By Sedara Philip
Arsenal’s 5-3 victory over the Spanish champions was orchestrated by a quick-fire brace from the Belgian. His opener – a left-footed laser which skidded along the SoFi surface and into the far post – gave Arsenal a 3-2 lead, its first, on 55 minutes.
Before Barcelona could answer, the Belgian had added a second by way of a piercing cross from Kieran Tierney. Once celebrations had been and gone, Trossard was substituted signaling an end to his night.
While his 78th minute strike could have vanquished hopes of a Barcelona comeback, Ferran Torres made sure to set up a finish befitting of the passionate 70,223 packed into the house that Stan built.
Fittingly, in front of its occasionally-beloved owner – depending which continent he may be on — Arsenal sealed the game behind the sheer force of a Gabriel Martinelli rocket in the final seconds.
The 5-3 score did not flatter Arsenal but Barca had its chances to change matters long before the final whistle. Ousmane Dembele looked Barcelona’s biggest threat of the second half and came within a post of making it 3-3.
The woodwork got in the way of Barcelona just several minutes later, as Balde thrashed an effort against the opposite post to Dembele.
England’s runners-up and the Spanish champs went toe-to-toe in two action-packed halves, totaling four goals in each.
Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring in a chaotic first 45, with a typically predatory tap-in at the expense of Gunners keeper, Aaron Ramsdale, in the seventh minute.
Raphinha profited from a bursting, mazy run from Abde Ezzalzouli but his shot was brilliantly saved by the keeper. No matter, with the Polish fox-in-the-box there to poke home nonchalantly.
Six minutes later, parity was restored thanks to Bukayo Saka. The England dynamo kept his feet moving to pounce on a sloppy touch from Andreas Christensen – who looked like he had concrete inside his Adidas’ – before lifting it above Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Saka then had the chance to double his total after Arsenal received a 21st minute penalty following a handball foul from Ronald Araujo. Though, his effort went wide right, leaving the Londoner curled over in dismay
