18th July, 2015
Arsenal ended their Singapore trip with a sparkling performance to win the Barclays Asia Trophy. Petr Cech who made his debut for the north London club was an instant hit as fans cheered him all through the game. He also won his first trophy with the club.
Arsenal got off to a flyer when Theo Walcott’s smart finish gave the Gunners a half-time lead but Arsène Wenger’s side saved their best for the second half. Santi Cazorla fired in from the edge of the box after a sustained spell of pressure and Mesut Ozil added a third from Cazorla’s second assist of the match.
There could easily have been more – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain went close with a chip while Walcott and Olivier Giroud spurned good chances.
Everton were energetic before the break and scored a consolation through Ross Barkley, but they couldn’t match Arsenal’s pace and penetration – or their fitness. The benefits of intensive training sessions in Singapore were there for all to see as Arsenal kept their tempo high despite the humidity.
There was a notable ‘debut’ too as Petr Cech made his bow in an Arsenal shirt and that, like everything else, was lapped up by an appreciative, excitable crowd.
Having secured their pre-season silverware, the Arsenal players unfurled a banner to thank their supporters in this region. It has been a successful trip – and it could provide the foundations for a successful season.
TEAM NEWS
Cech’s first appearance in an Arsenal shirt was the headline news before kick-off.
The former Chelsea keeper was one of 10 changes to Wenger’s side as the manager made full use of his 27-man travelling squad. Only Jack Wilshere kept his place from Wednesday’s win over a Singapore Select XI as the likes of Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Giroud got their first taste of pre-season action.
Walcott started wide of Giroud with Wilshere on the opposite flank and Ozil in the No 10 role. Per Mertesacker was rested so Cazorla led the Gunners out – just ahead of Cech – to face an Everton side that beat Stoke City on penalties to reach the final.
This was a Premier League clash on foreign soil but, aside from a pocket of noisy Everton fans behind one of the goals, it was clear where the local fans’ allegiances lay. The virtually-full national stadium was a mass of red, white and yellow as the seventh Asia Trophy reached its climax.
Culled from Arsenal FC