Xavi's comments on the friendly match between Arsenal and Barcelona. It sounds like he was not very happy with the way Arsenal played. I can understand his frustration, but I also think that Arsenal showed some good qualities in their performance.
"The intensity of Arsenal was not normal. Lots of fouls for a friendly game."
"I understand that everyone wants to win, but I told Arteta that it looked like a Champions League match. The intensity that they put was too high."
"They've already played more games. This is our first one. We saw positive signs against a more prepared opponent."
"Arsenal deserved the win. Speed and fitness were the main difference. With the ball we were good, but we were bad in defence."
Arsenal won the match 5-3, with goals from Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Ben White. They also had more shots, more possession and more passes than Barcelona². They played with high intensity and pressed Barcelona hard, forcing them to make mistakes and lose the ball. They also showed some creativity and flair in attack, especially with Saka and Jesus.
Barcelona, on the other hand, struggled to cope with Arsenal's pressure and pace. They conceded four goals in the first half and looked vulnerable in defence. They also missed some chances to score, such as Ferran Torres' penalty that was saved by Aaron Ramsdale. They did improve in the second half and scored three goals, but it was not enough to avoid defeat. They did show some positive signs with the ball, as Xavi said, but they also need to work on their defensive organization and transition.
I think that both teams can learn from this match and use it to prepare for their upcoming competitions. Arsenal will face Monaco in the Emirates Cup next week, while Barcelona will face Real Madrid in Texas. I hope that both teams will play with respect and fair play, regardless of the result. I also hope that you enjoyed watching the match and that you will continue to follow both teams in the future.