Ilkay Gundogan Reacts to Barcelona’s Defeat to Arsenal in Pre Season

• Ilkay Gundogan finally made his debut for Barcelona after joining as a free agent a few weeks ago
• The former Machester City midfielder said that he needs time to adapt
• Barcelona lost 5-3 to Arsenal in their first pre-season friendly

New Barcelona signing, Ilkay Gundogan had a debut to forget. His team was beaten 5-3 by Arsenal in a pre-season friendly in the USA, but he said that they need time to gel.

Xavid Hernandez's team was playing their first pre-season friendly after their first one vs. Juventus was canceled after the players fell ill.

Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring early in the first half, but his goal was swiftly canceled by Bukayo Saka. The Gunners youngster missed a penalty moments later.

The Blaugrana took the lead just past the half-hour, but Kai Havertz tied the game before halftime. The English club dominated the second half and went 4-2 up with just over 10 minutes left to play.

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Barca scored their third through Ferran Torres in the 88th minute, but Fabio Vieira answered with Arsenal's 5th in the 89th minute.

Gundogan on Barcelona debut

Speaking after the game, the German international, who played in the first half, said that he needs to develop some chemistry with his new teammates.

“I have to adapt to my teammates and they to me. I know the position I have played in, but everything is new. I have to adapt to my teammates and they have to adapt to me," he said, via Barca Universal.

He said that the team can do better and that he was delighted to have made his debut for the club.

“I’m very happy. Obviously, we could have played better, but I think we competed against a great opponent. We can do better, we made some unforced errors, but it was the first friendly of the pre-season,” he said.

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New signing Oriol Romeu played alongside Gundogan and said that he needs time to know his teammates.

“There were some good things and some things to improve, but I’m happy to have played 45 minutes, to be able to get into a rhythm and get a good feeling, to get to know my teammates and start to get the idea of the coach."

Xavi slams Arsenal

Sports Brief earlier reported on Xavi criticizing Arsenal's intensity during the friendly game.

Interestingly, it was a Barcelona player, Ronald Araujo, who avoided serious punishment after his crunching tackle on Arsenal striker, Gabriel Jesus.

“I told Mikel [Arteta] at the end of the game that it was a Champions League game. The intensity they put in was not normal for a friendly," Xavi said.