Arsenal Champions Again

July 29, 2007 on 10:11 pm | In Arsenal FC | posted by Block19er |

Champions! It’s only ‘The Emirates Cup’ but it still felt good. Arsenal were in great form against Inter today and had a very good second half against PSG on Saturday. The weekend was a great success with all Gooners going away happy and a few more £££’s in the clubs bank account.

The Emirates Cup started with a 2-0 win for Valencia against Inter Milan. This gave The Spanish 5 points (with 1 for each goal scored on top of the 3 for a win) and meant Arsenal really needed to kick off with a win against PSG.

The Gooners kicked of with Almunia in goal, Sagna, Senderos, Toure, and Clichy at the back, Flamini, Cesc, Denilson, and Diaby in Midfield, and Bendtner and Robin Van Persie up top. As you can imagine from the midfield men it was all very central and to be honest a little muddled to start. These are the game you need to try these things and it did not work. Sagna was caught out a few times at the back, but on a positive side Senderos was looking more solid than he did last season. Clichy was really playing well and it was him who bought Arsenal to life bang on half time. He crossed the ball deep to Bendtner who cushioned it onto Flamini who volley home well. The second half was a lot better. Eboue and Traore came on and Wenger pushed Clichy forward. It made Arsenal more fluent and Clichy and Traore were fantastic down the left. Hleb also came on at half time for Van Persie, it left Bendtner to lead the line on his own. Hleb seemed to thrive on this deep role. It also let Bendtner get some time on the ball. He missed a superb chance before leaping to head a corner. It was defended on the line but only fell back to Nicklas who tucked it home. Bendtner also stepped up to take a penalty, which shows good character on his first game in front of over 55,000 people. Unfortunately he missed it!!

So Sunday morning came and boy was I hungover. The last thing I needed was another session in The Rocket so after a couple I headed in to watch an impressive PSG take apart Valencia. The 3-nil win put PSG top with 7 points.

Arsenal started as they finished against PSG, the 4-5-1 worked well against Inter. Hleb again took up a role just off the front, this time it was Van ‘The Man’ Persie though. Jens was in goal, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, and Hoyte were at the back, and Eboue, Flamini, Cesc, and Gibbs joined Helb in the middle of the park.

It was the first time Gibbs had made a start for the Arsenal First Team. The biggest game he’d had before was a match for the Arsenal XI against Borehamwood and also played in the Youth Cup Semi Final this season. Kieran Gibbs is definitely a name we’ll be hearing more about in the future. I don’t think there were any negatives today but Gibbs was the massive positive, he stole the show, and could provide an answer to Arsenal’s need for a winger. I hope he can get another chance to shine against Lazio.

It was 0-0 at half time despite Arsenal’s dominance they could not break the deadlock in a throw back to last season Arsenal went 1-nil down in the second half. Arsenal were really playing great entertaining football and with it being a friendly it did not dampen the crowds enthusiasm. We needn’t have worried because, new man, Hleb levelled it up. This attacking role is really suiting Alex, Eboue was much improved today in midfield and is getting used to the role too, he broke and moved the ball to Sagna who cut back to Hleb to shoot. Toldo saved but Hleb tucked away the rebound. Arsenal were buoyant and with 5 minutes to go Van Persie won the Emirates Cup. Robin was in scintillating form, hitting some amazing shots just wide or over, this goal was truly amazing. Robin dragged the ball to his right and smashed a shot passed the Inter Keeper. It’d like to be able to describe it better but words can’t possibly do a goal like that justice.

So now it is Sunday night and I am bloody knackered as I also chalked up a few minute for the Arsenal Herts & Beds boys on Saturday, 5 football games in two days, what a weekend!!