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.