Lazio 1 – 2 Arsenal: Let’s have a proper Captain
410 comments August 3rd, 2007
It’s getting hard to feel negative this Summer, even sat here in my somewhat gloomy office. After beating PSG, Inter Milan, and now Lazio in the space of a week, this has to go down as a pretty successful summer so far. Admittedly, they’re only friendlies, but our strikers are scoring goals against top European defences. Just imagine what they’ll do to Northern Ireland Fulham.
We fielded a “Carling Cup Team”, with a stronger side expected to face Ajax on Saturday night. Philippe Senderos was skipper, ahead of rumoured Vice-captain Cesc Fabregas. I have to say, I’m not entirely happy with the armband being shunted around the way it is. Last season, Almunia would have been captain over Senderos, yet now that pecking order has been reversed. We’ve seen both Gallas and Toure wear it on seperate occasions, and Lukasz Fabianski wore it against Barnet within 10 minutes of his debut. Granted, it’s only pre-season, and it’s clear Arsene is attempting to share responsibility throughout the squad, but I find it ridiculous that we might start the season without officially naming a captain. For a club that prides itself on tradition, that’s a joke. If I was Gilberto, I’d feel slightly insulted.
Unfortunately, the armband didn’t improve Senderos in the way you might hope, and our high line was quite often exposed by Lazio’s cunning forward play. However, we still managed to take the lead when a Cesc Fabregas shot deflected to Niklas Bendtner, who made up for a poor first-touch with a thumping finish into the far corner.
However, before half-time it was 1-1: Eduardo da Silva made a bizarre decision to go down in our own box, and whilst the rest of the team waited for a free kick to be awarded, Goran Pandev slotted the ball past Almunia.
Eduardo’s night got much better when, in the second half, he nodded home a Tomas Rosicky corner to net Arsenal’s winner. The Croatian striker celebrated his work permit approval with a strong performance, showing lively movement and goalscoring instinct throughout. With Emmanuel Adebayor suffering with a groin injury that could keep him out of the start of the season, it’s imperative that Eduardo settles in right away.
We should’ve made it three when Justin Hoyte hit the post after a remarkable bout of penalty box faffing (Registered Trademark Arsenal FC 2006-07) ended in him missing from all of five yards, but you can’t complain with a 2-1 victory that puts us just behind Ajax on goal difference. Match report here and goals here. As I say, in Saturday’s fixture we’ll get a better indication of the side that will line-up when the Premiership kick’s off. More on that tomorrow.
Today is the draw for the Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round, and there are some real banana skins to avoid: Spartak Moscow, AEK Athens, Sparta Prague and Fenerbahce and more. Knowing our luck, you might aswell book your flights to Moscow now.
UPDATE: We’ve got Sparta Prague. Again.
