Rangers boss Steven Gerrard was handed a big injury worry ahead of the new Scottish Premiership season when experienced striker Jermaine Defoe pulled up with an injury during the friendly encounter between Rangers and Arsenal on Saturday. Jermaine Defoe sustained the injury in the first half of the game which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Jermaine Defoe is not a regular in the Rangers XI but his influence in the team can’t be underrated. He didn’t feature much last season as Rangers ended Celtic’s dominance on the domestic front by winning the league. Liverpool legend Gerrard masterminded the league win on the back nine successive league titles by Celtic. Rangers went through the whole of last season without defeat.
For the friendly game against the Gunners, Rangers led twice but they could not hold on to the lead as Arsenal came back to draw the game. Rangers took the lead through the header from Super Eagles of Nigeria centre back Leon Balogun off the corner kick from club skipper James Tavernier. Arsenal took just eight minutes to get back to level terms courtesy new signing Nuno Tavares who was playing his first game for the club.
Arsenal signed Portuguese player Tavares from Benfica in a deal reported to be around £8m. He scored his first goal against the Scottish champions on Saturday.
Rangers went ahead for the second time through Cedric Itten with fifteen minutes left on the clock. Arsenal replied again eight minutes later through Eddie Nketiah to ensure that they ended the game with a draw.