Auston Trusty proved to be the unlikely hero for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s side won the MLS All-Star Skill Challenge.
The Gunners beat their MLS counterparts 6-5 ahead of the main event at Audi Field on Thursday.
Ahead of the All-Stars match, ten players from Arsenal and the MLS side took part in five drills to determine the overall victor.
It was Arsenal that took the lead after coming out on top in the shooting challenge, with Jurrien Timber and Jakub Kiwior shining from 12 yards out.
Kai Havertz then fired the north Londoners into a 2-0 lead thanks to his dazzling display in the touch drill – showing why Arsenal forked out £65million to sign him.
But he then had fans questioning his abilities after he flopped in the cross and volley challenge where he failed to score a single goal.
It left the scores at 2-1, with Arsenal then restoring their two-point lead after winning in the passing challenge.
Trusty lost in his head-to-head, but Jorginho and Kiwior won in rounds two and three to give Arsenal the lead going into the crossbar challenge.
Each side were awarded a point for each crossbar hit, with teams alternating in chips from the edge of the penalty box.
Once a team reached five points, they moved to 40-yards out from goal, where they would try and hit the bar again for The Victory Shot.
Had to be the former MLS man.
@Arsenal‘s Auston Trusty walks it off after an All-Star comeback attempt in the #MLSAllStar Crossbar Challenge pres. by @Gillette. pic.twitter.com/HE5SAq6PXn
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 19, 2023
Arsenal raced into a 5-2 lead after Balogun and Rob Holding hit the woodwork, only for the MLS All-star side to level up the scoring.
And after a back-and-forth battle, it was USA international Trusty, who is still yet to make a competitive appearance for the Arsenal team, that pulled off the winning shot.
It sparked jubilant scenes by the halfway line, as Trusty’s teammates congratulated the 24-year-old defender.
Speaking of his winning effort after the drill, Trusty, who spent last season on loan at Birmingham, said: “It felt great, I told you we would take care of business!
“This was awesome, it’s a really cool environment, I’m really blessed to be here.”
Arsenal will now be looking to inflict further woe on the MLS side by beating them in the All-Stars clash tomorrow.
The Gunners won 2-1 in the 2016 All-Stars contest, with Joel Campbell and Chuba Akpom getting on the score sheet.