Well this is my first match report, and it's tough because I couldn't actually see the match as it wasn't broadcasted anywhere but Arsenal TV, but here goes, Barnet vs. Arsenal.
We started off with an interesting lineup, some of the regulars and a few young guns as well as one really shite player, Alexandre Song. The starting lineup was like this: Almunia, Gilbert, Toure, Song, Clichy, Randall, Denilson, Flamini, Walcott, Van Persie (Woohoo!), Adebayor. Interesting having Song play in the back, surprising that Barnet didn't score. The only other REAL surprise was Mark Randall getting the start. He's one to watch for the future and hopefully he'll be quite good. Also good to see Walcott and RvP back in action after their injuries. Eduardo Da Silva was there in the stands but neither he nor Sagna were in action on the day.
So anyways, on to the match.
Kolo Toure was given the captain's armband for the match, which is a brilliant choice in my opinion, but I do love Gilberto. Van Persie had some speculative efforts early on that were no real danger, and Barnet had a few goes as well but neither ever looked like scoring early on. Adebayor had a good chance pretty early, but was denied by the Barnet keeper.
Arsenal opened up the scoring not too long into the game. In the 18th minute we got a corner kick and Van Persie sent it in to Walcott. He flicked it across goal to Adebayor who was waiting and he knocked the ball home on the half volley. 1-0 to the Arsenal!
Just after we had opened the scoring Barnet had a chance of their own. Jason Puncheon got a ball on the left hand side of the area with a scoring chance but Almunia did well to come out and smother the chance.
Adebayor had another good chance but the ball was just out of reach as he slid in to try to make the play. In the 25th minute Walcott sent in a cross for Van Persie who headed it off the bar but then was ruled offside. Denilson later had a long range attempt that was off target and Gael Clichy also missed the target after a rebound from the keeper.
Half time came and along with it came 6 new Arsenal players: Fabianski and Nordtveit came on to make their debuts, along with Armand Traore, Kieran Gibbs, Nacer Barazite, and Gavin Hoyte.
Rui Fonte, Fran Merida, Paul Rodgers, and Henri Lansbury would later come on.
Theo Walcott made a good run right after half time and passed to Adebayor who flicked it back to the trailing Kieran Gibbs who sent his shot wide. Adebayor then had another chance after Flamini sent him a ball forward to the edge of the box, but he sent it wide.
Denilson got injured in the 56th minute and had to go off on a stretcher, although it was announced later over the PA that he only had a minor injury and Wenger says he should be ok in a couple of days, so good news.
Soon after, Walcott sent in another cross for Adebayor which he again failed to convert.
In the 66th minute however, Nacer Barazite sealed the deal. There looked no real danger when he got the ball on the right channel but he sent a screamer past the keeper into the top of the opposite corner. A brilliant strike by him and hopefully will give him some confidence going forward.
The only other real action after that was a hard shot by Traore that was saved by the keeper and also a few shots from Barnet, but the game was effectively over after the second Arsenal goal.
So now I'll give out a few post game awards, which I plan to do for every match.
Man of the Match: Theo Walcott - He sent in several good crosses and got the assist on the first goal of the match. Good to see him back
Goal of the Match: Nacer Barazite - A real cannon from the young gunner sent across the goal into the top left corner.
Needs Work: Adebayor didn't have a good game finishing. He had several chances and although he converted one, he could have had many more. It's only the first match of the season though so we'll give him time of course, because I for one think he is a real quality player.
And that's about if for this one, let me know what you think of the style of the reports. Later all.
ArseNole
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Barnet 0-2 Arsenal
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5 comments:
this is really gd report, especially for ur 1st one, i wish we had have played da silva and sagna but o well.
i disagree with u about song tho, i think hes a gd player, he played really well for charlton in midfield and i think he can be a good player in the future.
its nice seeing so many young players play.
i didn't get to see the game but it sounds like it was a pretty good performance by our team and a comfortable win to start pre-season.
Yes, it was a comfortable win, only a few lapses but overall it was quality. I don't think Song is a horrible player really, i just don't think he is up to the Arsenal standard. I think he did well at Charlton and that is about the level he should play at. He is not fit for a top 4 club in my opinion.
yeh ur probably right as it goes, hed never get into our team.
hopefully denilsons injury is not serious like they say, think hell play quite a big part in our team next season, what do u think?
I agree. I love Denilson. I think he and Fabregas and Diaby will be a great midfield after Gilberto eventually leaves. They can switch off depending what style of play we want. He has all the skill, he just needs the experience and he will be great.
yeh, him and diaby walked all over chelsea in that final, when there a bit older and more experienced thell be amazing, and theres fabregas aswell, whos only 20, when there all playing at there best well be some team.
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