriksen kicks the ball against Arsenal FC during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC forward Jadon Sancho, center, chases the ball down against Arsenal FC during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Arsenal FC forward Kai Havertz, right, kicks the ball defended ny Manchester United FC midfielder Christian Eriksen during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC forward Antony Dos Santos , left, fights off Arsenal FC midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly, center, during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC head coach Erik Ten Hag, center, looks on during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match against the Arsenal FC at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Arsenal FC goalkeeper Karl Hein, center, kicks the ball against the Manchester United FC during the first half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Arsenal FC head coach Mikel Arteta, center, reacts during the first half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match against the Manchester United FC at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Fans cheer during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match between Manchester United FC and Arsenal FC at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC midfielder James Scanlon, left, losses his footing against Arsenal FC forward Gabriel Martinelli during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC defender Will Fish, center, heads the ball between Arsenal FC forward Eddie Nketiah, left, and forward Gabriel Martinelli during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Arsenal FC forward Gabriel Jesus, left, scores a goal past Manchester United FC goalkeeper Andre Onana, right, during the first half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC goalkeeper Andre Onana, center in green, deflects the ball against the Arsenal FC during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Arsenal FC midfielder Martin Odegaard, left, steals the ball from Manchester United FC forward Marcus Rashford during the first half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Arsenal FC forward Gabriel Jesus dribbles the ball as he is chased by Manchester United FC defender Harry Amass during the first half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Arsenal FC forward Gabriel Martinelli, second from left, scores the wining goal past Manchester United FC goalkeeper Andre Onana, back, during the second half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC defender Harry Maguire (5) and goalkeeper Andre Onana (24) go up for the ball against Arsenal FC during the first half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Arsenal FC midfielder Martin Odegaard (8) is upended by Manchester United FC midfielder Carlos Casemiro (18) during the first half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Arsenal FC forward Gabriel Jesus, right, kicks the ball chased by Manchester United FC defender Harry Maguire during the first half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Arsenal FC forward Gabriel Jesus, right, reacts after scoring a goal past Manchester United FC goalkeeper Andre Onana (24) during the first half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Manchester United FC forward Rasmus Hojlund, left, points to forward Marcus Rashford after Hojlund scores a goal against Arsenal FC during the first half of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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Fans wave flags prior to the start of a Rivals in Red USA 2024 Tour soccer match between Manchester United FC the Arsenal FC at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Arsenal FC won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
INGLEWOOD — Gabriel Martinelli arrived in town, joining his Arsenal teammates on the preseason U.S. Tour late Thursday evening.
Martinelli only had one training session before the game.
In his first on-field action, the Brazilian scored the game-winning goal in Saturday’s friendly against Manchester United at SoFi Stadium.
“That’s the mentality of the team,” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said. “One training session and he comes in and plays at that level.”
Martinelli entered in the 71st minute and in the 81st minute, a spectacular solo run, was capped by tucking the ball inside the near post for the eventual 2-1 lead and win in front of 62,486.
“It was a really good test for us, playing in a different stadium, different pitch, against a tough opportunity,” Arteta said. “Playing in this kind of context is really good and I’m really pleased.”
Manchester United didn’t waste time thrilling their fans.
In the 10th minute Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring. Hojlund beat his defender, Ayden Heaven in a one-on-one sprint for the ball, after gaining possession, he was able to slip the ball through Arsenal goalkeeper’s Karl Hein’s legs for a 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately, for United, Hojlund was forced out of the game with an injury in the 16th minute. His injury wasn’t the one to watch for Manchester United. In the 35th minute, new signing Leny Yoro was forced out due and left the field limping.
Arsenal scored the equalizer in the 26th minute on a perfect tap in by Gabriel Jesus off of a cross from Ethan Nwaneri. That’s the game remained headed into halftime and until Martinelli’s winner, late in the second half.
Regardless of the score, at the end of regulation, the teams agreed to conclude the game with a penalty kick shootout. In the shootout, Manchester United made four of five, capped by Jadon Sancho’s clinching kick.
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and Jakub Kiwior missed their attempts, but Martinelli and Gabriel converted to get the shootout to the fifth and final round.
Gabriel and Havertz also joined Martinelli as the late arrivals to the U.S. for the preseason tour.
Arsenal kicked off their U.S. Tour with a win in penalty kicks against Bournemouth Wednesday at Dignity Health Sports Park. Arsenal will next visit Philadelphia for game Wednesday against Liverpool for their final game in the U.S.
“There are a lot of things on the table (in these games),” Arteta said. “I think you could see. Manchester United competed at a highest level and that’s what you want. You want to be prepared for the league and the champions league and you have to have a good understanding where your team is as soon as possible.”
This was Manchester United’s debut preseason game in the U.S. The club will head to San Diego for a game Wednesday against Real Betis and Aug. 3 a meeting rival Liverpool in South Carolina.
Manchester United will start the new English Premier League season Aug. 16 at Old Trafford against Fulham. Arsenal will host Wolverhampton Aug. 17 at Emirates Stadium.
