Podolski and Akpom goals seal win in final tour game

Our final game of our Asia Tour 2013 ended in victory as we overcame a much tougher opposition in the face of Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan. The win meant we won the Saitama City Cup which such sides as Barcelona and Bayern Munich had won in the past. Podolski had scored a hat-trick when he last played Urawa when he was in Bayern colours and he scored once more as the Gunners won 2-1. The hosts made life tough for us and we had to fight for the win more than we probably should've done. Akpom's goal at the death rounded off our 2013 tour of Asia. 4 games, 4 wins, 19 goals scored and 3 conceded were the stats from the tour. A successful pre-season so far and plenty to build on going into the Emirates Cup. 
 

Lukas Podolski scored the opener in Arsenal's win over Urawa Red Diamonds

Arsenal's first chance of the game fell to Theo Walcott as he raced past three men before hitting the post with his left foot. He then had another chance but it was headed away.

Urawa had qualified for the Club World Cup a few years back and they definitely showed that class. They looked comfortable on the ball and after Walcott's chances they hit a shot just wide. They then came even closer and would've scored an open goal but for Mertesacker who got his foot to the ball. 

The Gunners next chance fell to Walcott once more as the ball was played into him but he blazed the ball over the bar. Giroud then had a chance shortly after as he tried to loft the keeper from outside the box but the attempt bounced wide.

Giroud was looking to extend his goals tally on the tour as he tried to find the net via a free-kick. However it was blocked by the wall and deflected wide.

Arsenal were to then hit the woodwork again as after a corner, Mertesacker layed the ball to Oxlade-Chamberlain who drove the ball against the bar.

Just before the break Urawa came as close as they had come in the match. Ugajin curled the ball towards the far corner but Fabianski made a brilliant diving save to keep the scores level going into half time. 

Serge Gnabry had looked very impressive down the left hand side again in this first half. He's definitely pushing for a spot on the bench in our first game of the season against Villa. I can see him as an impact sub coming off the bench and testing a tired defence late in a game.

The second half saw Podolski come on upfront and he did exactly what was asked of him as he fired Arsenal into the lead with an emphatic finish in the corner. 

The captain for the second half, Theo Walcott was then to waste another one-on-one. 

That proved to be costly as the hosts then grabbed an equaliser as their captain Yubi Abe lashed home a volley from a corner.

Lukas Podolski then had a great chance to put Arsenal infront again as Miquel did well down the left hand side but the German striker curled the ball over.

That didn't matter though as with eight minutes left Akpom pounced on an error by the Urawa defence to find the back of the net to cap off a great pre-season for the youngster. It also epitomised the tour in the fact that the youngsters had all done fairly well. Zelalem, Gnabry and Akpom especially had impressed whilst Ryo also had a camio appearence in his hometown. Eisfeld and Aneke meanwhile didn't really have the opportunities to do so as they had done on the last tour. 

There were plenty of positives off the pitch aswell as on it as just by watching videos you can see that the whole squad are really gelling well with each other. Morale looks good and there seems to be a real team spirit within the squad. With no big names in the team expected to leave things are looking on the up.

Arsenal team: Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker(45), Koscielny, Miquel, Arteta(45), Wilshere(45), Oxalde-Chamberlain(65), Gnabry(45), Walcott(74), Giroud(45).
Used Subs: Jenkinson(45), Rosicky(45), Ramsey(45), Miyaichi(45), Zelalem(65), Podolski(45), Akpom(74).
Unused subs: Szczesny, Martinez, Gibbs, Olsson, Aneke, Eisfeld. 

Ryo scores in home town as Arsenal beat Nagoya

Arsenal travelled to Japan on Monday for the third game of their Asia Tour in which they played Nagoya Grampus. The match was a special occasion for two people involved within Arsenal. It marked Ryo Miyaichi returning to his home town to play for the first time since joining English football. Meanwhile it also saw the return of Arsene Wenger who managed the Japanese club for 18 months between 1995 and 1996 before joining Arsenal. He enjoyed a successful stint there in which he won the Emperor's Cup, The J-League Super Cup and also the J-League manager of the year in 95.

Ryo Miyaichi scored from the spot in his hometown

Nagoya are currently in the middle of their domestic season so they would provide the Gunners with a tougher test than Indonesia and Vietnam. However it didn't look like that as Arsenal got off to a flying start as Rosicky found Giroud who headed home for his sixth goal of the tour. Minutes later Ryo Miyaichi went wiskers wide with a chance from close range. The young forward was to then get an even better chance as Arteta handed him the ball when Arsenal were awarded a penalty. He then slammed the ball home for his first goal in the red and white of Arsenal. Ryo was one of the stand out performers of the game as he played the first half and proved to be very tricky down the left hand side. He's had trouble with injuries of late but finally looks to be showing his worth to Wenger.

Rosicky was another player who was playing well. He was showing signs of what he had done in the run in last campaign as he slipped in Walcott who's shot was saved.

Minutes before the break Nagoya had a great opportunity to get themselves back into the game as Tulio Tanaka found Ogawa but he scuffed his shot.

The home side started well after the break creating two opportunities in quick succession as a corner was headed wide and then a cross was well claimed by Fabianski at the feet of Fujimoto.

The second half gave us the opportunity to see another one our young wingers. Serge Gnabry once again showed his talent as he tricked his way past two players before firing wide of the far post.

It was soon 3-0 Arsenal. 16 year old Gedion Zelalem played an outstanding through ball which split the defence and found Walcott who then beat the keeper. The early comparisons between Zelalem and Fabregas are evident. His vision is incredible.

Walcott then turned provider as he picked out Gibbs at the back post but he could only find the side netting.

Wilshere had the next chance as Walcott was the provider once more but the keeper came out well and stopped the shot.

The hosts did get themselves on the scoresheet though. Hayuma Tanaka played a great ball in which found Kisho Yano unmarked in the box to head past Fabianski.

Zelalem then once more showed his terrific vision to slip in Akpom but his finish was poor and it went wide. Chuks Aneke was also involved in the build-up as he finally got a chance in his preferred advanced role. Something that I had picked up on in the game against Vietnam.

Our final game of the Asia Tour is on Friday against Urawa Red Diamonds. 

The final score finished Nagoya 1-3 Arsenal. 

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Sagna, Mertesacker, Gibbs(59), Rosicky(45), Arteta(45), Ramsey(69), Miyaichi(45), Walcott(69), Giroud(45). 
Subs Used: Miquel(59), Wilshere(45), Aneke(69), Zelalem(45), Gnabry(45), Podolski(45), Akpom(69).
Unused Subs: Martinez, Olsson, Eisfeld, Oxlade-Chamberlain. 

Giroud scores hat-trick as Arsenal beat Vietnam

All the talk this summer so far has been about strikers outside of the club who may well be joining Arsenal. However our attention has now turned towards one already here, Olivier Giroud. Wednesday's comprehensive 7-1 victory over Vietnam saw Giroud score a first half hat-trick to take him to 5 goals in less that 90 minutes of football on the Asia Tour. So, the question is, do we now need another striker? In my opinion, yes we do. We still need that top striker who is proven. Giroud is looking in fine form and I think he'll flourish next season. With someone also providing competition with him it'll only strive him to do better.

Giroud scored a brilliant hat-trick as Arsenal thrashed Vietnam

Onto the game and the first 3 goals came in the first half all thanks to Olivier Giroud. His first was supplied by Rosicky and then the Frenchman found the far corner via the keeper. His second was a brilliant curling finish from the edge of the box and his third was a little dink over the goalkeeper moments before half time.

The second half saw lots of changes and one of them made a huge impact. Chuba Akpom came on and scored his second and third goals of the tour to make it 5 and 6 before Oxlade-Chamberlain had made it 4-0 with a brilliant looping effort. Our final goal came from an unlikely source as Ignasi Miquel combined passes with Eisfeld before sliding home. There was a goal for Vietnam though. It was quite unfortunate on young goalkeeper Damian Martinez but it sparked wild celebrations from the Vietnamese Crowd.

The youngsters were impressive again. Serge Gnabry was brilliant down the right hand side and is showing why he should be apart of the first team this season. Akpom showed prowess in front of goal as I've mentioned. Gedion Zelalem also showed glimpses of his great talent. He played a brilliant ball through to Oxlade-Chamberlain which eventually led to Akpom's second of the match. However the need to work on the young midfielders physical aspect of his game is evident. Ryo Miyaichi played 20 odd minutes in the second half, and although he didn't have much affect on play it was an important game for him having had a troublesome loan spell at Wigan in 2012/13. Chuks Aneke once more played at centre back, a new role for him having played in a more attacking role during his successful loan spell at Crewe. He scored during last summer's tour and looked impressive so hopefully he'll get his chance further forward in the remaining two games of the tour.

We will now travel to Japan to play two games, one against Nagoya Grampus and another against Urawa Red Diamonds.

Arsenal team: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Sagna, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gnabry, Podolski, Giroud.
Subs Used: Martinez, Miquel, Mertesacker, Aneke, Wilshere, Eisfeld, Zelalem, Olsson, Ryo, Ramsey, Akpom, Walcott. 
Unused Subs: Fabianski. 

Arsenal win in first pre-season friendly

Arsenal are back, and they are back with a bang! Their first game of the Asia tour 2013 was on Sunday and they certainly showed no signs of rustiness. They thrashed an Indonesian Dream Team in Jakarta by seven goals to nil as they showed off their new yellow away kit.

It was a very convincing performance and so should it have been judging by who we were against. Most of the senior players had good games meanwhile the youngsters shone. Chuba Akpom scored our second with a very nice finish, Olsson with a tap in and Eisfeld also with a good finish. Gnabry was very lively down the left hand side whilst 16 year old Gedion Zelalem looked very comfortable on the ball.

The first goal of the game was scored by Theo Walcott as Oxlade-Chamberlain teed him up on the edge of the area to side foot the ball home. Akpom got the second after great work from Gnabry down the left. Giroud then grabbed the third and fourth goals. The first was a good flick past the keeper after Sagna had got down the right. He then turned and swivelled nicely for his second before smashing the ball home. Podolski got the fifth with a very emphatic finish and then the win was rounded off by Olsson and Eisfeld late on.

The stand out performers from the first half were Carl Jenkinson at right back, he looks like he'll give Sagna a run for his money once more this season. Aaron Ramsey was also brilliant and he finally looks to have his confidence back. He was key in the run in last season and looks as though he'll be an important player this time around as well. Our next game is against Vietnam today, Wednesday 17th July. 

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Miquel, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Gnabry, Akpom. 
Used Subs: Martinez, Sagna, Koscielny, Rosicky, Zelalem, Aneke, Eisfeld, Olsson, Podolski, Giroud.
Unused subs: Szczesny, Wilshere, Miyaichi. 

Sanogo joins, Mannone leaves

The transfer window opened on Monday and a sense of expectancy rose on what is expected to be a busy summer for Arsenal. We've been rumoured with a whole host of players but our first signing was one that raised a few questions marks. It was a striker, surely that's a good thing right? Was it Higuain, Lewandowski or Wayne Rooney? No, it was French prodigy Yaya Sanogo. Not a big name but he looks a very promising capture. He has signed for the club on a free-transfer after not renewing his contact at French Club Auxurre. He's tall and pacey but has had a troublesome start to his career after picking up many injuries. The last 20 year old Frenchman we signed from Auxurre was Abou Diaby, and you know where that went. We did also sign Bacary Sagna from them so they're no mugs when it comes to producing talented players. Sanogo should also prosper under the guidance of Arsene Wenger. However, it remains to be seen whether he'll be loaned out or be given sufficient opportunities in the first team this season. That'll probably be judged on how he does in pre-season if he goes on the Asia Tour or takes part in the Emirates Cup.

Many players have been released from the club. Denilson, Squillaci and Arshavin are the main names and indeed Arshavin has returned to his home club Zenit for a third spell there. Today though saw Vito Mannone leave the club on a permanent deal to Sunderland. The Italian goalkeeper had mixed fortunes at Arsenal but his departure is further evidence of the 'deadwood' clear out at the Emirates. Vito enjoyed probably his best season at the club in 2012/13 as he made 9 Premier League and 4 Champions League appearences when Szczesny and Fabianski were out injured. A promising keeper but his 8 year spell at Arsenal will most likely be remembered for the errors he made.

Yaya Sanogo in action for France U20's