After Arsenal lost to Liverpool in Philadelphia in the final match of their preseason tour last summer, manager Mikel Arteta sat at a small table with assistant Albert Stuivenberg and captain Martin Ødegaard having a late meal.
The rest of the squad was spread across a canteen area at Lincoln Financial Field, some grabbing food and others preparing for the security and passport checks about to take place to save time at the airport ahead of their flight back to London. Mohamed Salah had scored in a 2-1 Liverpool win that left Arteta ruing missed chances, saying afterward: "When you're in those spaces, [it is about] putting the ball in the net.