Arsenal 2-1 PSG – 28/07/07 – (Friendly) 28 July, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Friendlies.trackback
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.
I was at the game and my man of the match was Diaby. he completely changed the match in the second half, when he was moved to central midfield. Wenger – play him there. MK
Dude, really good write up. I managed to miss the games today, so well done for giving us a detailed report. I’m pleased Alex had a good game as I think he’s more comfortable in the middle as an attacking midfielder – same with Tomas Rosicky. Hopefully we’ll see more of Eboue and Clichy on the wings allowing the other two to get some action in the centre.
Cheers,
DT
MK – Diaby over Denilson when Gilberto’s not around?
I agree about Almunia, Clichy and Hleb, they were all excellent, but I think Big Phil had a very good game too, head-mopping most balls coming his way. In the second half the defence and middle were convincing but the attack (or the “last third”) needs to sharpen up.
I want to add: Diaby was strong too, but he has to refine his final delivery. When he´s done that he will be awesome. He looks like the future motor of the team. The midfield can been seen as a dilemma. Fab, Gilberto, Diaby, Denilson, all very good/promising – but a central midfield of Hleb and/or Rosicky + one of the others is not a stupid idea. Which brings us to the absolute need for at least one good winger, preferably two.
i am 29 and obsessed with arsenal, i would rather watch arsenal v psg than screw my missis wots wrong with me?
she must be ugly
[...] Arsenal 2-1 PSG – 28/07/07 – (Friendly) [image] It was back to the Grove again today after what seems like an eternity. First up it was Valencia vs. Inter […] [...]
I was at the grove today. Here are some observations…
Bendtner is good. He wins things against defenders due to his size and has a brain -knowing how to use other players runs in order to get himself in on goal. He’s not lethal, but he’s not shot-shy either. With time will improve.
We are much, much better with width. With Eboue out wide, both he and hoyte created numerous chances for other players from the right. It made space. Similarly, playing two attacking full back on the left hand side -in Traore and Clichy, meant that we could attack and defend at will – excellent balance… We conceded when Randall came on and couldn’t offer the same protection to Traore as Clichy had. He may be young, but it’s hard to see what Randall adds which is different. I’m probably wrong. In Wenger we Trust, but he does seem a bit one-paced.
Sagna has got to get a haircut if he’s going to play for the club of the establishment. Also, unlike typical Wenger full backs, he is a defender first and foremost. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him deplyoed as an emergency CB at some point…
People who take on and beat their man are very important if you’re going to beat a team with 11 men behind the ball (most teams at the Emirates) – hence, Rosicky, Walcott, Hleb and RvP – maybe traore too become crucial.
Denilson and Fabregas are too similar to play in the centre of midfield together – I’m afraid it’s either – or, despite the fact they’re both brilliant. If we play 3 in the middle, it will have to be one of Diaby and Gilberto + either fab or denilson + rosicky or hleb. i.e. one tackler, one passer, one dribbler. Just need a shooter now and we’re done…. might be walcott.
We’re going to need some taller players to fight off the teams which come from the land of the giants – bolton, newcastle etc.
Did I mention the big nordic lad’s quite good….
Afraid to say we still look a bit toothless without TH14. Looking forward to seeing Eduardo, Rosicky and Walcott. Might add some bite.
anyone know where i can find some clips of the match?
The video is available in Mediafire and youtube. try searching Arsenal x PSG in mediafire.
It was important that we win, even though we were without real wingers. Clichy’s gonna be great this season. He was a lil edgy last season initially, but he caught very quickly. Alex Hleb, well, i hope we’ll see one of his best seasons. Otherwise i can’t see the right wing showing much of a threat to our opposition.
Kristhors im pleased you mentioned big Phil who i thought played so well and proved he is probably much better than some supporters give him credit for. Clichy i felt was the best player on view iv got a feeling he is going to have an awesome season. Almunia did very well together with Hleb and Eboue when they came on. Bendtner im reserving my judgement on i feel his size and weight are going to give us an extra dimention even if it is from the bench didnt he leap high for the goal .something we havnt seen for some time. All in all they did well especially second half lets see how they do today
A few good things we learnt from the game:
- Eboue’s better playing RM than RB. Clichy excelled in both LB and LM positions. That (as you could see in the second half) perhaps could serve as a solution to our problem of lacking width (first half)?
- Young kids like Traore and Justin Hoyte had a decent game in the full-back positions too. Coupled with the point about Clichy and Eboue shining in wings above, it’s really hard to tell what the “first-choice” formation would be this season because we’re blessed with options and flexibility!
- Almunia was sharp and alert, probably better than Lehmann at this point in time. But let’s see if Mad Jens can keep up this season.
- Let’s stop blaming Hleb for his poor performance last year. We can almost confirm that’s because he was played out of position. In the middle of midfield behind the striker, he looked very lively and dangerous.
- Diaby could provide part of the steel we lacked last year. He’s not as Vieira-esque as we’d hope yet, but he’s better in CM in 2H than in LM in 1H. (Do we now have too many midfielders excelling in the middle?!)
- Senderos had an excellent game. His partnership with Kolo was great, was pretty solid working with Gallas too. These two combinations were better than the Kolo/Gallas one we saw last year, though to be fair, they didn’t have enough time to develop the understanding. Although Kolo/Gallas is the apparent first-choice combo, and although last year Djourou seemed to come before Senderos in the pecking order, I would love to see Senderos get a few games to prove himself this season.
- Bendtner lacked sharpness but still managed to make one goal, scored another one, and even missed a penalty. Potential is there and let’s give him some time to improve. But at this point, I’d personally put Walcott before him in the pecking order.
bendtner is class but fukin ell …..when are we going to see walcott up front!!!
Great Game, but I wish Arsenal’ll beat Inter
hleb was great against inter today. hopefully he can carry his pre season form through to this season and prove a lot of haters wrong!
Mate, you have to do something about this.
Somebody is hacking your site.
A simple name, email, and url for entering comments is prone to being spammed.
i love arsenal!!!
all that’s left needed is the imminent arrival of diarra who gives that solidness in midfield (i have no clue what it’s gonna mean for flamini or gilberto) as the other’s in the central midfield are definately in contention for startng. The other signing I would like to see us make – charles n’zogbia as left wing cover for rosicky even though i thought gibbs was amazing and did not look out of place at all, if anyone is going to challenge for a place on the left within the squad it’s gibbs. A future star.
IF and thats a big IF Diarra signs then i can only assume the folowing.
Song is no longer seen as worth keeping
Flamini will be off after this season (its the final year of his contract aint it ? )
Gilberto will have a good 2 seasons left as first choice holding midfielder.
Possible change then to 3 central midfielders. Diarra holding. Cesc as the playmaker. Diaby as the muscle and direct forward running.
Update?
i love the gunners and gilberto,hleb,fabregas,rosicky,clichy,lehman,wallcot,toure are my favorite oh what am i saying all of them are my favorite
I dont want to see us sign Diarra, in my humble oppinion, he offers us nothing that we have already not got. He is a deffensive player, we already have Gilberto, Diaby and Flamini who can play there. He dosnt have any great pace and his passing is no better than Flamini’s. He also has a reputation for spitting the dummy out when things dont go his way – this is something that we dont need. We dont need a central midfielder, we need attacking players who have goals in them, a player who can run at deffenders and go past them, one who is right footed and a lethal free kick taker would be nice.
hello
sorry, this site is cool, i was just seeing if these comments worked.