Gabriel Jesus and Ben White feature as Marquinhos scores for Arsenal in friendly draw with Watford | OneFootball

M

arquinhos was on target as Arsenal faced Watford in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday afternoon.

The focus in recent weeks for the Gunners has been on matters of the pitch, with Kai Havertz signed from Chelsea and Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber on the verge of completing their moves after undergoing medicals.

Mikel Arteta’s side have returned for pre-season, with a trip to the USA and friendlies against Manchester United and Barcelona to come later this month.

It was a more local affair as Arsenal played Watford at their training ground, with Marquinhos scoring in the second half as it finished 1-1, after Ismael Kone had opened the scoring.

Ben White and Rob Holding played 60 minutes for the Gunners, while Gabriel, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus were among the first-team regulars to start the match and come off at half-time.

Eddie Nketiah twice went close to scoring before the break, with Arsenal’s goal coming when Amario Cozier-Duberry’s strike was parried out into the path of Marquinhos, who made no mistake from the rebound.

Reiss Nelson featured for the Gunners, days after it was officially announced he had signed a new four-year deal to keep him at the club, while Arthur Okonwo and Myles Lewis-Skelly were also handed starts.

Arsenal are next in action when they face German side Nurnberg on July 13 at the Max-Morlock-Stadion, before flying out to the USA where their first match is against an MLS All-Stars outfit on July 20.