Emirates Cup 2008 & Wilshere new no.19 4 August, 2008

Hamburg’s 3-0 win over Juventus in the first game yesterday was enough for the to take the 2008 Emirates Cup. They lost 2-1 to Real Madrid on Saturday but won the cup on 7 points. In the end, all four clubs won one, and lost one, so it was actually quite a tight tournament but when it’s a point per goal in a competition like this all it takes it one big win.

On Saturday we faced Juventus with a fairly young side. Senderos played his first game of the summer, he was partnered by his Swiss mate Djourou with Fabianski in goal. Bendtner and Vela started upfront and Wilshere also got his start first start in front of the home support in a first team fixture.

Even with that side, we were getting more of the ball. We were getting forward quickly but lacked end product. We had a few shots at goal but nothing clear-cut. Buffon was tested outside the box on a few occasions but he was equal to them.

We’d had most of the attacks in the first half with Juve only managing two or three chances. However it was the visitors who took the lead in the 38th minute. They won a free kick in a dangerous position and Iaquinta stepped up to take it. It looked to me like he missed kicked it but it could’ve been planned, the ball went low across the goal going wide of the left post but David Trezeguet was sliding in at the far post and diverted it in.

It looked blatantly offside too but the goal was given. Haven’t actually seen a replay of it but I was quite close to the action. Trezeguet had a header ruled out for offside a few minutes earlier but he got lucky this time and it was 1-0 at half time.

For the second half we brought on some of the big guns, Gallas, Adebayor and Diaby came on at half time, then Sagna, Nasri and Walcott got a run out after an hour. It didn’t really change much to be honest. We got a bit tighter in defence and we did create a bit more going forward but there weren’t many chances.

In the end Buffon kept his clean sheet and we lost the first game 1-0, leaving it all to do on the Sunday. With Hamburg completing that 3-0 win earlier in the day it meant we had to beat Real Madrid 4-0. I thought it was possible but I didn’t really care to be honest, I was treating this as a separate game and if we won it by any margin I would be happy.

We lined up against Real Madrid (match report here) with a nearly full-strength 11. Toure and Fabregas are still in training after their late starts so they were replaced by Senderos and Diaby. Denilson partnered Diaby in central midfield with both looking to impress to fill that spot next to Cesc in next season’s team; The Brazilian completed two 90 minute performances compared to Diaby’s second half against Juve and only 75 minutes against Real Madrid. Maybe that’s a clue to Wenger’s preference but that could be due to Diaby not playing in Austria.

We went close early on with Walcott forcing Jerzy Dudek into a close-range save. We started this game much better that yesterday’s and that was what I was looking for seeing as we had our preferred 11 out. Adebayor had a good chance after half an hour when van Persie crossed it from the left, he leapt well but the header was off target, should’ve done better.

Just before half time Adebayor had another great chance but Dudek saved well and down the other end Raul broke through but Almunia stood his ground and put off the Champions League top scorer. It ended 0-0 at half time.

We took the lead 5 minutes into the second half when van Persie won a penalty after being pushed in the area. Adebayor rushed straight to the scene and made sure he was the one who got the opportunity to score. He put it high into the top right corner, Dudek went the right way but couldn’t reach it, decent penalty. Adebayor celebrated to the fans behind the goal by kissing the badge on his shirt and thumping it as his ran back in true Thierry Henry fashion, however you knew when Henry was doing it meant something and it wasn’t a lame apology.

It’s going to take more than a badge kiss to earn an the respect of most Arsenal fans. The tabloids today reckon he’s been forgiven after that ‘crucial’ goal against Madid. Rubbish. Wenger has told Adebayor he needs to work hard on the pitch to earn back the respect of the fans. Goals and committed play is what is going to get him back in the good books here, not one converted penalty and badge-kiss.

Midway through the first half Adebayor did do something that looked quite promising. He picked up the ball about 40 yards out and drove past about three Real defenders with skill before putting the ball just inches the wrong side of the far post. It would’ve been a great goal and the sort of thing that’s going to get me warming to him again: Determination and goals.

The game finished 1-0, which I think is something we can be proud of against a strong Real Madrid side. It wasn’t enough to win the tournament but I think I’ll get over it, all the info on this years Emirates Cup can be found here. Wenger spoke about the tournament after the game and he seems pretty pleased with everything. We really are coming on well ahead of the new season and the squad seems full of exciting and improved players.

One of those has to be young Jack Wilshere. He’s had a brilliant pre-season and his hard work has been rewarded with a place in our first team squad. He’s been given Gilberto’s old no.19 after playing in the Emirates Cup under no.55. I was thinking about getting that on the back of my new shirt but now he’s got no.19 I bet lots of people will go for it, still wouldn’t be a bad choice though!

I wasn’t sure what Jack Wilshere’s role was going to be next season but I think this must be a clue. I still don’t think he’ll break into out first 11 but what an impact sub this boy could be next season. He’s just full of energy, he’s willing to take anyone on and can score a goal too. The current youngest goalscorer record belongs to Fabregas at 17 years 113 days, but I wonder what the odds are on Wilshere breaking that next season, who doesn’t even turn 17 until 1st January.

It’s going to be an exciting season for him and an even more exciting season for us. I can’t wait now. Next up it’s Huddersfield on Wednesday evening before the Amsterdam tournament at the weekend.

Bit of a long post today but I haven’t spoken to you all weekend. Thanks for reading, see you tomorrow.