It was Arsène Wenger's triple substitution in the second half that truly raised the temperature. The home crowd had come to see Arsenal's A-listers and they had revelled in an exciting first-half showing from Theo Walcott.
The England winger merely had to pour a bottle of water over his head, when captured on the big screen, to have the supporters roaring. He did much more than that and his precision lob put his team 2-0 up against a poor Malaysia national side.
Yet it was the entrance of Samir Nasri, Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin in the 67th minute that set the pulses racing. Nasri occupied a central position behind Van Persie in Wenger's 4-1-4-1, and he might have scored within moments of coming on.
His popularity in these parts has been undimmed by his refusal to sign the new contract on offer at the club and the prospect that he could leave on a Bosman free transfer next summer. It will be interesting to see how the Emirates crowd responds to him but here, there was the comfort of seeing him and his flashy yellow boots in the club strip once more.
Arsenal were 3-0 up by the time that he arrived, with Carlos Vela scoring the pick of the goals, a sumptuously cheeky clip over the goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat. Tomas Rosicky, another substitute, added the fourth in injury time from Arshavin's deflected cross.
Arsenal's players had managed to cope with the clammy heat and their appearance will be long remembered by the 65,000 fans in attendance. To general delight, they threw caps into the crowd after the game.
It was difficult to overstate just how hot it felt inside the stadium, which can hold up to 100,000 fans. At the 8.45pm kick-off time, when the draining humidity was factored in, the temperature was 37C. Arsenal's players had only been in the country for a little over 48 hours, after the 13-hour flight from London across seven time zones. This was a pre-season baptism of fire.
In the absence of Cesc Fábregas, who is recovering from injury and/or bound for Barcelona, Wenger used the same formation with which he had finished last season, when the captain was injured and merely set to embark on the latest Barcelona tedium. Alex Song shielded the back four, with Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey in front of him, behind the lone striker, Marouane Chamakh.
Arsenal scored early on when Wilshere drove into the penalty area and nicked the ball ahead of Mohd Aidil Zafuan. The defender duly lunged in and sent Wilshere sprawling. Ramsey kept his cool from the penalty spot. When the ball hit the net for each of Arsenal's goals, there were plenty of Malaysian supporters out of their seats. Although the home team enjoyed the vocal support, roughly half of the crowd were clad in Arsenal colours. They gloried in stepovers, flicks or any sort of flair. Vela took the prize as the consummate showman.
Wenger played Carl Jenkinson, the £1m signing from Charlton Athletic, and Ryo Miyaichi, the Japanese midfield prospect, who did well on loan at Feyenoord last season. Jenkinson looks too tall to be an Arsenal player, let alone a right-back. He was caught out of position on occasion but he made several solid challenges. Miyaichi's technique is eye-catching. Jenkinson and Miyaichi were two of only three Arsenal players who were not substituted at the interval. Ramsey was the other.
Ramsey missed a one-on-one chance in the second-half before Vela's moment of magic. Arsenal's pre-season is up and running.
Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 13 Jul 11
Showing posts with label Malaysia XI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Malaysia XI. Show all posts
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Nasri is sub in Gunners friendly rout
Arsenal recorded a comfortable 4-0 victory over a Malaysia XI in the opening match of their Asia tour at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, where contract rebel Samir Nasri impressed when he came off the bench.
Aaron Ramsey scored from the penalty spot after just five minutes following a foul on Jack Wilshere.
Theo Walcott doubled the Gunners lead before half-time with a well taken lob from Ramsey's through ball.
Mexican Carlos Vela - who had been expected to be sold this summer - made it 3-0 just before the hour with an audacious close-range chip, and fellow substitute Tomas Rosicky nodded in during stoppage time following good work from Andrey Arshavin.
Arsenal will play the second match of their Asia tour in China, facing Hangzhou Greentown on Saturday.
The Gunners were without injured captain Cesc Fabregas, who remained in London to continue fitness work on his troublesome hamstring amid reports of a transfer to Barcelona.
There were first-team debuts for youngsters Ryo Miyaichi, back from a successful loan spell at Feyenoord, and right-back Carl Jenkinson, who signed from Charlton earlier this summer.
Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen, who missed most of last season with a niggling Achilles injury, captained the side, while England international Kieran Gibbs started at left-back with Marouane Chamakh in attack.
Holland striker Robin van Persie and Nasri, linked with a £20million move away from Emirates Stadium, were among the substitutes.
It was a flying start for the Gunners when Wilshere darted into the left side of the penalty area and was tripped by Mohd Aidil Zafuan. Wales international Ramsey coolly dispatched the resulting spot-kick past Malaysia keeper Mohd Nasal Mat Nourdin.
Walcott could have doubled the lead when he darted in from the right, but fired over.
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny had to be alert to divert a looping ball over, before at the other end, Vermaelen's header was just wide.
On 37 minutes, it was 2-0 when Ramsey's perfectly weighted pass put Walcott in behind the defence and the England forward planted a first-time effort over the advancing keeper.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger implemented the expected sweeping changes for the second half, with only Miyaichi, Jenkinson and Ramsey returning.
Young midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong made a welcome return following a season out with a serious knee injury, while both Vela and Denilson were also given a chance to impress despite being linked with summer moves.
Ramsey, now fit following a broken leg, fired over after latching onto a through ball from Vela.
Substitute keeper Vito Mannone - who had a loan spell at Hull - was penalised for timewasting, to concede an indirect free-kick just inside the Arsenal area, which was fired into the wall by Malaysia captain Safiq Rahim.
It was 3-0 on 59 minutes, when Vela, who failed to impress when loaned out to West Brom last season, was played in by Rosicky and finished with an audacious chip over the keeper from six yards.
With 20 minutes left, much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd, Wenger sent on van Persie, Nasri and Arshavin.
Arsenal were sweeping forwards, with Nasri seeing plenty of the ball in a 4-3-3 formation.
Vela should have made it 4-0 when he danced around the keeper, but his shot was cleared off the line.
Rosicky had shot over when well placed, but nodded in a fourth during stoppage time after Arshavin had got away down the left and lofted the ball back across goal.
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 13 Jul 11
Aaron Ramsey scored from the penalty spot after just five minutes following a foul on Jack Wilshere.
Theo Walcott doubled the Gunners lead before half-time with a well taken lob from Ramsey's through ball.
Mexican Carlos Vela - who had been expected to be sold this summer - made it 3-0 just before the hour with an audacious close-range chip, and fellow substitute Tomas Rosicky nodded in during stoppage time following good work from Andrey Arshavin.
Arsenal will play the second match of their Asia tour in China, facing Hangzhou Greentown on Saturday.
The Gunners were without injured captain Cesc Fabregas, who remained in London to continue fitness work on his troublesome hamstring amid reports of a transfer to Barcelona.
There were first-team debuts for youngsters Ryo Miyaichi, back from a successful loan spell at Feyenoord, and right-back Carl Jenkinson, who signed from Charlton earlier this summer.
Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen, who missed most of last season with a niggling Achilles injury, captained the side, while England international Kieran Gibbs started at left-back with Marouane Chamakh in attack.
Holland striker Robin van Persie and Nasri, linked with a £20million move away from Emirates Stadium, were among the substitutes.
It was a flying start for the Gunners when Wilshere darted into the left side of the penalty area and was tripped by Mohd Aidil Zafuan. Wales international Ramsey coolly dispatched the resulting spot-kick past Malaysia keeper Mohd Nasal Mat Nourdin.
Walcott could have doubled the lead when he darted in from the right, but fired over.
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny had to be alert to divert a looping ball over, before at the other end, Vermaelen's header was just wide.
On 37 minutes, it was 2-0 when Ramsey's perfectly weighted pass put Walcott in behind the defence and the England forward planted a first-time effort over the advancing keeper.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger implemented the expected sweeping changes for the second half, with only Miyaichi, Jenkinson and Ramsey returning.
Young midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong made a welcome return following a season out with a serious knee injury, while both Vela and Denilson were also given a chance to impress despite being linked with summer moves.
Ramsey, now fit following a broken leg, fired over after latching onto a through ball from Vela.
Substitute keeper Vito Mannone - who had a loan spell at Hull - was penalised for timewasting, to concede an indirect free-kick just inside the Arsenal area, which was fired into the wall by Malaysia captain Safiq Rahim.
It was 3-0 on 59 minutes, when Vela, who failed to impress when loaned out to West Brom last season, was played in by Rosicky and finished with an audacious chip over the keeper from six yards.
With 20 minutes left, much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd, Wenger sent on van Persie, Nasri and Arshavin.
Arsenal were sweeping forwards, with Nasri seeing plenty of the ball in a 4-3-3 formation.
Vela should have made it 4-0 when he danced around the keeper, but his shot was cleared off the line.
Rosicky had shot over when well placed, but nodded in a fourth during stoppage time after Arshavin had got away down the left and lofted the ball back across goal.
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 13 Jul 11
Wenger's reaction to the Malaysia XI 0-4 Arsenal match
We have no injuries and we had a good sweat. Overall what is important for us is to get slowly ready. I believe technically we were alright for our first game. Physically we suffered a little bit but what is important at this period of the season is to find our team play back and that was quite satisfying.
The first half was more difficult than the second because the teams were a bit disturbed and disrupted by the many changes. But the first half was physically at a good level and they played with a good pace. I felt they [Malaysia] defended stubbornly and very well in their box. They had a few opportunities but they miss a bit of calm in the final third.
on Jenkinson and Miyaichi...
Jenkinson has shown power and good decision-making. Ryo Miyaichi has shown as well good qualities, he is always available, always keen to take people on, he works very hard. Both of them have shown interesting qualities.
on Samir Nasri...
He has always had a very good attitude. We are a big club with many good young players so we are confronted with many rumours and speculation. But it doesn't affect much what's happening inside the Club. We have to live with that and you could see when he [Samir] played that he wasn't disturbed by that.
on whether the board support his decision to keep Nasri...
I think so, I believe that is no problem. It is a technical decision. On one hand people say I don't spend enough and when I spend people say I spend too much. It's very difficult to find the right medium. What is important is that the Club has a good team and is in a strong financial situation. The decisions are dictated by financial restrictions but not only by that. The most important thing is that the team is right and our financial situation is right as well.
on how the fans will react to him…
Very well. I believe that everybody who loves Arsenal wants all our strong players to stay at the Club.
on the Malaysia leg of the tour…
What is positive is that we are together, we have discovered a new country, we have discovered how much we are loved in Asia and that was unknown by many players. We have learned that the love here is genuine, enthusiastic and full of admiration.
on whether anyone can emulate Jack Wilshere this season…
It’s a bit early for me. I’m a football manager and, unfortunately, not a prophet! We are happy to have a player like Ramsey back, who didn’t play the whole season and Vermaelen as well. So hopefully they can have a very interesting season.
on his thoughts on the Malaysia XI…
They were mobile, motivated and well-organised defensively. I would say they lacked offensive power as a team but they were very interesting. Their transition from defence to offence was very quick and good but in the final third you could see there was a big difference between the two teams.
on his targets for the new season…
The target is always to win the Premier League. That’s the basis of our target.
Source: Arsenal.com on 13 Jul 11
13 July 2011: Malaysia XI 0-4 Arsenal, Bukit Jalil Stadium
Arsenal cruised to victory in the opening game of their Asia Tour on Wednesday night in front of a crowd approaching 70,000.
In the sweltering heat of Kuala Lumpur, a Malaysia XI found them simply too hot to handle.
Aaron Ramsey stroked home a penalty after five minutes and, eight minutes before the break Theo Walcott clipped home a second. Carlos Vela dinked in No 3 just after the restart.
Malaysia XI had carried a threat in the first half, mainly thanks to the pace of left winger Kunanlan Subramaniam. But they fell away as the game wore on. Tomas Rosicky even added a fourth at the death.
This was Arsenal’s first game in Malaysia since 1999. Back then Emmanuel Petit and Nicolas Anelka had secure a solid 2-0 victory.
The current crop leave for China on Thursday on the second leg of the Tour.
But, having seen them in the flesh, we can hope the Club have left a lasting legacy for the Malaysia people. From their fervent support it is clear they knew all about Arsenal before they arrived.
Hopefully this game will leave some happy memories once the team has gone.
The Bukit Jalil Stadium had erupted when the Arsenal team came out to warm-up. And the decibel levels went up 10 fold as the side emerged from the tunnel for the game.
Wearing the 125th anniversary away kit for the first time, Wenger’s XI side waved their ‘hellos’. After a week of welcome from this friendly country, they were very accustomed to the response they received.
The atmosphere was a heavy mixture of excitement, adulation and sweltering heat. In effect, the Malaysia XI was a squad from the national team. This was the first of three games against top quality Premier League opposition - Liverpool and Chelsea are due up soon - so head coach Datuk Rajagobal was managing his resources.
Mohd Safee Mohd Sali, the golden boy of Malaysia football, began on the bench. But playmaker and captain Safiq Rahim would be patrolling the midfield.
Wenger handed first Arsenal starts to Carl Jenkinson and Ryo Miyaichi. Kieran Gibbs was installed at left-back, a role his he is set to frequent following the departure of Gael Clichy.
The game had barely settled when Arsenal took the lead. In the fifth minute, Mohd Aidil Zafuan clipped Jack Wilshere as he darted down the left of the area. Ramsey was perhaps a surprising choice of penalty-taker but he was cool enough to send the keeper the wrong way.
Almost immediately it might have been 2-0 when Walcott popped up on the right but lifted his effort over the bar.
Malaysia attacks were sporadic - and mostly through the pacy Subramaniam. But any foray forward was greeted with rapturous applause. The crowd was 80 per cent Arsenal shirts but this was very much a national party.
Walcott’s pace continued to bother the home defence as did Ramsey’s movement and vision. When the two talents were combined, Arsenal were at their best.
Midway through the half, Marouane Chamakh fed Walcott on the edge of the area but the striker lost the ball at the vital moment.
Malaysia had peppered Wojciech Szczesny’s goal with long-range shots throughout so it was no surprise when Rahim tried his luck with a right wing free-kick. The tall Polish keeper stretched to tip it over but, in fairness, always had it covered.
The pace of Subramaniam was still the main weapon for Malaysia. However Jenkinson was handling him well. Chamakh drifted a header past the far post on the half-hour. In response, Ahmad Fakri Saarani tried to nod past Szczesny but the keeper blocked and the flag was up.
In the 37th minute Arsenal did grab that second. And, yet again, the Ramsey-Walcott axis worked. The Welshman sent an astute angled ball through to the sprinting Englishman. He lifted his shot over the keeper.
Seconds later, Walcott reached the byline and his searching cut back had to be hurriedly hacked clear. As the whistle approached, Arsenal were cruising. Perhaps it was the heat, perhaps it was a technical advantage but the visitors had taken control in the first 45 minutes without ever truly moving out of second gear.
Wenger made eight changes at the interval. Only Ramsey, Miyiachi and Jenkinson stayed on.
In the opening eight minutes both sides had a decent chance. Vela touched back Rosicky’s ball for Ramsey to race through and thunder his shot inches over the bar.
Shortly afterwards, Vito Mannone was penalised for holding on to the ball too long. Malaysia XI were awarded an indirect free-kick inside the area but the wall held firm from Rahim’s drive.
In the 57th minute, Arsenal’s quality told once again. Rosicky released Vela on the left of the area and, in typical style, the Mexican hoist a cheeky chip beyond the reach of the stranded keeper and into the far corner of the net.
With the job done, Wenger brought on two of his most experienced players - Robin van Persie and Bacary Sagna.
It was time for Arsenal to kick on. Vela should have made it four but, after collecting Johan Djourou’s pass and beating a couple of men, his shot hit a defender who had time to race back to the line.
Rosicky hacked over soon afterwards but made amends by grabbing the fourth in added time.
At the final whistle, the crowd erupted again and the team said their goodbyes.
As a game, this was average. As a spectacle, it was superb. If the Asia tour is about spreading the word of Arsenal, then this particular message was sent out loud and clear.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 13 Jul 11
In the sweltering heat of Kuala Lumpur, a Malaysia XI found them simply too hot to handle.
Aaron Ramsey stroked home a penalty after five minutes and, eight minutes before the break Theo Walcott clipped home a second. Carlos Vela dinked in No 3 just after the restart.
Malaysia XI had carried a threat in the first half, mainly thanks to the pace of left winger Kunanlan Subramaniam. But they fell away as the game wore on. Tomas Rosicky even added a fourth at the death.
This was Arsenal’s first game in Malaysia since 1999. Back then Emmanuel Petit and Nicolas Anelka had secure a solid 2-0 victory.
The current crop leave for China on Thursday on the second leg of the Tour.
But, having seen them in the flesh, we can hope the Club have left a lasting legacy for the Malaysia people. From their fervent support it is clear they knew all about Arsenal before they arrived.
Hopefully this game will leave some happy memories once the team has gone.
The Bukit Jalil Stadium had erupted when the Arsenal team came out to warm-up. And the decibel levels went up 10 fold as the side emerged from the tunnel for the game.
Wearing the 125th anniversary away kit for the first time, Wenger’s XI side waved their ‘hellos’. After a week of welcome from this friendly country, they were very accustomed to the response they received.
The atmosphere was a heavy mixture of excitement, adulation and sweltering heat. In effect, the Malaysia XI was a squad from the national team. This was the first of three games against top quality Premier League opposition - Liverpool and Chelsea are due up soon - so head coach Datuk Rajagobal was managing his resources.
Mohd Safee Mohd Sali, the golden boy of Malaysia football, began on the bench. But playmaker and captain Safiq Rahim would be patrolling the midfield.
Wenger handed first Arsenal starts to Carl Jenkinson and Ryo Miyaichi. Kieran Gibbs was installed at left-back, a role his he is set to frequent following the departure of Gael Clichy.
The game had barely settled when Arsenal took the lead. In the fifth minute, Mohd Aidil Zafuan clipped Jack Wilshere as he darted down the left of the area. Ramsey was perhaps a surprising choice of penalty-taker but he was cool enough to send the keeper the wrong way.
Almost immediately it might have been 2-0 when Walcott popped up on the right but lifted his effort over the bar.
Malaysia attacks were sporadic - and mostly through the pacy Subramaniam. But any foray forward was greeted with rapturous applause. The crowd was 80 per cent Arsenal shirts but this was very much a national party.
Walcott’s pace continued to bother the home defence as did Ramsey’s movement and vision. When the two talents were combined, Arsenal were at their best.
Midway through the half, Marouane Chamakh fed Walcott on the edge of the area but the striker lost the ball at the vital moment.
Malaysia had peppered Wojciech Szczesny’s goal with long-range shots throughout so it was no surprise when Rahim tried his luck with a right wing free-kick. The tall Polish keeper stretched to tip it over but, in fairness, always had it covered.
The pace of Subramaniam was still the main weapon for Malaysia. However Jenkinson was handling him well. Chamakh drifted a header past the far post on the half-hour. In response, Ahmad Fakri Saarani tried to nod past Szczesny but the keeper blocked and the flag was up.
In the 37th minute Arsenal did grab that second. And, yet again, the Ramsey-Walcott axis worked. The Welshman sent an astute angled ball through to the sprinting Englishman. He lifted his shot over the keeper.
Seconds later, Walcott reached the byline and his searching cut back had to be hurriedly hacked clear. As the whistle approached, Arsenal were cruising. Perhaps it was the heat, perhaps it was a technical advantage but the visitors had taken control in the first 45 minutes without ever truly moving out of second gear.
Wenger made eight changes at the interval. Only Ramsey, Miyiachi and Jenkinson stayed on.
In the opening eight minutes both sides had a decent chance. Vela touched back Rosicky’s ball for Ramsey to race through and thunder his shot inches over the bar.
Shortly afterwards, Vito Mannone was penalised for holding on to the ball too long. Malaysia XI were awarded an indirect free-kick inside the area but the wall held firm from Rahim’s drive.
In the 57th minute, Arsenal’s quality told once again. Rosicky released Vela on the left of the area and, in typical style, the Mexican hoist a cheeky chip beyond the reach of the stranded keeper and into the far corner of the net.
With the job done, Wenger brought on two of his most experienced players - Robin van Persie and Bacary Sagna.
It was time for Arsenal to kick on. Vela should have made it four but, after collecting Johan Djourou’s pass and beating a couple of men, his shot hit a defender who had time to race back to the line.
Rosicky hacked over soon afterwards but made amends by grabbing the fourth in added time.
At the final whistle, the crowd erupted again and the team said their goodbyes.
As a game, this was average. As a spectacle, it was superb. If the Asia tour is about spreading the word of Arsenal, then this particular message was sent out loud and clear.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 13 Jul 11
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