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Friendlies roundup: Nuno Tavares scores on first Arsenal appearance

17-Jul-2021 17:08:22 | The Guardian

• Rangers 2-2 Arsenal; Leyton Orient 1-1 Tottenham
• Raúl Jimenez returns to action for Wolves

New signing Nuno Tavares was on target as Arsenal earned a late draw away at Rangers. The hosts went ahead twice, through headers from Leon Balogun and Cedric Itten, against an Arsenal side whose starting lineup featured Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Emile Smith Rowe, Nicolas Pépé and Thomas Partey. The visitors drew level first from a smart finish from 21-year-old Tavares – who joined from Benfica last week – and then from Eddie Nketiah, who struck left-footed after working space inside the penalty area.

A winning start to his Tottenham tenure evaded Nuno Espírito Santo, whose side were held by Leyton Orient. Dele Alli, Harry Winks, Eric Dier, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn were all named in Nuno’s side but it was 17-year-old striker Dane Scarlett who opened the scoring with an angled finish after being played in by Moura. Spurs could come up with no reply, however, after Orient striker Ruel Sotiriou equalised with a fine curling effort in the second half to leave the scores level at one apiece.