Arsenal vs PSG
28th July 2007 - Emirates Cup – Emirates Stadium

This is the home first pre-season match and also the first Emirates Cup Tournament, earlier Valencia beat Inter Milan by two goals to nil.

The Arsenal team consists of the squad players along with a few first team regulars.

The starting line-up was:

Manuel Almunia
Philippe Senderos
Gael Clichy
Kolo Toure
Bacary Sagna
Denilson
Abou Diaby
Francesc Fabregas
Mathieu Flamini
Robin Van Persie
Nicklas Bendtner

In the absence of Gilberto who is still on holiday after Copa America, and Gallas who is on the bench, Our captain to day is Kolo Toure.

It should be noted too that PSG are playing their 1^st team as the French league season starts next weekend.

So the starting line-up includes a home debut for Bacary Sagna in right back position, but no such debut for Eduardo due to complications with his work permit (it was rejected by the Home Office).

After a couple of mins late because PSG star striker Pauletta needs to cover up his wedding ring with tape, the match kicks off.

Arsenal are under a bit of early pressure with Toure making a good clearance after 2 mins. Fabregas has had a few good touches and looks quite sharp considering it’s his first pre-season match.

In the first 10 mins, Clichy has made 3 excellent runs down the left with each of the subsequent crosses resulting in a corner kick. Our corners are just a poor as last season!

Our first shot, if you could call it that, is on 21 mins but it’s more of a miss kick as Flammers takes on a difficult shot but misses the target.

RVP makes and excellent run towards the middle of the box but is fouled just outside the area and a free kick is given. Van Persie hits a powerful shot but it’s off target and goes over the bar.

On 35 mins Toure makes an unusual error, miss kicking a clearance straight to Pauletta who riffles in a shot from only 8 yards out but luckily for us, Almunia produces a wonderful fingertip save touching the ball over the bar.

PSG pile on the pressure and I’m sure they have dominated possession and territory. Diaby has given away numerous free kicks which haven’t helped but I think the main problem is that we are too slow in the attack. It was only a couple of seasons ago when we would pick up the ball in our area and then a few touches later would score. Now we are too slow taking to many passes.

Almunia has played very well. He is looking bigger and stronger then last season and much more confident. I think he’ll be challenging for the first team slot more regular this year.

With two mins to go until half time we have raised the tempo a little bit. A good cross from Clichy, close to the half way line, goes to Bendtner who cleverly chests the ball down into the path of Flamini who is able to make a difficult shot to beat the keeper and the ball trickles over the line. 1 nil to the Arsenal.

Half Time

I flicked over channels at half time just in time to see Thierry Henry set up Barcelona’s third goal against Hearts. What a heart breaker.

I missed the first 15 mins of the second half due to a problem with the garden hose! Unreal – don’t ask.

This meant that I also missed our second goal! Ironically it was from a corner kick. The ball went high into the box where Bendtner and the goalie went for the ball. It might have been a foul on the keeper but it wasn’t given and the ball landed at Bendtner’s feet for an easy tap in from 3 yards.

On the 75 minute mark, and at 2-0 down, PSG made their first substitution of the match. We have done well really, our side full of youth and reserve players beating full strength PSG. This shows how good we can be with our full strength side.

There were a number of Arsenal substitutions during the second half and that seemed to make a positive difference to the team which looked much sharper and better going forward.

A combination of bad Arsenal defending and good play from PSG resulted in a goal for the opposition which looked like a nervous last 10 mins as we try to hold on. This might not have been the case though as 2 mins later second half substitute Hleb is fouled in the box and penalty kick was given. Bendtner grabs hold of the ball and puts it on the spot. It was a weak kick and an easy save for the goal keeper.

On 85 mins, after some good work from Eboue, the ball is passed to Bendtner but his shot goes over the bar as did a last minute shot from Justin Hoyte. It finished 2-1.

It was a game of two halves really. PSG were the better side in the first half and didn’t deserve the 1-0 HT score line. Arsenal were much better in the second half and probably did enough to win the game. The main positives from the game was the emergence of Bendtner who looks like he can make an impact in the first team. Maybe not as a starter this season but as a substitute and in cup games. His height gives an advantage in the box from corners and crosses too. Almunia impressed me too with a number of good saves and deliveries, but my man of the match was Gael Clichy who looked much sharper and quicker then anyone else on the pitch.