Arsenal 2-1 PSG – 28/07/07 – (Friendly) 28 July, 2007

It was back to the Grove again today after what seems like an eternity. First up it was Valencia vs. Inter Milan, I missed the beginning of the game but Valencia looked by far the better team won 2-0. I was looking forward to seeing Edu v Vieira but neither featured; I think Edu was an unused substitute but Vieira wasn’t even in the Inter squad in the programme; I don’t know why that was, I’m guessing he’s injured or something.

Then it was the Arsenal vs. Paris St. Germain game; we started with quite a strong team, Almunia in goal who had a brilliant game. He made about 5 fantastic saves and was very very unlucky not to get a clean sheet for his performance. He played the full 90 minutes today so I’m expecting Fabianski to face Inter tomorrow. The back four was Sagna, Senderos, Toure and Clichy. Denilson and Fabregas were in central midfield with two unfamiliar wingers beside them. Diaby was out on one side, we saw him play there a few times last season and he did a decent job today even though it’s not his best position. Then it was Flamini on the other wing and he gave everything as usual. Then up front it was RVP and Bendtner.

With Adebayor, Walcott, Djourou and Rosicky picking up knocks from Austria and Eduardo still without his work permit Wenger’s selections were limited but it was still a decent side. It was a typical pre-season friendly…not a lot happened in the opening minutes. You’d have to say PSG were on top in the first half, they broke through our defence a few times but their shooting wasn’t good enough to test Almunia. We had a few of chances going forward including Van Persie’s free kick, which just missed the target.

Almunia made a few good saves before half time and it looked like we would go in at half time drawing at 0-0. Just before half time we won a corner, which was no danger to PSG, but on the return attack we did manage to score. Clichy picked up the ball out on the right and put in an early cross to the edge of the box. It came perfectly to Bendtner who unselfishly chested it down to Flamini who scored well putting the ball right in the bottom corner, unstoppable for Mickael Landreau.

So we went in at half time 1-0 up, probably not deserving it…but who cares? Toure, Sagna, Fabregas, Flamini and Van Persie came off at half time replaced by Gallas, Hoyte, Traore, Eboue and Hleb. We now had Traore and Hoyte at full backs with Gallas and Senderos in the middle. Then Eboue on the right wing and Clichy on the left. Gael had been getting forward really well in the first half so when he was pushed up into left midfield it allowed him to explore the pitch even more. I don’t know whether this was a planned change or whether Wenger saw his first half performance and decided upon it but it was a really good move. Clichy had a brilliant game and maybe he’ll be another young player who’ll have a great 07/08 season.

In the middle we then had Denilson and Diaby with Bendtner as a lone striker. Then Hleb was playing centrally between Bendtner and and the centre midfielders in a 4-4-1-1. He’s not one of the most popular Arsenal players and had some bad performances last season but today was a completely different story. Alex had a brilliant game in the centre of the midfield, a complete contrast to some performances we’ve seen from him out wide.

This second half Arsenal side dominated PSG and we should’ve scored a few. However, our 2nd goal came in the 70th minute from Nick Bendtner. Denilson took a good corner which Bendtner got a head to, it came off another player and rebounded back to the Dane and he finished passed the PSG ‘keeper to make it 2-0 to the Arsenal putting us at the top of the table with Valencia.

PSG scored 10 minutes from time against the run of play. Luyindula finished past Almunia’s near post from a low cross. It was a silly goal to concede and puts us in 2nd place for the Emirates Cup. We nearly made it 3-1 though when Bendtner had a penalty saved in the 83rd minute. It finished 2-1 and I think it was a deserved win for Arsenal.

My man of the match has to be either Almunia, Clichy or Hleb. Those three had brilliant games and really gave PSG some problems.

Right then, we face Inter Milan tomorrow and Valencia play PSG. Will we win the very first Emirates Cup? I think we can. Thanks for reading.