Emirates Cup: Arsenal 1-0 Real Madrid Match Report

Arsenal went into the game needing a 4-0 win if they wanted to retain the Emirates Cup due to Hamburg earlier winning 3-0 against Juventus. Leaving Hamburg on 7 points, Arsenal started with a very strong side with Adebayor, Van Persie, Sagna, Gallas, Almunia, Nasri and Diaby all starting. Real Madrid named a strong side with Robinho, Julio Baptista, Diarra, and Guti all starting.

First Half

Arsenal started strongly and looked eager to get a goal quickly knowing they needed 4 goals. Arsenal’s first chance came early on coming from great work between Adebayor and Van Persie the later laying it to Walcott on the edge of the area who shot across the face of the goal but Dudek once of Liverpool got down well to smother the ball. In the 28th minute new signing Samir Nasri showed a glimpse of what he could do when he cut open the Madrid defence with a through ball Van Persie ran onto it crossed it to the back post where Adebayor was waiting but he headed wide.

A few minutes later Madrid had a big chance to take the lead former Gunner “The Beast” (Julio Baptista) slid in Raul and he looked to had won a penalty after skipping around Manuel Almunia, but replays showed Manuel Almunia didn’t leave his hand trailing and Raul had just slipped on the wet turf. Arsenal looked the better side heading towards the end of the half but were lacking ideas it would stay 0-0 as both sides went into the interval knowing that they needed a goal to take Hamburg away from the top of the mini league.

Second Half

With just two minutes gone in the second half Arsenal had won a penalty. Theo Walcott chipping it into the box and Van Persie was pushed after showing a great first touch on his chest. He handed the ball to Emmanuel Adebayor who looked nervous stepping up but put the ball high into the right hand of the goal 1-0 to Arsenal and the Emirates erupted. (GOAL !! 47TH MIN SCORER: EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR). After the goal Arsenal looked desperate to get them 3 more goals to go on and win the Emirates Cup but as the half went on and the clock was ticking it looked more unlikely. On the hour Robin Van Persie got a standing ovation from the Emirates faithful he was replaced with Carlos Vela who got a big cheer when he entered the field. Theo Walcott the fans favourite was replaced by Emmanuel Eboue as Arsenal brang some fresh legs into the game looking to stretch the tiring Madrid back four.

In the 74th minute our featured player Nicklas Bendtner would enter the fray. He would come on for Emmanuel Adebayor, Arsenal also brang on Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey for Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby. Wilshere still just 16 made an immediate impact bursting past Garcia despite the Spaniards attempt to kick Wilshere down he stayed strong and dinked it into the box were Bendtner was waiting he brought it down and looked to square it to C. Vela but it was cleared out for a corner. Arsenal looked happy just to settle for a 1-0 win as they played keep ball for the final few minutes and looked to kill out the game, they did just that and there was plenty of positives to take from today after the victory over La Liga Champions.

Full Time:

ARSENAL 1-0 REAL MADRID

 

Article by Matthew789