EPL Pre-Season: Arsenal Crush SC Columbia 7-1
July 23rd 2009 05:41
It was a walk in the park for Arsenal in their second pre-season game as they romped over SC Columbia to a final result of 7-1.
The Gunners started the game with an unexpected intensity that proved troublesome for their opponents. However, despite getting several shots towards Columbia's net in the first fifteen minutes, it was the English club who would fall behind when Patrick Lehner slid in front of Almunia, deflecting the keeper's lazy clearance in the back of the net. Although Almunia didn't look brilliant on that play, much of the blame has to be put on newcomer Thomas Vermaelen's shoulders. Instead of simply clearing the ball, the defender passed the ball to his goalkeeper while the latter hadn't realized that Lehner was closing in on him. With one player coming from his left, Almunia lazily put the ball on his right foot and it's at that moment that Lehner struck with an efficient sliding tackle.
That goal was probably the only blemish on Arsenal's play that day. Less than a minute after Lehner's goal, the Gunners equalized the mark as Bendtner buried a can't-miss opportunity past Columbia's goalkeeper. From that moment on, the goals came in fast and furious. After Ramsey gave Arsenal the lead with a low and precise shot, Bendtner added his second right before the half. The Gunners' third goal was a niece piece of play between Bendtner and Ramsey as their perfect one-two left Columbia's defenders rooted in place.
In the second half, Robin Van Persie scored Arsenal's next two goals – the first on a penalty and the second, a header from Sagna's cross. Four minutes after Van Persie's second goal, Gallas added a header of his own to put the score at 6-1. Finally, Ramsey concluded the game with a powerful shot in off the post at the 82nd minute. The referee then put an end to the game a couple of minutes later, seeing as Columbia were completely under siege and running out of gas.
Most of Arsene Wenger's men had a good game. Bendtner took awhile before settling in the center forward role as he tended to drift a bit to the left, leaving no one in the middle. Eboue had a difficult time on the pitch and was promptly substituted after making an unnecessary foul in the second half. I was a bit disappointed in Jack Wilshere's play but perhaps it was just a bad day. It happens. Ramsey, on the other hand, was excellent to the point where the team almost didn't miss Fabregas. I say “almost” because they really shouldn't have missed him considering the calibre of their opponents.
The Gunners will play two more games on the continent before coming back to London for the annual Emirates Cup in early August.
Arsenal's line-up: Manuel Almunia (Wojciech Szczesny, h-t); Emmanuel Eboue (Aaron Ramsey, 70th); Johan Djourou (William Gallas, h-t), Thomas Vermaelen (Philippe Senderos, h-t), Mikael Silvestre (Kolo Toure, h-t); Jack Wilshere (Bacary Sagna, h-t), Denilson, Aaron Ramsey (Alexandre Song, h-t), Abou Diaby (Armand Traore, h-t);Andrei Arshavin (Jack Wilshere, 70th), Nicklas Bendtner (Robin Van Persie, h-t).
The Gunners started the game with an unexpected intensity that proved troublesome for their opponents. However, despite getting several shots towards Columbia's net in the first fifteen minutes, it was the English club who would fall behind when Patrick Lehner slid in front of Almunia, deflecting the keeper's lazy clearance in the back of the net. Although Almunia didn't look brilliant on that play, much of the blame has to be put on newcomer Thomas Vermaelen's shoulders. Instead of simply clearing the ball, the defender passed the ball to his goalkeeper while the latter hadn't realized that Lehner was closing in on him. With one player coming from his left, Almunia lazily put the ball on his right foot and it's at that moment that Lehner struck with an efficient sliding tackle.
That goal was probably the only blemish on Arsenal's play that day. Less than a minute after Lehner's goal, the Gunners equalized the mark as Bendtner buried a can't-miss opportunity past Columbia's goalkeeper. From that moment on, the goals came in fast and furious. After Ramsey gave Arsenal the lead with a low and precise shot, Bendtner added his second right before the half. The Gunners' third goal was a niece piece of play between Bendtner and Ramsey as their perfect one-two left Columbia's defenders rooted in place.
In the second half, Robin Van Persie scored Arsenal's next two goals – the first on a penalty and the second, a header from Sagna's cross. Four minutes after Van Persie's second goal, Gallas added a header of his own to put the score at 6-1. Finally, Ramsey concluded the game with a powerful shot in off the post at the 82nd minute. The referee then put an end to the game a couple of minutes later, seeing as Columbia were completely under siege and running out of gas.
Most of Arsene Wenger's men had a good game. Bendtner took awhile before settling in the center forward role as he tended to drift a bit to the left, leaving no one in the middle. Eboue had a difficult time on the pitch and was promptly substituted after making an unnecessary foul in the second half. I was a bit disappointed in Jack Wilshere's play but perhaps it was just a bad day. It happens. Ramsey, on the other hand, was excellent to the point where the team almost didn't miss Fabregas. I say “almost” because they really shouldn't have missed him considering the calibre of their opponents.
The Gunners will play two more games on the continent before coming back to London for the annual Emirates Cup in early August.
Arsenal's line-up: Manuel Almunia (Wojciech Szczesny, h-t); Emmanuel Eboue (Aaron Ramsey, 70th); Johan Djourou (William Gallas, h-t), Thomas Vermaelen (Philippe Senderos, h-t), Mikael Silvestre (Kolo Toure, h-t); Jack Wilshere (Bacary Sagna, h-t), Denilson, Aaron Ramsey (Alexandre Song, h-t), Abou Diaby (Armand Traore, h-t);Andrei Arshavin (Jack Wilshere, 70th), Nicklas Bendtner (Robin Van Persie, h-t).
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