Summary
Job done then at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Arsenal will face much tougher opponents in the next few months, but they looked very sharp for a first hitout.
Coquelin, Nelson and Ozil stood out in the first half in which all Arsenal’s players did their bit. Wayward final balls and the absence of a strong presence in the box meant the scoreboard never fully reflected the balance of play, but this isn’t the first or last time you’re going to read that about Arsene Wenger’s side.
The second half was predictably disjointed but the introduction of Lacazette didn’t disappoint. The record signing played just off Giroud as a second striker, dropping deep to link up play and involve himself around the ground. If you thought that might diminish his impact in front of goal he provided a firm riposte after just 15 minutes in the fray, ghosting into the box to side-foot home a smart cross from the right.
No injuries, 80,000 satisfied customers and the first win of the season. You can’t ask for much more than that.
Thanks for joining me, I’ll catch you on here again soon.
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Full Time: Sydney FC 0-2 Arsenal
A good night for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal. Full house, strong performance and a debut goal for Alexandre Lacazette.
88 min: In a match that mattered Arsenal may well have howled louder for a penalty as Oxlade-Chamberlain hit the turf, but they’ll settle for a corner. That move the end product of another raking pass from the back. A noticeable change of approach between halves for Wenger, neat and central in the first half, direct and wide in the second.
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87 min: 2-0 still flatters Sydney but they’re still plugging away, winning a corner and then almost fashioning a chance after it’s swung into the box.
GOAL! Sydney FC 0-2 Arsenal (Lacazette 83)
That’ll do. Debut goal for Alexandre Lacazette. Swift attack down the right hand side, Lacazette times his run into the box to perfection to sidefoot home from eight yards. Exactly the kind of finish Arsenal have lacked all night. All about the timing of the run, no chance of marking that kind of movement.
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81 min: Talking earlier about players maybe carrying an ounce or two of extra timber - Oliver Giroud doesn’t look as mobile as the rest of his teammates. Lacazette is one of those and he shows some nice footwork to buy a free-kick on the corner of the box. It comes to nought.
79 min: Ooooh, corner on the right for Arsenal and it’s clipped onto the post by Nketiah, lovely effort from the young substitute. Not long afterwards the ball pings around the Sydney box but the home side just about do enough to smuggle it clear.
77 min: The latest clip in Redmayne’s showreel comes courtesy of a diving save to push Oxlade-Chamberlain’s free kick away towards the corner flag.
75 min: Iwobi again with the chance, shooting from a narrow angle into the remarkable Redmayne. Where the first half was all possession and incisive through-balls, this half has been rapid, direct counterattacks. Still, only the one scrappy goal from a corner to show for it.
73 min: of the subs, Iwobi has been the brightest, operating to the right of the forward line and looking like he has a point to prove.
70 min: Lacazette, wearing the number 9 shirt is doing his best to get involved, dropping deep linking play, allowing fellow sub Giroud to lead the line.
Lacazette makes his debut
68 min: I think that was all ten outfield subs for Arsenal. All you really need to know is Alexandre Lacazette is now on the field. What will he reveal in the final 20 minutes or so?
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67 min: Saves at both ends, Redmayne’s routine, Martinez’s a bit tastier to keep out Lokolingoy.
An avalanche of subs on the way...
65 min: Decent spell for Sydney, fashioning some decent field position without creating a clear chance.
More subs: Iredale and Green on for Carney and Ryall for Sydney.
62 min: Not as many subs as you might expect. Lacazette still going through his paces, no sign he’s making an appearance any time soon.
60 min: And that man Redmayne’s at it again. Arsenal have had more joy down the left than the right this half and from that source Walcott enjoys time and space in the box but he can’t beat the diving yellow-clad superhero.
58 mins: This is probably Andrew Redmayne’s best ever game. A journeyman A-League benchwarmer turned one-man army. Well done young man.
SAVED!
Redmayne dives low to his right and keeps out Welbeck’s firmly struck spot kick. Cliche klaxon - it was a nice height for the keeper - but it was still a good effort from the Sydney stopper.
Justice!
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PENALTY!
And it’s a howler! Seb Ryall dived across to make a miraculous save as Walcott looked set to tap the ball into an empty net. For some reason Shaun Evans points to the spot, presumably thinking the ball hit the sliding defender’s hand, but it smacked into his back!
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53 min: Redmayne again called into action, this time repelling Bramall’s volley.
52 min: Sydney have their second decent opportunity of the match, sub Zuvela shooting sharply from just inside the box, forcing Martinez into a smart save low to his left. Zuvela, by the way, is a big Arsenal fan, he shaves his legs the morning of each game, and his last meal would be lobster mornay. Now you know.
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50 min: First decent chance of the half falls to Nelson after he’s picked out by Ozil’s panache. His shot is deflected, leading to the latest in a series of dangerous corners. That’s somehow cleared but Arsenal continue to press resulting in Walcott firing over when he should hit the target.
48 min: Really just on Lacazette watch now as the second half begins in pedestrian fashion, I’ll keep you updated.
Arsenal sub - Martinez on for Cech.
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Peeeeeeepppppp!
The disjointed second half has begun.
The second half is almost upon us, which means the cavlcade of substitutions is about to begin.
Sydney FC get us underway with a couple - youngsters Kuleski and Zuvela on for the more senior Zullo and Brosque.
A little bit on Reiss Nelson here - definitely worth the hype, based on one half of a preseason friendly against a sluggish Australian team.
So it's @mertesacker's goal that gives us the lead at half-time - but which player has impressed you most?#ArsenalinSydney pic.twitter.com/Y8fBKWlAZj
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 13, 2017
Nelson, Coquelin and Ozil for mine.
One for State of Origin fans:
@JPHowcroft Second night in a row a NSW team has failed to do the basics right. This is going to get messy
— phil withall (@phil_withall) July 13, 2017
Half-time: Sydney FC 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal dominated from whistle to whistle but only have one goal to show for it. Plenty of positive signs for Arsene Wenger though, not least the lively Reiss Nelson on the right hand side.
44 min: Walcott accelerates from his marker and shoots from range, but it’s a scuffed dribbler. That final ball and shot letting Arsenal down on what has been an otherwise excellent showing.
42 min: The timing of Arsenal’s runners is beautiful to watch. Both the run and the weight of the pass in behind has been spot on time after time, allowing Arsenal to turn Sydney’s defenders and threaten in the final third.
Willock the latest to force a save from Redmayne after a slaloming run through the middle of the park.
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39 min: Sydney have enjoyed a decent couple of minutes since that unexpected chance, retaining possession and forcing Arsenal back into their own half. Graham Arnold is growing visibly frustrated on the touchline though at the volume of errant passes.
35 min: Hang on! Out of nowhere Josh Brillante breaks the lines and darts past Mertersacker, forcing Cech into a good save low to his right. The rebound just forces Simon wider than he wanted and he fires the second chance into the side netting.
Arsenal go down the other end and force Redmayne into a couple of sharp stops.
31 min: Big cheer for Alexandre Lacazette, um, warming up. He could still score a dozen in the second half mind you, Arsenal bossing this. Nelson again looking the business but his Ronaldo-like dazzling feet can’t fashion an opening.
29 min: Another half-chance for Arsenal with Welbeck seeing his shot blocked after some incisive passing through the centre of the field. The pressure continues though and a Walcott drive forces a fumbly save from Redmayne at his near post. The resulting corner again causes mayhem in the Sky Blue box but Bielik can’t convert.
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27 min: Not a lot for Sydney to shout about so far. Last season was built on forcing turnovers high up the field but they just don’t stand a chance of getting Arsenal in their half. Coming out from the back the front two are isolated, slowing the game to walking pace just to retain possession.
23 min: This is men against boys stuff despite the scoreline only showing one goal between the sides. Arsenal have looked very sharp for a first hitout, nipping into challenges with purpose and shifting the ball easily. The final pass remains a problem though, Walcott the latest offender.
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21 min: Another corner, another soft chance for Arsenal, Bielik this time. Quickly followed by a break down the left and a ball across the edge of the six yard box that’s just cut out by Jordy Buijs.
19 min: Coquelin is another Arsenal player to have started brightly. His reading of the game to break up play and instigate counterattacks has stood out. From one such moment Nelson again shows his promise, jinking one way then the other before opting to pass when a shot was on.
16 min: Almost a second for Arsenal. Reiss Nelson is a handful on the right hand side and he wriggles his way into the box only for Welbeck to take over and see his shot deflected wide. From the ensuing corner Walcott almost doubles the lead as Sydney again fail to defend confidently.
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14 min: Anyway, back to the live action, you haven’t missed much but Sydney are starting to get a foothold but they’re unable to string any passes together. The game already at walking pace.
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I knew I’d heard of this somewhere before - there’s even video evidence!
A correction of sorts on Arsenal’s history in Australia.
@JPHowcroft Last time Arsenal were in Oz was 1988. I was there. https://t.co/deSVDiEle8 Rocastle,Thomas, Lukic, Smith, Davis, etc @guardian
— Simon Dux (@mopoke) July 13, 2017
With this being a 6-a-side event, I think we can stay with 1977 as the last full tour.
9 min: This could be a cricket score. Welbeck and Walcott are stretching Sydney’s defence like that gloopy sticky stuff you threw at the walls in school only for it to get covered in lint and lose its adhesiveness. Bramall and Nelson are the primary beneficiaries but the final pass is just lacking for now.
7 min: Arsenal knocking the ball around like a training drill, building from the back, Kolašinac taking plenty of responsibility to bring the ball out. Further forward Sydney are chasing shadows, all Arsenal’s attacking players finding space and looking purposeful.
GOAL! Sydney FC 0-1 Arsenal (Mertersacker 4)
Eurgh, that is ugly for Sydney FC. An Ozil corner is not dealt with and in the ensuing scramble the giant praying mantis Mertersacker smuggles the ball beyond Redmayne. Very very soft way to open proceedings here.
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3 min: First shot on target is a speculative long range effort from Welbeck. Arsenal settling into their passing nicely, Nelson and Bramall offering dynamism on the flanks.
1 min: It takes just 40 second for Arsenal to carve open Sydney’s defence. Lovely work down the left from new boy Kolašinac creates a shooting opportunity for Walcott but it’s blocked.
Peeeeeeeeeeppppppp!
Arsenal, kicking from left to right for those playing along at home, get us underway.
Out they come; Sydney in their recently released all-sky blue uniform (currently without a sponsor, which is a tad disappointing), Arsenal in their third strip of all black with fluro pink trim.
The referee tonight is one of Australia’s full-time refs, Shaun Evans.
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Not long to go before kick off now. Way more red and white in the olympic stadium than sky blue. It’s vital the A-League figures out a way of converting these football fans who have affiliations overseas into engaged supporters of local teams.
TONIGHT’S blockbuster is officially a SELLOUT! The seats are filling up ahead of warm ups here!! #SydneyIsSkyBlue #ArsenalinSydney pic.twitter.com/OtHOrrrPcq
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) July 13, 2017
The last time Arsenal were in Australia was for the World of Soccer Cup in 1977. This was a four-way tournament featuring an Australian XI, Red Star Belgrade, and eventual winners Celtic. It would be the last trophy won by Jock Stein in club football.
Terry Neill’s squad for that trip: Rimmer, Rice, Nelson, Powling, O’Leary, Young, Brady, Hudson, Macdonald, Stapleton, Armstrong, Rix, Mathews.
You may notice a similarity between Sydney FC’s coach, Graham Arnold, and Bill Murray’s portrayal of the Wes Anderson character Steve Zissou. If you hadn’t, you now can’t unsee it.
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Sydney FC line-up
The Sky Blues starting XI is around half-strength from the settled side that dominated the last A-League season.
Arsenal’s centre-halves will be delighted the combative Matt Simon is starting up front - he will test the ‘friendly’ nature of this exhibition.
The midfield anchors of Josh Brillante and Brandon O’Neill are both international class and coming up against Arsenal’s slick ball movement will provide them with a litmus test - both should be in the shop window on a night with such a high profile.
Paolo Retre makes his debut at right-back and it’s a chance to see the exciting Charles Lokolingoy on the right of an attacking three.
LINEUP | Here's how we shape up for our first pre-season clash v @premierleague giants @Arsenal! Thoughts? #SydneyIsSkyBlue #ArsenalinSydney pic.twitter.com/Nwkei46UlU
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) July 13, 2017
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Arsenal line-up
The headline news is Lacazette will begin on the pine, which is a bit of a shame.
There’s an early look at Bosnian international Sead Kolašinac who will start on the left of a back three as Wenger persists with the formation that Antonio Conte so successfully trolled the Premier League with last season. Cohen Bramall, Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock all make their senior debuts.
The pace of Walcott and Welbeck will be unlike anything Sydney’s defence will have encountered in some time.
The teams are in - let's do this, lads 👊#ArsenalinSydney pic.twitter.com/qkxL7NtJto
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 13, 2017
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Preamble
We meet again. Just 47 days since Arsenal brought the curtain down on a turbulent campaign by lifting the FA Cup, the Gunners are in action again.
Arsene Wenger’s 21st preseason in charge begins against Sydney FC at a sold out ANZ Stadium. It may seem like the first and most insignificant step in a marathon of a season to residents of N7, but to Australian-based Arsenal fans this is their first opportunity in 40 years to see their heroes in action.
Record signing Alexandre Lacazette promises to be the star attraction. The £45m man will make his debut in red and white and his every move will be duly scrutinised with knee-jerk reactions sure to follow.
Otherwise it’s the familiar preseason routine of getting used to the new strip (which looks typically sharp), checking who enjoyed their time off a bit too much (*cough* *cough* Mesut), spotting the next great youth team hope (Reiss Nelson thanks), and generally wondering why on earth you’re not watching cricket, Wimbledon or spending meaningful time with your kids.
There are of course two sides in this match and Sydney FC should be no pushovers. They dominated the A-League last season, play a disciplined compact style of football and are coached by a man with designs on greater things. The main objective is to pull a crowd and let the tourists put on a show, but the home side will have no problem playing party poopers.
Don’t forget you can join in the fun. Tweet me @JPHowcroft or send an email to jonathan.howcroft.freelance@guardian.co.uk and we’ll become friends in no time.
Jonathan will be here shortly. One man who isn’t in Sydney tonight is Alexis Sánchez, the want-away striker who hasn’t travelled to Australia amid something of a transfer standoff. Have a read of David Hytner’s analysis of that particular situation:
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