Arsenal 1-1 Sevilla (Amsterdam Tournament)
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:00 amArsenal retain The Amsterdam Tournament after a 1-1 draw with Sevilla at The Amsterdam Arena. Coupled with Inter beating Ajax by a single goal, The Gunners topped the table with eight points, and scoop the honour for the third time in four years.
The draw was not as cut and dry as the scoreline might suggest, with Lucasz Fabianski pulling off some real heroics to keep the Spaniards at bay, in a display sure to make Manuel Almunia sit up and take notice. Remember he inherited the number one shirt after impressing Arsene Wenger last season.
Carlos Vela capped off an impressive game with Arsenal's only goal, charging down a clearance and with a cool finish, slotted the ball home from a tight angle.
Although Sevilla were to have the better of the game, they could not reply until ten minutes before the end, and Arsenal have Fabianski to thank for that.
Wenger did sent out a team made up largely of youngsters, with one eye on the Champions League Qualifier on Wednesday evening. Once again Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere impressed. They seem to have no fear when facing opponents of the highest class, and surely Wenger would have taken careful notes, certainly giving one or two of the regular first teamers something to think about.
Arsene Wenger spoke after the match of the impressive Fabianski: "Fabianski played very well. He was spot on with his decision-making and, technically, what he did was impressive tonight. We have two great goalkeepers - but that is what I thought at the start."
On the team he said: "Today we were very young but we learned what it is like to defend, what we are not used to. It was a good lesson for us. Overall I am pleased because we lacked a bit of experience but we got a positive result with 1-1, even if Seville had many more chances."
Starting Line up: Fabianski, Senderos, Hoyte, Djourou (Denilson, 68) Gibbs, Emmanual-Thomas (Sagna, 68) Wilshere (Walcott, 79) Ramsey, Randall, Vela, Bendtner.
The draw was not as cut and dry as the scoreline might suggest, with Lucasz Fabianski pulling off some real heroics to keep the Spaniards at bay, in a display sure to make Manuel Almunia sit up and take notice. Remember he inherited the number one shirt after impressing Arsene Wenger last season.
Carlos Vela capped off an impressive game with Arsenal's only goal, charging down a clearance and with a cool finish, slotted the ball home from a tight angle.
Although Sevilla were to have the better of the game, they could not reply until ten minutes before the end, and Arsenal have Fabianski to thank for that.
Wenger did sent out a team made up largely of youngsters, with one eye on the Champions League Qualifier on Wednesday evening. Once again Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere impressed. They seem to have no fear when facing opponents of the highest class, and surely Wenger would have taken careful notes, certainly giving one or two of the regular first teamers something to think about.
Arsene Wenger spoke after the match of the impressive Fabianski: "Fabianski played very well. He was spot on with his decision-making and, technically, what he did was impressive tonight. We have two great goalkeepers - but that is what I thought at the start."
On the team he said: "Today we were very young but we learned what it is like to defend, what we are not used to. It was a good lesson for us. Overall I am pleased because we lacked a bit of experience but we got a positive result with 1-1, even if Seville had many more chances."
Starting Line up: Fabianski, Senderos, Hoyte, Djourou (Denilson, 68) Gibbs, Emmanual-Thomas (Sagna, 68) Wilshere (Walcott, 79) Ramsey, Randall, Vela, Bendtner.