The Al Maktoum Stadium opener

Arsenal played a one-off exhibition match at Al Nasr’s Al Maktoum stadium in Dubai on March 26, 2019.

The match, which kicked off at 1800 local time, marked the formal opening of the newly built Al Maktoum Stadium. Looking back at the friendly match against the old enemy we remember it became an entertaining 3-2 win for Arsenal fans. Ronnie Fernandez opened the scoring for Al Nasr with a deft placement from the top of the area after receiving a pass from on-loan Corinthians’ winger Junior Dutra, before Jenkinson slammed in his own rebound as the two sides went in tied 1-1 at half-time.

Ozil’s classy back heel into the path of Lacazette fetched a goal to put Arsenal 2-1 up. John-Jules, only 18, made it 3-1 when he dispossessed a defender and placed the ball into an empty goal. Khalid Jalal pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 89th minute, but it wasn't enough. The whistle blew and Arsenal fans went wild.

Don't forget this was only the second time that Al Nasr have played Arsenal. The first instance was famously way back in November 1976 when Arsenal registered a 3-1 win. With Malcolm Macdonald, John Matthews and John Radford on target that day.

From the players who scored and delivered Arsenal that historical victory only Lacazette is in any real contention for the FA Cup final. Jenkinson signed a three-year deal with Championship club Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee so he won't be playing. But could Arteta pull a surprise and start John-Jules? I can't imagine Chelsea would be expecting that, dropping Auba for John-Jules in the final could give Arsenal an advantage. What is a cat’s favorite song? Three Blind Mice.

John-Jules is the nephew of actor Danny John-Jules, who plays Cat in Red Dwarf.