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Tuesday 30 July 2013

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. 

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