Andrey Arshavin struck twice in the final four minutes as Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 to end Day One on top of the Emirates Cup standings.

To be honest, little had happened in this game before Jack Wilshere’s introduction at half time. The teenage midfielder tantalised the Spanish defence for 45 minutes however it would be a Russian who won the game for the home side.

Arshavin seemed to have done that in the 86th minute when he volleyed in from a Cesc Fabregas cross however German Pacheco levelled seconds later.

A draw seemed certain but, then again, nothing is certain with Arshavin on the pitch. In the dying seconds, he raced onto an errant backheader, flicked the ball past the keeper and squeezed the ball home from an almost impossible angle.

It was four minutes of madness after a pretty mundane 86. But it was good enough to win the game and puts Arsenal in pole position to regain their home trophy.

Wenger always intended to spread his squad across this two-game weekend but, nonetheless, his side this afternoon was reasonably strong.

The most significant news was the return of Tomas Rosicky after 19 months away. Thomas Vermaelen had been forced off at the end of the friendly at Hannover on Wednesday and, as a result, did not appear today. The formation was the now established wide 4-3-3 but this time Robin van Persie was flanked on the left by Nicklas Bendtner and on the right by Emmanuel Eboue.

Atletico started with Diego Forlan up front and Jose Antonio Reyes on the right. The former Manchester United forward was never going to be that popular among the home crowd but the announcement of the latter was cheered by the Emirates faithful. Reyes had a record of 23 goals in 110 during his three years at Highbury.

It was the Spaniard who provided the first telling moment of the game. In the sixth minute, Reyes took the corner from the right, Raul Garcia nodded on at the near post and Sergio Aguero sent his header into the sidenetting at the far. A player of his stature should have done better.

Rosicky nearly had a made an immediate impact on his return but, despite his finger-wagging protestations to the assistant referee, he was correctly called offside before slamming the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area.

It was a bright beginning but it could not be maintained. Opportunities were scarce in a mundane first 45 minutes.

Forlan and Florent Sinama-Pongolle both had half-chances with headers. However, generally, Arsenal were the slicker side.

That said, the most they could muster was a curling cross from Armand Traore than caused Atletico keeper Sergio Asenjo to bat the ball away while Van Persie had a free-kick deflected over.

Three minutes from the break, Van Persie fed Eboue on the left. The Ivorian cut in and fired straight at Asenjo, who stood firm.

Wenger replaced Rosicky, Eboue and Traore with Wilshere, Fran Merida and Gael Clichy at the start of the second half.

The latter pair were playing their first pre-season games of 2009/10. While the first of the trio, Wilshere, showed class from the off as Arsenal took control.

Three minutes in he sent Sagna clear on the right and the full back’s low cross was backflicked towards goal by Van Persie only for John Heitinga to knock the ball off the line.

Almost immediately, Bendtner controlled Wilshere’s lofted cross at the far post and blazed over when, at least, he should have employed the keeper.

Just past the hour, substitute Maxi Rodriguez sent in a shot from distance and Mannone could only half-punch the ball behind.

However within seconds Clichy sent over a tantalising cross from the left and Wilshere fooled his marker on the byline before laying the ball back to Ramsey. The Welshman had time and space, on reflection perhaps too much. His powerful shot was a parried by Asenjo.

It was Ramsey’s last contribution. He joined Bendtner and Van Persie as they were replaced by Eduardo, Arshavin and Fabregas.

It was perhaps the boost Arsenal needed. Within seconds Wilshere clipped another clever ball to the far post and Merida slid in seconds too late.

Both sides went for the win towards the end. Rodriguez fired a shot across the face of goal then Mannone parried a swerving drive from Borja Baston on to the bar.

Four minute from time, Arshavin had seemingly won it won he volleyed in a Fabregas cross but Pacecho’s strike proved otherwise.

So Arshavin did what Arshavin does – he won it again. The 27-year-old raced on to a misplaced backheader, beat the keeper and turned to ball home.

http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/080 ... tab=report

Arshavin with his goals and young Wilshere made me proud yesterday

Arsenal have regained the Emirates Cup.

Captain Cesc Fabregas lifted the trophy thanks to a 3-0 win over Rangers on Sunday.

Going into the final game, the Scottish champions were the only side who could overtake Arsène Wenger’s team in the standings. However they were blown away by Jack Wilshere’s strike after two minutes and a trademark finish from Eduardo nine minutes later. The 17-year-old midfielder also volleyed home a killer third 19 minutes from time.

The brace capped a wonderful weekend for Wilshere. He was special on Saturday and sublime today – picking Man of the Match awards on each day. The Englishman could do little more to play himself into Wenger’s side for the opening Premier League game in a fortnight’s time.

That, of course, is when the real tests begin. But this was a solid weekend of preparation and it concluded with Arsenal bringing back their home trophy after a year-long sojourn in Hamburg.

As expected, Saturday’s bench was Sunday’s team. Eight substitutes from the side that had left it so late against Atletico Madrid began this afternoon. Only Emmanuel Eboue and William Gallas kept their places while Manuel Almunia was parachuted in as keeper.

Mikael Silvestre filled in at centre back and Wilshere was on the right of the forward three. Meanwhile Fabregas and Fran Merida formed a lookalike Spanish central midfield.

Atletico’s 1-1 draw with Paris St-Germain left Arsenal on top of the Emirates Cup table with five points, one ahead of Rangers. In effect, this was a play-off for the trophy but all the home side needed was a draw.

It took them less than two minutes to get their noses in front. Wilshere’s dummy gave Fabregas space on the right. His clipped ball into the area was touched back adroitly by Arshavin for the Englishman to bury the ball in the corner from 12 yards via the faltering fingertips of Rangers keeper Allan McGregor.

Arsenal were purring already. Eduardo nutmegged David Weir to go clear for a split-second before being muscled off the ball.
In the 11th minute the Croatian doubled the hosts’ advantage with a typical finish. Arshavin nodded the ball back into the path of Merida who sprayed the ball into the path of Eduardo in the right-hand channel. The 26-year-old is one of the Premier League’s coolest marksmen when his finger is on the trigger. He chose his moment perfectly and stroked the ball home off the base of the post.

Rangers were a little shell-shocked yet commendably stuck to the game. However it was telling that the biggest threat to Almunia’s goal in the first half-hour was when Silvestre miscued a Pedro Mendes cross into the sidenetting.

Merida tried his luck from distance as Arsenal looked to kill the game before half-time. The 19-year-old tried to repeat the feat eight minutes from the break but sliced his effort horribly wide.

In truth, those early goals had done the contest no favours. Arsenal were happy in their comfort zone and Rangers were not really able to penetrate.

Madjid Bougherra did see his shot blocked at the far post by Merida after DaMarcus Beasely had nodded on a corner from Mendes.

However in the dying seconds of the half, Wilshere’s expert chip had to be hurriedly tipped over by the stretching McGregor. It was reminiscent of Dennis Bergkamp at his best. If the youngster continues to develop at this pace then that will become a regular comparison.

Both sides made multiple substitutions at the break but Rangers seemed to benefit to most changes.

Five minutes in, Nacho Novo sent over a low cross from the right and Steven Naismith’s touch spun off Almunia towards the far post where Alex Song had to make a thunderous block from the onrushing Steven Davis.

However a minute later, Wilshere’s quick feet conjured himself some space just inside the area but his curling shot flew wide.
Rangers had not given up the game. Just after the hour, Naismith sent Davis racing clear on the right. The Irishman repaid a pass back to the Scotsman but Almunia saved with his legs and Silvestre’s clearance was handled by Novo.

However Arsenal put the game to bed with 18 minutes left. Substitute Sanchez Watt won the ball on byline and Ramsey crossed for the fast-approaching Wilshere to prod a volley into the top corner.

Kenny Miller fired wide in the closing minutes as Rangers began to look a little ragged. In response, substitute Ramsey stung McGregor’s hands from distance.

However the cup belonged to Arsenal.
http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/080 ... tab=report

Wilshere is just Class!!

we all witnessed to an fantastic performance from all our players,specially in match against Glasgow,that was promising and we need to hope that wasn't the last trophy we lifted until next emirates cup