Arsenal continued their preparations for the new Premier League season with a convincing 4-1 triumph over Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. 

Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus gave the Gunners a comfortable advantage at half-time, with Kai Havertz adding a fourth in the second half. 

Substitute Adam Hlozek would take the shine off an otherwise impressive performance from Mikel Arteta's side late on, but Arsenal were worthy winners at the Emirates. 

A frantic start to proceedings saw Zinchenko give the hosts the lead in the eighth minute as he rifled home Havertz's cutback from the edge of the area. 

Matej Kovar was picking the ball out of his net again less than a minute later, as Leverkusen were caught playing out from the back with Trossard remaining composed to slot home. 

Another mistake from the Bundesliga champions was punished seven minutes before half-time, this time by Jesus, who saw his long-range effort evade the grasp of Kovar. 

The result was put beyond doubt just after the hour mark when the returning Bukayo Saka saw his cross deflect kindly into the path of Havertz for an easy finish. 

Xabi Alonso's side showed a glimpse of the football that saw them win 28 of their 34 league games last year, with Hlozek rounding off a fine move with a delicate chip over David Raya. 

Arsenal face Lyon in their final pre-season fixture on Sunday before starting their quest for that elusive Premier League title against Wolves six days later. 

Data Debrief: Gunners turn on the style

Arsenal impressed in their penultimate pre-season fixture against a strong Leverkusen side, with promising signs to show they can go one better this season. 

Arteta's side out-performed their expected goals (xG) by 2.6, with six of their nine shots on target, registering double the amount of touches in the box when compared to their opponents. 

Trossard was a particular standout for the Gunners, recording the most touches in the opposition box (seven) while also making the most passes in the final third (19), a total only bettered by Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka (24) and Edmond Tapsoba (21). 

Sturm Graz came from two goals down to secure an unlikely draw against Paris Saint-Germain in their first game since Kylian Mbappe's move to Real Madrid. 

Ibrahim Mbaye and Carlos Soler had given the Parisiens a two-goal advantage with just 12 minutes on the clock, but their Austrian opponents would respond. 

Amady Camara would pull a goal back for the hosts three minutes later, with Otar Kiteishvili levelling the scores just before half-time. 

Substitute Marco Asensio had the opportunity to win the encounter late on for the Ligue 1 champions, but Luis Enrique started his pre-season preperations with a draw. 

PSG opened the scoring at the 28 Black Arena through 16-year-old debutant Mbaye, bouncing the ball over the onrushing Daniil Khudiakov after being found by Asensio. 

Soler, who captained the side in Austria, found the target three minutes later when Randal Kolo Muani's cross picked him out unmarked inside the area. 

But Kamara halved the deficit in double quick time, picking the pocket of Naoufel El Hannach on the edge of the area before finishing beyond Matvey Safonov. 

The comeback was completed in the 43rd minute in some style, as Kiteishvili took aim from distance to find the bottom corner. 

Data Debrief: PSG struggle without stars

Enrique is without some of his top performers in front of goal, but his PSG side had more than enough quality on the pitch to claim victory in Austria. 

The Parisiens accumulated an expected goals (xG) of just 1.06, 0.18 fewer than their opponents. PSG managed nine shots in the encounter, four fewer than Sturm Graz.

16-year-old Mbaye did impress on debut, however, recording the most shots (three), shots on target (two) and touches in the opposition box (four) than anyone in the PSG side. 

Alejo Veliz has completed a loan move from Tottenham to Espanyol, the La Liga club confirmed on Wednesday. 

Veliz, who has made eight appearances for Spurs since signing from Rosario Central in 2023, joins Espanyol on a season-long deal. 

The 20-year-old was limited to 45 minutes of action under Ange Postecoglou last campaign, scoring his first goal in a 4-2 defeat to Brighton in December.

Veliz joined Sevilla for the second half of the 2023-24 season, but again struggled for game time and played six times in La Liga, totalling to 31 minutes. 

Espanyol won promotion from the Segunda Division last season after beating Real Oviedo in the promotion play-offs. 

Manolo Gonzalez is aiming to bolster his attacking options following the loss of top scorer Martin Braithwaite, who completed a permanent move to Brazilian side Gremio last month. 

Alejo Veliz has completed a loan move from Tottenham to Espanyol, the La Liga club confirmed on Wednesday. 

Veliz, who has made eight appearances for Spurs since signing from Rosario Central in 2023, joins Espanyol on a season-long deal. 

The 20-year-old was limited to 45 minutes of action under Ange Postecoglou last campaign, scoring his first goal in a 4-2 defeat to Brighton in December.

Veliz joined Sevilla for the second half of the 2023-24 season, but again struggled for game time and played six times in La Liga, totalling to 31 minutes. 

Espanyol won promotion from the Segunda Division last season after beating Real Oviedo in the promotion play-offs. 

Manolo Gonzalez is aiming to bolster his attacking options following the loss of top scorer Martin Braithwaite, who completed a permanent move to Brazilian side Gremio last month. 

Charlotte FC have bolstered their defensive ranks with the arrival of Fulham defender Tim Ream on a free transfer. 

Ream, who spent nine years at Craven Cottage, has signed a two-year deal and returns to the United States 13 years after joining Bolton from the New York Red Bulls.

The 36-year-old made 312 appearances for Fulham, more than any other player in the 21st century apart from captain Tom Cairney (325), ranking 25th on the all-time list. 

During his time with the Cottagers, Ream won promotion to the Premier League on three occasions, twice via the play-offs, with the other seeing Fulham crowned as champions during the 2021-22 season. 

Ream helped Fulham to a 13th place finish last year, keeping three clean sheets in his 18 outings. 

“I’m really excited to join Charlotte FC and return to the US for this next chapter of my career,” said Ream. 

“In all my conversations with the people around the club, it was clear this organisation and city were the right places for my family and I to continue our journey.

"I’m here to win, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the team as we prepare for a key stretch of matches that will propel us toward the playoffs as we fight for our first trophy.”

Ream will link up with former Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith in Charlotte and will be eligible for the club's next MLS fixture against former side NYRB on August 24. 

Ange Postecoglou believes his Tottenham side are benefiting from the solid foundations that were set last season.

Spurs have won four of their five pre-season games, with the one loss being a narrow 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich.

Postecoglou's free-flowing, front-foot approach garnered plaudits last season, as Spurs finished fifth.

The Australian believes his side are now becoming even more receptive to his ideas now that he has been at the club for over a year.

He told The Athletic: "You can see the growth. I've been doing this for a long time, so I really feel last year we laid some really strong foundations in terms of some underlying core values that I saw from the first day we got back into pre-season.

"You know, process is a pretty boring word, but that’s the founding of how you build things. Once you've built it, then everyone can see whether it’s beautiful or ugly. But I love that you can build things in football and I think a lot of that is reflective of life — certainly my life."

The Spurs head coach believes a less is more approach is what works in terms of motivating his players right now, especially considering how fast-paced and challenging his style of play can be.

He said: "The way we play is very demanding. So you're looking for how much you really have to push players — and the less you feel you need to push them, the more you know they're actually buying into it.

"Some of that is just the way they talk and their behaviour around the place. I'm looking at how they’re embracing what we’re trying to do from a football perspective, but also beyond that."

Postecoglou’s side are next in action on Sunday where they face Bayern again, this time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has announced that Derek King has been appointed as the Caretaker Coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Men's Senior Team. King will step into the role immediately following the departure of Angus Eve late last month.

King's appointment comes at a crucial time as the team prepares for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches in September against Honduras and French Guiana. With his extensive experience and deep understanding of Trinidad and Tobago football, King is well-positioned to lead the team during this transition period, the TTFA said in a statement on Tuesday.

Having served as assistant coach under the outgoing Head Coach Angus Eve, King has been an integral part of the senior team setup. His familiarity with the players and the team's dynamics will be invaluable as he takes on this new responsibility.

In addition to his recent role, King boasts an impressive track record as a coach. As Assistant Coach to Stephen Hart, he helped guide Trinidad and Tobago to successive Gold Cup quarterfinal appearances in 2013 and 2015 and achieved a FIFA ranking of 49th in the world. King first took on the role of Assistant Coach in 2012.

King's coaching prowess is also evident from his leadership of the National Under-20 Men's Team to victory in the 2014 Caribbean Championship, showcasing his ability to guide and develop young talent.

Upon his appointment, King expressed his honor and readiness to lead the national team. "I am honoured to take on this responsibility and lead our national team during this important time," King stated. "Our immediate focus is on the upcoming Nations League matches, and I am confident that with good planning, hard work, and dedication, we can achieve positive results. I look forward to working closely with the players and staff to ensure we get the results and performances we all desire."

The TTFA is confident in King's ability to steer the team towards success in these important matches while the search for a new full-time head coach continues. The association extends its best wishes to Derek King and the Men's Senior Team as they embark on this new chapter.

Sophia Smith believes the United States have "so much potential" after her extra-time winner sent them through to their first Olympics final since 2012.

The 23-year-old's 95th-minute strike proved the decisive goal of the USWNT’s 1-0 semi-final victory against an injury-stricken Germany.

The result means new coach Emma Hayes will have the chance to go for gold in her first major tournament at the helm.

Smith dedicated her goal to the effort of the whole US squad under the ex-Chelsea boss.

"I just saw an open net in front of me and knew I had to step up in the big moment," Smith told NBC. "I felt I had to do that for this team, we've been working so hard.”

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has emphasised the need to make adjustments to his side's defence as he looks to eradicate some bad habits.

The Blues conceded 63 goals last season, which was more than any other side that finished in the top six.

They have leaked goals during this pre-season too, with four conceded in losses to both Celtic and Manchester City, before they went down 2-1 to Real Madrid in their final friendly of their U.S. tour on Tuesday.

And Maresca is aware of the changes that have to be made to avert the issue, mainly concerning the line of defence.

He said: "One of my first meetings with the squad was about the amount of goals we conceded last year with the defensive line very high.

"We are not working on defensive lines so high. It’s a habit last year, or years ago, I don't know.

"We are trying to drop the defensive line a little bit, usually about four or five metres, just to have some advantage.

"Last year we conceded many goals with this problem. Hopefully, we can solve it soon."

Chelsea looked more defensively solid against Madrid, restricting the Spanish giants to only three shots on target and an expected goals (xG) of just 1.10.

That is a positive to take into their final pre-season friendly, which takes place on Sunday against Inter.

Chelsea open their Premier League campaign against champions Manchester City a week later.

Milan beat Barcelona 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 friendly draw in which Robert Lewandowski scored twice for the Blaugrana.

The Rossoneri stormed into a 2-0 lead inside 15 minutes at M&T Bank Stadium on Tuesday. 

Having teed up Luka Jovic's opener with a neat ball across the six-yard box, United States star Christian Pulisic further delighted the American crowd with a dazzling run and finish to double Milan's lead.

Cutting in from the left, Pulisic skipped beyond his marker before lashing a fine effort high into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Yet Barca were back in the contest in the 22nd minute when Lewandowski coolly picked out the bottom-right corner from the edge of the area.

A slick move from Hansi Flick's team saw them draw level midway through the second half - Pau Victor laying it up for Lewandowski to tap home.

But with Lewandowski off the pitch, Barca could not get over the line in the shootout, with Mikayil Faye seeing the decisive penalty saved.

Data Debrief: Blaugrana can take the positives

Despite the shootout loss and the sluggish start, it was an excellent performance for much of the match from Barca, who had 17 shots to Milan's four and created 1.72 expected goals.

That being said, Milan's xG (1.02) shows that the Rossoneri did get into good positions despite their low shot count, and Barca will have to tighten up defensively ahead of their LaLiga campaign.

Lucas Vazquez and Brahim Diaz scored as Real Madrid ran out 2-1 victors over Chelsea on Tuesday.

In the final game of their U.S. tour, Chelsea failed to recover after going 2-0 down inside the opening 27 minutes at the Bank of America Stadium.

Vazquez's deflected shot crept into the bottom-left corner to open the scoring in the 19th minute, with Dani Ceballos claiming to have got a touch, though the replays were inconclusive.

There were no question marks over Madrid's second goal, with Vinicius Junior sliding a ball in behind for Diaz, who coolly rounded Chelsea's new goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen before slotting in from a tight angle.

Raheem Sterling squandered a great chance to tee up Christopher Nkunku for a tap-in, though Chelsea did pull one back when Noni Madueke headed in from Enzo Fernandez's teasing cross.

Nkunku drilled straight at Andriy Lunin from close range in the best chance of the second half, as Chelsea suffered their third defeat in the space of five games of their U.S. tour.

Data Debrief: Vinicius steals the show

Vinicius could not get going at the Copa America earlier this summer, as Brazil crashed out in the quarters, but the wing wizard had the beating of Chelsea's defenders.

He set the tone early on when he dribbled beyond Reece James and almost got a shot off, while his assist for Diaz's goal was a perfectly weighted throughball.

In his 66 minutes on the pitch, Vinicius created a team-high three chances, while completing two of his six dribbles and having 10 touches in the opposition area.

Brazil cruised into the final of the Olympic Games with a 4-2 victory over Spain at the Orange Velodrome on Tuesday.

Salma Paralluelo netted two late consolations, but the damage was already done as Irena Paredes' own goal, Gabi Portilho, Adriana and Kerolin denied the world champions a place in the gold-medal match.

Brazil were still without legend Marta after she lost her appeal over a two-game ban, but her team-mates ensured she would bow out of Olympics action with the chance to play for the top prize.

Spain were behind after just six minutes as Cata Coll's poor clearance struck the unfortunate Paredes on the side to send it cannoning over the line.

La Roja struggled to gain a foothold, and Brazil doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time thanks to Portilho's composure when one-on-one with Coll.

Adriana made sure of their progress off the bench in the 71st minute – she struck the bar but was then on hand to head Portilho's nod-down in from close range.

That sparked Spain into life and Paralluelo's looping header snuck in at the far post before Alexia Putellas rattled the crossbar and forced Lorena into a smart stop to slow down the comeback attempts.

Kerolin delivered the hammer blow in the opening seconds of stoppage time by sliding her low shot through Coll's legs, though Paralluelo would have the last say, poking in her second of the match from close range in the 112th minute. 

Data Debrief: World champions denied

Spain were aiming to become the first side to win Olympic gold after lifting the Women's World Cup, but they just fell short at the final hurdle after being outplayed.

La Roja's late flurry of chances meant they finished with more shots than Brazil (26 to their 17) and more on target (11 compared to seven).

Brazil's dominance showed in other ways though, as they created an expected goals (xG) of 3.27 and had a total of six big chances, as they secured a meeting with the United States in the final on Saturday.

Cyriel Dessers salvaged a last-gasp draw for Rangers in a 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kyiv in their Champions League third-round qualifier first leg on Tuesday.

It looked like Andriy Yarmolenko's strike would give the Ukrainian side the advantage heading into the second leg next week, but the visitors dug deep to level the score.

Rangers made a decent start to the game but were punished for Ridvan Yilmaz's loose pass, as Vladyslav Vanat capitalised by flashing it into the box for Yarmolenko to turn home.

The visitors pushed for an equaliser, with Ross McCausland hitting the post before Heorhiy Bushchan made a fine save to keep out Dessers' pacey shot.

And it was the Nigerian that eventually found the breakthrough for Rangers as he darted in to poke Vaclav Cerny's cross past Bushchan with the last kick of the game in the 94th minute.

Data Debrief: Dessers saves the day

For so long, it looked like Rangers would be heading back to Hampden Park next Tuesday with a deficit to overturn, but Dessers' threat finally paid off.

Philippe Clement's side have started the season with back-to-back draws though, having played a 0-0 stalemate with Hearts in the Scottish Premiership at the weekend, and he will be keen to get their first win soon.

Although Dynamo could not hold out for the win, they are now unbeaten in their last 12 home matches in all competitions, winning 10 and drawing two.

Sophia Smith's extra-time strike booked the United States a place in the Olympic Games final with a 1-0 win over Germany on Tuesday.

Mallory Swanson was denied a winner in normal time, and though Germany pushed for a late equaliser, Emma Hayes will take charge of a final in her first tournament as the USA's head coach. 

Unlike in the group-stage meeting between these sides, which finished 4-1 to the dominant Stars and Stripes, it was Germany who almost took a first-half lead, with Alyssa Naeher reacting quickly to get down and push Jule Brand's low shot wide.

In the 86th minute, Mallory Swanson thought she had snatched a late winner – she latched onto Trinity Rodman's throughball and drilled her low shot across goal into the bottom corner, but the offside flag denied her.

Swanson turned provider five minutes into extra time, as Smith timed her run to perfection, darting in behind to beat Berger for power with a wonderful effort.

There was late drama though, as Naeher brilliantly smothered Laura Freigang's close-range header before Smith was denied a second goal at the other end by Berger's quick thinking.

Data Debrief: Smith's touch of gold

Smith has been in top form during the Olympics and netted her third goal in the competition as she carried her team into their 11th major tournament final.

She is also the second USA player to score in at least three consecutive appearances against Germany, after Abby Wambach - five straight from 2009-12.

Meanwhile, it was familiar heartache for Germany as they were eliminated in the knockout rounds of a major tournament (Olympics and World Cup) for the 10th time, with half of those coming at the USA's hands. 

Arnett Gardens Head coach Xavier Gilbert continues to bask in the glow of his team’s recent CFU Club Shield triumph, which he believes, is not only a testament to their hard work, but also a significant boost for the club and the surrounding community.

In fact, Gilbert pointed out that the Club Shield win –a first for any Jamaican club –also provides a solid platform on which they will seek to build ahead of the upcoming Jamaica Premier League (JPL) and more importantly, the Concacaf Caribbean Cup.

The ‘Junglists’ wrapped up victory courtesy of Rushane Thompson’s all-important 73rd-minute strike against Grenades Football Club of Antigua and Barbuda in Curacao.

“It wasn’t easy, there were a lot of different challenges that we had to navigate during the tournament, but I think we handled ourselves pretty well. There are a lot of things that we have to work on heading into the other tournaments but I am happy with most things,” Gilbert told Sportsmax.TV.

“This victory augurs well for the club and the community. It has been a while since they won anything, so I am happy to bring a silverware to the club and I hope it’s the first of many because the aim is to continue on that vein in the upcoming competitions,” he added.

Reflecting on the knockout tournament in which they played four hard-fought games across nine days, Gilbert said their triumph was highlighted by tactical prowess, coupled with the unwavering hunger and determination of his players.

“I have to lift my hats off to the players, my staff and the medical team for the way they acquitted themselves. Four games in nine days was not easy, but the management staff did their part in putting the necessary things in place to ensure that life was a little easier for us while we were here,” he shared.

“So again, it (Shield win) is a reflection of the dedication of the players, the support of our fans, and the commitment of everyone involved with Arnett Gardens. It is a significant achievement that sets a positive tone in more ways than one. It brings a sense of joy and unity because it’s not just about the players on the field but also about the fans and everyone who supports the team. This triumph is for all of us,” he noted.

Looking ahead to the Jamaica Premier League and the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, Gilbert expressed optimism about their prospects. However, he is well aware that it will require continued hard work and significant improvements to prove competitive, particularly in the Caribbean up.

By virtue of topping the CFU Club Shield, Arnett Gardens will be placed in Group A of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup alongside fellow JPL outfits Cavalier and Mount Pleasant, as well as Haitian club Real Hope and Trinidad and Tobago’s Police FC.

“For sure. Winning the CFU Club Shield has given us the confidence and momentum we need. We know what we are capable of, and we are ready to take on the challenges ahead in the Premier League. Our aim is to ensure the players are well prepared to build on this success and continue to perform at a high level,” the tactician stated

“The Concacaf Caribbean Cup will be a different level of competition, and we have to be at our best. Again, we know we have the potential to compete with the best, and we are committed to working hard and improving our game,” Gilbert ended.