Barnet 1-2 Arsenal

A 5,500 strong crowd watched on this afternoon as Arsenal began their pre-season with a nervous 2-1 win over Barnet. The fixture saw a whole host of youngsters get the chance to impress, with two or three making their first appearances for the club.

Gael Clichy was named stand in skipper at left back, with Denilson and Ramsey the central midfield pairing. Armand Traore and Henri Lansbury were on either flank, and had the free licence to assist Walcott and Bendtner in attack.

Almunia
Sagna – Nordtveit – J.Hoyte – Clichy (c)
Lansbury – Denilson – Ramsey – Traore
Walcott – Bendtner

The delightful sunshine greeted the players as they descended onto the sloping Underhill pitch ahead of the kick off, with the Arsenal boys sharing a few words of encouragement.

Arsenal won the right to kick off, and as Walcott rolled the ball to Bendtner, the new season was under way. Nordtveit got his first touch with a long slog up field, which was simple for the Barnet stopper. Ramsey then controlled before picking out Lansbury on the right wing, he dropped his shoulder and looked to burst inside.

Barnet showed some signs of an attacking prowess by first forcing Almunia into saving, and then a succession of corners. But the Gunners then stepped up and Denilson found Ramsey 25 yards out, he strolled forward before flicking Bendtner through the middle, only for a poor touch from the big Dane to end the move.

Another tidy passing move saw Traore and Clichy combine down the left, before the stand in captain found Bendtner on the edge of the box, he volleyed high and wide. Back came Barnet with a long high ball over the top, but Nordtveit showed his awareness by glancing the cross away for a throw.

Ramsey would then take control in a crowded midfield, and not fazed by the amount of bodies around him, he turned sharply before floating a cross to Sagna. His passing was rather confident with either foot, showing all the class and ability needed to play for Arsenal.

The Bees were sat deep inside their own half, and using the pass master Ramsey, Wenger’s men probed their opposition with left to right movements. However, a crunching tackle from Nordtveit allowed Barnet a free-kick on the edge of the box. Gillet curled a left footed stunner inside Almunia’s post to give the hosts a shock lead.

Goal – Kenny Gillet (15)

On the last occasion Arsenal went behind against Barnet, they came back and thumped them for 10. A similar result would see the facial expression on Arsene Wenger’s face change considerably.

Nordtveit stepped forward and won the ball for Ramsey, he fed Walcott who was muscled out by Gillet in a difficult few minutes.

Two corners saw the Gunners fight back, with Walcott and Traore getting joy down either flank. Sagna layed the ball off to Lansbury on the edge of the area, he controlled before letting fly inches over. A good spell of possession football came to no fruition for the visitors.

Nicklas Bendtner was sent crashing to the floor, but after recovering he played a part in a following counter attack. Hoyte, Denilson and Ramsey all combined to send Bendtner through. He teed up Lansbury on the edge of the area, who saw his low drive deflected away.

Whilst there were several impressive individual performances from Arsenal, but as a team the squad looked rusty and frustrated. Ramsey’s tame lashed shot at the keeper summed it up, with Bendtner’s equally poor flick simple for Barnet.

With half time approaching it was the boys in red and white who stepped up, with a jinking run from Denilson picking out Walcott who was once more snuffed out. More flowing football led to Theo twisted in the area and picking out Clichy, he composed himself but could only find the top of the stand.

Barnet 1-0 Arsenal

Arsenal changed the complete XI for the second half, with Francis Coquelin being granted a debut in midfield. Seven English talents also took the field with Vito Mannone being granted the chance to impress.

Mannone
Ogogo – G.Hoyte – Rodgers – Steer
Wilshere – Randall (c) – Coquelin – Barazite
Simpson – Fonte

Francis Coquelin’s first touch was to crunch into an early tackle, with the ball profiting for Barazite. He skipped forward before finding Jay Simpson, he twisted away and fired a looping shot at the Barnet stopper.

Birchall turned past Coquelin quickly before Mannone was sent flapping out of his area in a nervous moment for the Gunners back four. Wilshere and Barazite combined well, allowing Nacer to crash a long range effort wide.

The Reserves seemed more comfortable on the ball than their first team counterparts, and they worked a fantastic free kick position as Steer found Barazite who spotted Randall on the edge of the area. Mark dusted himself down and floated a curling effort towards the bottom corner which needed a firm hand to clear away.

Jack Wilshere was extremely bright in midfield, and the diminutive play-maker would play a superb part in Arsenal’s equaliser. Randall found Wilshere on the right wing, he raced inside before stabbing the ball through to Jay Simpson to slot over the advancing goalkeeper.

Goal – Jay Simpson (63)

By now the young guns has a taste for goals, and as Wilshere came jinking forward again he was only inches away from a perfect defence splitting pass for Simpson to double his tally. Then a mad scramble saw Paul Rodgers in the Barnet penalty area, before Randall’s volley saw Fonte crash over the bar.

Coquelin was neat and tidy on the ball and alongside Randall Arsenal had an exciting midfield combination. With Wilshere on the right hand side the Gunners had an explosive young talent, and as he blazed beyond the Barnet midfield, another goal was sensed.

He picked out Simpson on the edge of the box, who played an inch perfect pass to Barazite on the left, he strolled forward and placed the ball neatly into the far corner for 2-1.

Goal – Nacer Barazite (74)

Two further changes were made as Dunne and Szczesny entered, both making debuts for the first team. Barazite, Simpson and Steer all worked a excellent move down the left with Simpson wasting the end product in the area.

A late Barnet free-kick caused madness in the area, but Coquelin hacked the ball out and Arsenal looked for more strikes. The powerful Simpson was snuffed out in the box, before Randall’s chip was deflected away. Coquelin dragged a left footed chance wide, clearly showing the Frenchman was confident with either foot.

Francis had now come flying into the game, and found Fonte on the left hand side. The Portuguese Under 17 international saw his drive clawed out. It would prove to be the final chance of the fixture, as the referee brought proceedings to a close.

Job done for Arsenal but a hard fought victory in the end.