The Gunners did, however, prevail on penalties as Mikel Arteta gave his squad their first run out across the pond.
Like most pre-season games, the meeting in Los Angeles saw Arsenal field a starting XI which was a mix between first team starters and youth prospects.
Gunners outcast Fabio Vieira was the man to put Arsenal on the board inside the first half before the Cherries equalised late on in the game.
But it seems it was one of the youngsters who really impressed after being given an opportunity to shine by Arteta.
Arsenal starting players pose for a photo before a pre-season friendly soccer match against AFC Bournemouth at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 2...
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
17-year-old really impresses for Arsenal vs Bournemouth
Managers will often say the result from friendly games is not overly important but it is what their players take out of the game.
At this stage, the name of the game for the players’ is to improve their fitness ahead of the new campaign.
For some, it may even to prove themselves to the manager and potentially earn themselves a spot in his thinking.
And that could certainly be the case for one of Arsenal’s promising youngsters who was handed an opportunity from the start in Los Angeles.
According to journalist Charles Watts, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri was the player who really shone for the Gunners against Bournemouth.
The Arsenal journalist noted just how assured Nwaneri looked against the Premier League opposition as he started alongside Thomas Partey in the midfield.
“Nwaneri looks so assured. Some of the youngsters, especially in defence, looked nervy when they came on, he just looked like he belonged in this environment all game,” said Watts.
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“Looks a step above and certainly ready to contribute something to the first-team squad.”
Ethan Nwaneri’s performance in numbers
Nwaneri has already been handed his first team debut by Arteta with two appearances and 14 minutes of action to his name.
The ‘unbelievable’ Nwaneri has been linked with a potential loan exit from Arsenal this summer, but performances like this may just have made up Arteta’s mind to give him a shot.
Here is how Nwaneri got on vs Bournemouth…
It is fair to say this was a seriously impressive display from a 17-year-old – despite it being a friendly – and he has done what he can to show Arteta that he could be worth a shot over the coming months.
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