The long wait is finally over for Arsenal fans. The new football season has kicked off, and the months of feeling down in the dumps after yet another trophyless season are long gone. And what better place to start the season than in Asia, good enough place than any. In 30 degree temperature and around 75% humidity the Arsenal lads took on a Malaysia select XI.
Over 50,000 fans filled the Bukut Julil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur to watch Arsenal cruise to a convincing 4-0 win over the National XI.
Within minutes of the kick Arsenal were 1-0 up as Jack Wilshere was brought down by Zafuan on the left side of the penalty area. Not many in the stadium would have expected Aaron Ramsey to step up to the plate and tak
e the penalty. But he did and sent Malaysia's keeper Nourdin the wrong way to the delight of nearly everyone in the stadium.
Arsenal were nearly two up straight after as Walcott broke free down the right, but his attempt went over the bar. This was the Arsenal we have been waiting months for.
Unfortunately for the fans, Arsenal had cool down and stop pressing as much, which allowed Malaysia to try and reset and get a foothold in the match. While Malaysian attacks did come, they weren't really any trouble for the defence to deal with. Subramaniam was the danger man but Thomas Vermaelan was more than enough to quash him.
Walcott continued to pester the Malaysian defence, so did Ramsey with his movement. Arsenal were at their best when these two combined.
Walcott had another chance midway through the half, when Chamakh fed him through on the edge of the box, but just at the pivotal moment he lost control of the ball.
Malaysia's best attempt at goal in the first half came from Rahim free kick. His lofted ball caused some concern but Szczesny used all his 6 foot 5" frame to tip it over. Many Arsenal fans had flashback to the 2002 World Cup when Ronaldinho free kick from a similar position went in over an outstretched David Seaman.
Following the free kick Malaysia now had a new sense of believe that they could perhaps score, and Subramaniam tried to do his best, although Arsenal's new signing Jenkinson dealt with him well.
Both teams had chances after the half hour mark, Vermaelan's header just inched wide of the post. And Saarani got on the end of a cross but Szczesny managed to block the attempt, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway as the flag was up for offside.
Ramsey and Walcott showed why they are the future of Arsenal when they combined again in the 37th minute. Ramsey sent a picture
perfect through ball to Walcott who sprinted past the defender and casually lifted his shot over the rushing Nourdin to make it 2-0. A beautiful goal that's very typical of the Arsenal of old.
As the teams came on for the second half, Arsene Wenger had made 8 changes with only Jenkinson, Miyiachi and Ramsey staying on.
Within the first ten minutes both teams had chances to score, Carlos Vela knocked Rosicky's pass to Ramsey who raced to the ball and sent his blasted his shot just inches over the bar.
Just afterward, substitute goal keerp Vito Mannone gave away an in-direct freekick after holding onto the ball for what seemed like an eternity. Arsenal had eight men in the wall, as they expected Rahim to drive the ball low and hard, which he duly did and the Arsenal wall was able to block the shot and clear the danger.
Just before the hour mark Arsenal's quality shone through, as Rosicky set Vela free down the left and the speedy Mexican delivered a cheeky chip, which was just beyond the reach of Nourdin, and went into the far corner of the net. 3-0 Arsenal.
With the result over, Wenger decided to bring on the big boys and give the crowd more to cheer about, on came Robin Van Persie, Bacary Sagna and Samir Nasri, who received the biggest cheer of the three.
Vela could and should have made it four, after he controlled Johan Djourou's pass and beat a defender and the goal keeper a couple of times, but chose to wait too long before he eventually shot, sadly it was cleared off the line.
Rosicky managed to grab the fourth goal in injury time as he connected with a low cross from the left wing to send the ball home and the crowd alight again.
Moments after the final whistle blew and the crowd erupting as they perhaps watched an Arsenal team that will eventually come good in nearly a year's time.
As a whole, it was an Arsenal performance, but for the many many thousands of Arsenal fanatics in that part of the world, it was more than enough to fill their hungry for seeing the boys up close in action.
Arsenal now move onto China, where they will take on CSL side Hangzhou Greentown.
Arsenal team - Szczesny (Mannone, HT), Jenkinson (Sagna, 70), Koscielny (Squillaci, HT), Vermaelen (Djourou, HT), Gibbs (Traore, HT), Song (Denilson, HT, Van Persie, 67), Walcott (Rosicky, HT), Ramsey (Nasri, 67), Wilshere (Frimpong, HT), Miyaichi (Arshavin, 67), Chamakh (Vela, HT)
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