When it was announced that Jens Lehmann would be taking over the vacant post left by Arsene Wenger, Arsenal fans didn't know what to expect from the German, but the majority of them were optimistic about his ability. This month, they would get the chance to see what he had to offer to their club, with the team playing a total of four friendly matches. Lehmann was able to test out new signings, Diego Costa, Tim Krul and Michael Bradley, but would have to wait until the season began if he wanted to play Carlos Vela, who joined after the pre-season had ended.

: Mathieu Flamini, 9.2

: Cristian Raimondi, 7.5

: Lukas Podolski, 8.3

: Santi Cazorla, 8.0

: Laurent Koscielny,7.7

If Jens Lehmann was looking for a better match to get his managerial debut in, he would be looking in all the wrong places. An appetising away tie against North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur got the campaign underway for Arsenal, but they were soon left feeling angry at themselves when new Spurs signing Morgan Schneiderlin opened the scoring just before the half hour mark. After Kyle Walker played a through ball into the box towards the Frenchman, he controlled it and blasted it across goal. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny got a hand to it but the shot was too strong and Tottenham took the lead. After Mesut Özil's corner was cleared, Vlad Chiricheș chased the ball into the Arsenal half, he played a brilliant through ball into the penalty area where Christian Eriksen was waiting. He controlled the ball well before driving the ball past the keeper. Just before half time, Arsenal pulled one back through Laurent Koscielny. Özil swung in a corner, it found Per Mertesacker, who headed it goalwards. His header was going wide, until Koscielny stuck his head out to guide it past Lloris.

At half time, Lehmann brought Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain off the bench. This turned out to be the decision of the game, when he scored just ten minutes after the break. After another Özil corner was whipped in, the Tottenham defence cleared it, only to the edge of the area. Oxlade-Chamberlain volleyed it low into the net to level it up. The score stayed the same, and Arsenal will be happy to have levelled the game from two behind. Attendance: 36,284.

: Thomas Vermaelen,8.2

After earning a draw away to their London rivals in the previous game, Arsenal hosted newly promoted Hull City. It was a very one sided game, with Arsenal dominating both the possession and chances. However, despite all their efforts, they only managed to score one goal midway through the second half. Mesut Özil crossed the ball in from a corner, and the Belgian defender, Thomas Vermaelen, who was recently replaced as captain, nodded the ball into the net to win the game. Attendance: 58,270.

: Rickie Lambert,8.9

After picking up their first win of the league, Arsenal were on the road again, this time against Southampton. However, this was not their day, and Laurent Koscielny turned the ball into his net after just two minutes following a cross from Luke Shaw. Soon after, Southampton doubled their lead, with Rickie Lambert heading in an Adam Lallana corner. A possible comeback seemed on late on when Diego Costa unselfishly passed up on the chance to score his first league goal for the club, instead opting to square the ball to Welshman Aaron Ramsey to make it 2-1. It was clear that the Gunners had began to push forward, but they were silenced late into stoppage time, when another corner, this time from Steven Davis, drifted into a dangerous position. Jos Hooiveld had his header saved, but Lambert was there to head in the rebound. 3-1. A
disappointing result for Arsenal, but a first defeat had to come at some point.
Attendance: 31,208.

: Carlos Vela,8.8

Carlos Vela made his return for Arsenal - against the club he left just weeks before - and what a performance he gave. After just seven minutes, he gave Arsenal the lead when Aaron Ramsey played a fine through ball into his path. Vela took one touch, before slotting it past his old team-mate in the Sociedad net. Just a minute later, Liassine Cadamuro-Bentaïba pulled Olivier Giroud back in the box. Vela stepped up to take the penalty and dispatched it into the net with ease. American midfielder, Michael Bradley produced the goal of the game after Vela's corner was headed out of the box by Cadamuro. It bounced once, settled up into the path of Bradley, just outside the box. On the half volley, he smashed it into the top corner, with it curling a little as it rippled the net. Sociedad did manage to pull one goal back when Xabi Prieto played a near perfect cross into the box where Imanol Agirretxe was lurking in the centre. He tapped the ball softly past the keeper to earn Sociedad an away goal.
Attendance: 60,338.

: Liassine Cadamuro,8.0

Tim Krul made his first appearance in the return leg, but Arsenal fans were fearful when he conceded to Liassine Cadamuro after seven minutes. Xabi Prieto flighted in a cross towards the defender, who headed into the top corner. Arsenal equalized through Diego Costa - the Spaniard's first goal for the club - when fellow countryman Santi Cazorla drifted a lovely cross which went directly to the head of Costa, who nodded it in to earn Arsenal's away goal.

After half time, Theo Walcott, who had been brought on at the break, put Arsenal into the lead for the first time when Tomáš Rosický, also brought on at half time, played a ball through to the winger. He took a touch to bring it wide, the keeper came off of his line, and Walcott slotted it into the net from an angle to see Arsenal through to the Group Stages of the tournament. Attendance: 32,000.