Summary
A useful exercise for all concerned, Wenger will be particularly happy with the hat-trick ‘hero’ Akpom and the fact that none of his players got injured. Singapore put up a decent fight in the first half but faded badly in the second.
Thanks for reading, and for your emails and tweets. See ya next time, bye!
Full-time: Singapore Select XI 0-4 Arsenal
Arsenal are through to the final. They will face Everton.
90 min: Akpom nearly gets a fourth, breaking down the right and lashing a shot towards the far corner, but it’s another excellent stop by Izwan. A fitting way to end, they’ve been the two best players on the pitch today.
88 min: Players run about, a ball is kicked. This match has lost its oomph. Everyone is knackered.
29,800 is the official attendance today, by the way.
85 min: The stadium’s camera swings round to Petr Cech who is sitting in the stands and to Wenger. Both wave awkwardly.
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83 min: Fazrul Nawaz comes on for Safuwan Baharudin and Shakir Hamzah comes on for Baihakki Khaizan for Singapore.
You can put this goal down to the quality of Bellerin, the full-back produced a delightful dragback and pinpoint cross, all Akpom had to do was jump unmarked and nod it into the far corner. This might be a friendly match against a sub-standard opposition, but Akpom will not forget scoring thrice for the first-team in a hurry, he’ll leave with the match ball.
GOAL! Singapore Select XI 0-4 Arsenal (Akpom 80)
Akpom gets his hat-trick!
77 min: There are some very tired legs out there for Singapore now. They haven’t ventured into Arsenal’s half for a good 10 minutes now.
GOAL! Singapore Select XI 0-3 Arsenal (Akpom 75 pen)
Akpom gets his second of the match, again Izwan guesses wrong.
Another penalty to Arsenal!
An almighty mess, but Iznan completely takes out Toral. He’s lucky to escape a red card, in all honesty, as Toral would simply have slotted the ball home had he not been clotheslined.
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72 min: Couple more subs to tell you about: Bellerin is on for Debuchy and Toral comes in for Iwobi, who has looked good in spurts, but a bit wasteful and raw in front of goal. He’s Jay-Jay Okocha’s nephew!
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70 min: Drinks break.
68 min: Nearly a calamitous error by Izwan, who completely mistimes his punch from an Arsenal corner into his own net, it just squirts a foot wide. Could have ruined what has been an excellent performance by the keeper so far.
64 min: It’s a very young team out there now – save for the defence, only Coquelin is a first-team regular. Wenger will be hoping for at least one more goal. It’s still about 30°C, despite it being nearly 10pm local time.
62 min: We’re past the hour mark and here come the inevitable wave of subs: Paul Tappenden and Sean Wilcox, you have your wish, here come Zelalem, Willock and Crowley, on for Oxlade-Chamberlain, Flamini and Wilshere.
Singapore meanwhile make another change: Shafiq off for Zulfahmi.
GOAL! Singapore Select XI 0-2 Arsenal (Wilshere 60 pen)
Wilshere goes right, Iznan goes left.
Penalty to Arsenal!
59 min: Debuchy latches onto a flicked pass from Wilshere and Camara, rather clumsily, clips his heels and sends the Frenchman flying towards the turf. Easy decision.
58 min: Another good chance goes begging as Iwobi crashes another effort over the bar, following a nice cut back from Wilshere.
57 min: Singapore make a sub: Amri off, Rodrigo, a Brazilian (!), on.
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56 min: This time it’s Singapore on the break and Coquelin brings Shafiq to the ground. Singapore have a dangerous free-kick here, Amri over it … into the wall. The striker is distraught!
55 min: Chance for Iwobi! The youngster plays a clever one-two with Oxlade Chamberlain, negotiates an awkward bounce but swings wildly at the ball and slices wide.
54 min: Singapore pump a long ball long, and Amri latches onto the ball. He’s clear of the defence! No wait, the linesman puts his flag up, about a year too late. He was well offside to be fair.
51 min: The first Mexican wave goes up around the stadium as there is a lengthy stoppage: Shaiful is not going to be able to continue, he’s stretchered off. Faris comes on on the left wing, with Camera moving back to left back.
49 min: Arsenal win a corner, and Wilhere delivers to the near post, Mertesacker wins the flick-on but there’s nobody there to tap in at the back post.
47 min: Shaiful is down, replays show his knee twisted horribly in the turf after going shoulder to shoulder with Oxlade-Chamberlain. Reminiscent of England’s Simon Jones there.
Peeeep peeep. We’re underway again.
The players are back out on the pitch. Martinez off, Szczesny on is the only change for Arsenal.
“Very much looking forward to seeing Gideon Zelalem, highly rated youngster with remarkable close control,” says Sean Wilcox.
@michaelbutler18 Definitely Dan Crowley and Gedion Zelalem. Two of the biggest talents in the youth team. Future Prem stars.
— RDG (@TheRaph_) July 15, 2015
We’ve did a couple of features on the player last year, who has recently taken US citizenship. Get stuck in here.
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I’ve had a couple of responses to that ‘who-are-you-most-excited-to-see’ question…
“Definitely Dan Crowley,” emails Paul Teppenden. “Not only the talent to make it at the very top level, but also the temperament. A first team debut this season!”
Here’s what The Guardian’s David Hytner had to say on the teenager.
There is excitement at the club about this diminutive attacking midfielder, who turns 18 next month and ticks so many boxes for Arsène Wenger. Crowley has excellent close control and technical ability; he can pick a pass and find pockets of space and, above all, he has the X-Factor in the final third. He would describe himself as a No10, although he generally played on the left of a narrow front three for the under-21s last season, where he was able to cut inside onto his favoured right foot. Arsenal took him from Aston Villa at the end of his under-16 year and he has been capped by England at under-16 and under-17 level. Wenger has included him in his 27-man squad for the Barclays Asia Trophy in Singapore next week.
And here’s a video of the young lad to whet your appetite.
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Half-time: Singapore Select XI 0-1 Arsenal
Akpom’s goal is the difference.
45 min: Another free-kick, this time on the edge of Singapore’s box. Oxlade Chamberlain is over it – it favours the right-footer as it is on the left side of the area – but Wilshere crashes a shot into the wall.
44 min: Madhu absolutely clatters into Wilshere. That would be a certain yellow in the Premier League but it’s just a quiet word from referee Jon Moss. It’s a terrible low delivery from Oxlade-Chamberlain.
42 min: Monreal canters down the left flank and pings a cross across, but it’s just too high for Akpom at the back post.
40 min: Amri has impressed for Singapore, as has the Izwan. It’s a fantastic stage for these two to earn themselves a move. Indeed Izwan has been linked to J-League clubs in Japan since his World Cup qualifying heroics.
38 min: Half-time is fast approaching, so expect some substitutes. Of those youngsters on the Arsenal bench – Toral, Willock, Zelalem, Crowley, – who are you most looking forward to seeing? Answers to michael.butler@theguardian.com or via Twitter @michaelbutler18.
35 min: Clever slide-rule pass by Iwobi releases Akpom but Izwan is quickly off his line to snuff out the chance, deflecting the ball behind for a corner. The keeper is not tall – only 5ft8in! – but he’s mighty fast. Good keeping.
34 min: Gabriel is all better, after Martinez rubs his tummy.
33 min: Ooooo Gabriel takes one to the team, Baharudin’s thunderous shot hitting the Brazilian defender flush in the midriff. He goes down like a sack of potatoes, horribly winded one suspects.
31 min: Corner to Singapore? Doesn’t clear the first man. Poor.
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With Singapore having pushed up for the free-kick, they are left horribly exposed at the back. Gabriel wins a commanding header and Oxlade Chamberlain picks up the clearance and drives up-field. It’s four on four, and Iwobi pulls left, receives the ball and flights a clever ball across to the right. Wilshere is well tackled by Khaizan but Akpom thrashes the ball past Izwan. 1-0.
GOAL! Singapore Select XI 0-1 Arsenal (Akpom 29)
Arsenal hit Singapore on the break!
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27 min: Lone sriker Amri is dropping deep – he’s looking quite tidy actually – even if that means that Singapore have nobody to aim for at the sharp end of the pitch. He wins a free kick and the players take a drinks break, dropping cold towels around their necks and dousing their faces with water.
24 min: Singapore XI have had the ball for a full two minutes here. Arsenal haven’t had a kick! Eventually Amri punts it out of play as he tries a Xabi Alonso-esque diagonal ball. The home side look as though they’re growing in confidence though.
21 min: Iwobi has got a trick or two hasn’t he? Skipping away from Sulaiman with a flick and twist. Lovely stuff. Oxlade Chamberlain again tries his luck from range. High and wide.
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18 min: Singapore look to take the tempo out of the game after that flurry of Arsenal chances, and ping it around the back four for a bit.
“That picture of Arsene Wenger with his foot up on the cool box – sweet holy Moses,” emails Tom Atkins. “I hope nobody is stood 30 degrees clockwise of the photographer.”
15 min: Another great save from Izwan. He’s bound to be busy tonight, and Oxlade-Chamberlain is the latest to try his luck from range, but the Singapore keeper parries it away, out of harm’s way.
Izwan is the Singapore Select XI captain and arguably their best player – he was also star of the show for the national side when they played Japan in a World Cup qualifier last month, Singapore securing a famous 0-0 draw, with Izwan making a remarkable 18 saves!
13 min: Iwobi nearly scores! He shimmies right, then left to leave Madhu for dead but Izwan comes off his line and narrows the angle. Good block!
11 min: The Argentinian Velez, one of the two players of the Singapore XI not from the Asian country, comes in off his left flank and floats a hopeful ball towards Amri. Mertesacker, who is about a foot taller than the Singapore striker chests the ball down nonchalantly.
8 min: Arsenal inch up the pitch, with Singapore very happy to let the London side have the ball in the middle. Wilshere feeds Akpom and looks for a one-two, but the latter’s touch is poor and Shafiq nips in to intercept. That’s twice the young striker has given away the ball cheaply.
5 min: The corner is swung in, headed out and Oxlade-Chamberlain hammers an effort first time, just wide! The crowd oooohs and aaaaahs.
4 min: Chance! Wilshere skips over a challenge (that surely would have broken his leg had it connected) and feeds the overlapping Monreal who drives a first-time cross into the box. Iwobi is lurking with intent at the back post, but Madhu slides and cuts it out, rather magnificently actually.
2 min: The pitch is ruddy huge. Debuchy gives the ball away cheaply but Flamini is on his toes to win the ball back. Bit of a sloppy start.
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Peeeeep peeeep! And we’re off!
Arsenal, led by Per Mertesacker, come out of the tunnel dressed in their new gold and blue away kit. Singapore are in red. We’ll be underway in a couple of minutes.
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The players are out on the pitch warming up at the 55,000-capacity Singapore National Stadium having watched Everton sweep to victory over Stoke City, winning 5-4 in the penalty shootout. If you want to read how that match went, have a go on Scott Murray’s MBM here.
The winner of Arsenal v Singapore Select XI will play Everton in the final then.
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Hands down the best thing about these pre-season tours are the sublime pictures of the players enjoying the local culture …
Team news
Ah, right. No Cech. Damn. Emiliano Martínez starts in goal instead. Akpom starts as the lone striker in what looks like a 4-5-1.
Curiously Arsenal have included just six subs? Why?! It’s 31°C in Kallang at the moment, with 70% humidity. The players are in for a real work-out.
Here's the official teamsheet from #BAT2015 pic.twitter.com/u9vcwjQhip
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 15, 2015
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Preamble
And so it begins. Six weeks on from Arsenal’s FA Cup victory over Aston Villa, the Gunners are back in action. Thank goodness for that. What have you been doing with your time – spending a bit more time with your kids? Picked up the new Mary Berry cookbook perhaps? Found any sweet brunch spots? None of the above? It doesn’t matter. Football is back, and it’s here to save you from yourself.
Today’s game against a Singapore Select XI may not be the most competitive match Arsenal face all season, but it will give Arsène Wenger a chance to further blood those youngsters he has been hoarding, and of course give fans a glimpse of their new Czech cat between the sticks.
Not that he’s likely to be tested, mind. Last year the Singapore XI rolled over 5-0 against Juventus. And so, in lieu of any goalmouth scrambles inside Arsenal’s six-yard-box, here is a lovely double save Cech made in training earlier this week. Woof!
With fixtures against Everton and Stoke City in this mini-tournament to come, expect to see a few of the aforementioned youngsters play today: Chuba Akpom, Dan Crowley, Alex Iwobi, Chris Willock, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Krystian Bielik and Gedion Zelalem have all travelled with the squad to Singapore. Keep a particular eye out for Crowley, who has been featured in our 20 youngsters to watch in pre-season thingy, and also for Akpom, who might actually play a first-team role up front this season. That’s if Arsenal don’t sign any more strikers, of course.
Alexis Sánchez and David Ospina are still away, recovering from their Copa América jaunts, and Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky are injured so don’t expect to see their pretty faces this afternoon. But it should be a laugh, and at least we’ll have some goals. Probably.
Kick-off: 1.30pm BST
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