PREVIEW: Hangzhou Greentown v Arsenal

Match Preview

Hangzhou Greentown v Arsenal

Pre-season Friendly,

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Kick-off: 12:30

After Arsenal’s convincing win against Malaysia XI on Wednesday, today is a match they’ll be expected to win in China by a far greater margin. Once again I don’t know much about the opposition, not because I’m ignorant, just because I’ve never heard anything of them.

It’s god too see that we’re widely accepted as the Asia tour is provided with an enormous amount of hospitality, for quite frankly players who are well over paid for a job that doesn’t matter too much. You could almost say they’re treated like Gods.

Back to the match and it’ll see the usual rotation in the pre-season. Those who’ll start the match will be those who need their fitness to be increased. So we can see any line-up today.

I would personally like to see another look and Miyachi and Jenkinson for a long period today, as I didn’t manage to catch the game on Wednesday. The partnership of Koscielny and Vermaelen needs another look at also, this is because they haven’t played together for a long enough periods.

Once again the team should try as hard as possible to keep running and chasing down the opponents to use that mentality for the season ahead and also to increase their fitness ready for a busy August.

Here is what the starting team could look like:

Arsenal

Szczesny

Sagna           Djourou       Squillaci       Traore

Frimpong     Ramsey

Walcott                  Nasri                      Miyachi

Van Persie

Prediction

Hangzhou Greentown 1-6 Arsenal

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REPORT: Malaysia XI 0-4 Arsenal

MALAYSIA XI 0 - 4 ARSENAL

Team Line-ups

Arsenal:

Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen (c), Gibbs, Song, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Miyachi, Chamakh

Malaysia XI:

Nourdin, Jasuli, Purta, Zafuan, Rahim, Shas, Subramaniam, Talaha, Rohidan, Saarani, Zainal

Match Report

Pre-season Friendly

Bukit Jalil Stadium

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Kick-off: 13:45

I didn’t manage to catch the match; only through Twitter could I manage to get updates as I am involved in the working world. From what I heard or saw Arsenal looked in good shape in Malaysia showing that last season is almost out of their minds with a game they were always in control of. News boys Jenkinson and Miyachi both started, the rest had a familiar look to the team.

Arsenal came out of the traps quicker than their opponenets and got an early goal as Ramsey (5) dispatched a penalty after Wilshere’s movement was too quick for the Malaysian defence and was brought down in the area.

The pressure continued, but it took till eight minutes before half time for Walcott (37) doubled Arsenal’s tally. It was the best goal of the game as Ramsey assisted from the middle of the pitch, in what you would call Cesc like. The vision and execution was sublime. (If Fabregas were to leave, I think Aaron can step up). The ball split the Malaysian defence and Walcott lobbed the keeper into an empty net. The finish did somewhat look like Theo shinned or hit it with his calf, still a neat finish.

Arsenal went into half-time with a lead at 2-0. I had predicted a score line of 4-1 to Arsenal; the match did finish 4-0 so I was close enough. Maybe if Almunia was on tour we would’ve conceded that one goal. Vela (58) got Arsenal’s third goal to put the game beyond doubt. It was Déjà vu all over again, with Carlos deciding to chip the keeper who was still standing. It was a great finish but when will Vela learn that sometimes scoring the simple goal is much more effective. One day we’ll play a big side or a match the has a lot riding on it and he’ll turn up in a position to give us the win and he’d decide to chip and miss ,when the direct shot would’ve been far more the better option. This is a make or break year for Vela I feel, with Bendtner looking on his way out, he needs to impress, but down the middle.


Another positive was to see Nasri coming on to play for the side off the bench, I hope this tour is a good bonding session to keep players together, especially for Samir. A low point was Denilson coming off after twenty minutes on the pitch after coming on as a substitute himself. The Brazilian stormed down the tunnel, clearly unhappy. The substitute was covered up by saying he was injured. But news is that he's actually close to a loan deal to Sao Paulo.

Finally our fourth goal came late on with Arshavin coming on to dart past his man to the by-line to cross with a deflection for Rosicky (90) (seems like he never scores) to nod home from close range.

All in all a good first win with a good run out in hot weather, where they would’ve sweated loads and improved their fitness, which is all that matters at this stage. Next up in Arsenal’s Asia tour is Chinese outfit Hangzhou Greentown.

Match Highlights: