Arsenal made very hard work of a Malaysian XI side on their Asian tour with a strong starting line-up falling behind in the 45th minute to a goal from Azmi Muslim. Wenger rung the changes at halftime and the introduction of Alex Song was instrumental in the resurgence; Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ryo Miyaichi also impressed and whilst he will be disappointed with his finishing Benik Afobe got himself into numerous good positions. The goals came courtesy of 2 young Gunners as 19 year old German Thomas Eisfeld and England youth international Chuks Aneke grabbed 2 goals in the last 5 minutes to help Arsenal to a slightly undeserved victory, reports Goal.com
BBC Sport’s lead Arsenal story relates to Emmanuel Frimpong landing himself in hot water with the FA after perhaps going a tweet too far. Frimpong who has over 500,000 followers on the social networking website is alleged to have used a supposed anti-Semitic term during an online conflict with a rival fan. The 20 year old has until 4pm on Friday to respond to the charge of ‘improper conduct and/or which brought the game into disrepute’ with ‘a reference to ethnic origin, faith or race’.
Contradictory to reports from yesterday The Guardian has pressed on with the idea of Santi Cazorla joining Arsenal. The Spanish playmaker has reportedly agreed terms with the London club who are now waiting to see if a fee in the region of £20 million is accepted by his bizarrely cash strapped club. Malaga finished 4th in La Liga last season after sizeable investment by foreign tycoons but that money seems to have vanished from thin air leaving fans gazumped at the idea players have not been paid wages, huge tax debts totalling over 7 million Euros and owing Villareal 3.5 million Euros for last summer’s sale of Cazorla himself. Malaga’s loss however seems to be Arsenal’s gain.
Several stations pick up on the story of French international Laurent Koscielny signing an improved long term contract. The Telegraph reports how gaffer Arsene Wenger is ‘very pleased’ Koscielny has agreed to commit his future to the club and amid the contract saga of Robin Van Persie, the much improved centre half’s commitment is a timely distraction at The Emirates. The same story also highlights Thomas Rosicky’s expected absence from the start of the new season after an Achilles tendon operation.
The Metro however pours cold water on that good news with a report on Theo Walcott exclaiming wages are not an issue with his current contract negotiations but simply a lack of ambition at the club. Despite being widely expected to agree a new deal with the Gunners in the next few months his contract does run out at the end of the season and as a boyhood Liverpool fan might be tempted to wait and see how Brendan Rodgers’s Anfield revolution progresses before making a permanent decision on his Arsenal future.
What are your opinions on what has occurred at Arsenal on the 24th July 2012?
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
Mathew Nash
@hitcmathewnashGoogle+more stories from Mathew Nash
I’m Mathew Nash a 23 year old graduate in Sports Studies and I have an insatiable love for sport. With a particularly keen interest for the madcap world of football I have always been known amongst friends as a beacon for bizarre sporting trivia and knowledge. My other passion is for writing and hopefully combining the two will create a superb and entertaining marriage that will create, divide and share opinion.
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