Young Guns | Arsenal News

Arsenal crashed out of the Dallas Cup at the semi-final stage this morning, losing 2-0 to Eintracht Frankfurt. An early goal from Okan Durci set the Germans on their way, before a late Dustin Ernst strike wrapped it up, on a frustrating night in America.

Steve Bould was rocked by a late injury to Luke Freeman before kick off, but looked to compensate by bringing Jeffrey Monakana in for his first start of the competition. Roarie Deacon led the line, while Josh Rees was surprisingly left on the bench.

ARSENAL: Martínez; Hajrovic, Boateng, Angha; Brislen-Hall; Frimpong, Ebecilio; Monakana, Ozyakup, Henderson; Deacon.

Arsenal began slowly in every one of their group games, and continued that trend against a defensive and well organised Frankfurt side. Okan Durci almost opened the scoring seconds in, when he collected a sloppy Ozyakup pass and curled a left foot shot that just went over Martínez’s cross bar.

The Gunners tried to press forward, but found their German opponents a difficult match, with their quick and aggressive way of closing the ball down. Deacon then created space in the box after a successful passing move, but after he lost possession, Frankfurt broke away, and grabbed the opener. Schmidt burst away from Hajrovic down the right, and crossed for Durci to turn home from close range. 1-0.

Martínez denied Durci a second shortly after, as he saved brilliantly as the winger tried to go around him. Angha then hacked a header off the line, as Arsenal battled back from the brink. The ineffective Monakana was replaced with Ansah before half time, and it payed instant dividends.

Ansah’s clever lay off on the edge of the box found Frimpong, and he lashed a pile driver that flew just wide. It was a significant chance in a half of few opportunities for Steve Bould’s boys.

A half time re-shuffle saw Montiero replace Frimpong, and the early signs were positive. Arsenal began to pass the ball better, but as the minutes ticked on, they struggled to create any clear chances.

A Henderson free-kick caused panic at the back, but it was cleared, and Frankfurt broke again. The resulting move almost made it 2-0, when a cross-shot from Schmidt looked to have caught Martínez out, only for it to bounce over.

Ansah then headed an Ebecilio cross onto the roof of the net, but the Dallas heat began to get to the players in the closing stages. The coaching staff and impressive gathering of American Gooners tried to urge the team on, but it was to no avail. Substitute Dustin Ernst sealed the win late on, when he finished confidently beyond Martínez. 2-0.

The late strike confirmed the result on a hugely disappointing evening. The loss of Freeman to injury before kick off was no doubt a bitter blow, but Arsenal proved to be one-dimensional against the well organised Germans.

Arsenal wrapped up the group stages of the Dallas Cup with a 3-1 win over Club Bolívar this morning. A brace from Roarie Deacon sandwiched between a Luke Freeman strike saw the Gunners continue their winning ways ahead of a semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Neil Banfield and Steve Bould resisted the opportunity to rest players ahead of that crunch game, although Jordon Wynter did come into the midfield for his first start of the competition.

ARSENAL: Martínez; Rees, Boateng, Angha, Brislen-Hall; Frimpong, Wynter; Deacon, Özyakup, Henderson, Freeman.

The Gunners were once again slow to get going, and following on from the example The Dallas Texans showed on Monday, Bolívar grabbed themselves an early lead. Emi Martínez was left stranded as a powerful shot deflected off an Arsenal leg and flew into the goal. 1-0.

If starting slow was a trait Arsenal had had acquired, so was quick come backs. Luke Freeman burst clear of the Bolívar defence and rounded the ‘keeper to level the scores, moments after falling behind. 1-1, but they weren’t finished there. On 34 minutes Roarie Deacon turned home from close range after a spilled cross to make it 2-1, and the group leaders headed into the break in front.

A host of half time substitutions combined with solid defending disrupted the flow in the second half, but the Bolivians resilience was finally broken 15 minutes from time. Deacon took a deep cross down on his chest expertly, before cutting inside and lashing his second and Arsenal’s third. 3-1.

The full time whistle brought to an end what had been a solid work out, but for Arsenal, the tournament favourites move on to the semi-final, live on Fox Soccer TV.

Arsenal sealed their place in the semi-finals of the Dallas Cup after beating Chorrillo FC 6-0 this evening. Penalties either side of half time from Conor Henderson and Luke Freeman set the Gunners on their way, before Josh Rees, a second from Freeman, an Oguzhan Özyakup penalty, and a Zak Ansah strike sealed the result.

Steve Bould rotated his side from the 5-1 win over The Dallas Texans earlier in the day, making four changes, including between the sticks, with Sean McDermott replacing Emi Martinez.

ARSENAL: McDermott; Hajrovic, Boateng, Angha, Brislen-Hall; Özyakup, Ebecilio; Deacon, Henderson, Rees; Freeman.

Arsenal began with a swagger but struggled to break down their Panamanian opponents, as their solid defensive approach paid dividends in the opening moments.

The Gunners did eventually find a way through though, but after Henderson found Freeman in the box, a smart header on the line denied the opening goal. It proved to be a common theme, as minutes later Chorrillo had an effort cleared off the line, after a flap by McDermott. However, a foul was called in the build up.

Chorrillo then had a selection of chances for themselves as the half wore on, but solid defending from Angha, plus the excellent reflexes of McDermott kept the scores level. Arsenal continued to push on, and with the half time whistle approaching, they found a lucky break through. Rees was clipped down in the box, and Henderson converted a soft looking spot kick for 1-0.

Özyakup could have made it 2-0 with the final kick of the half, but his stunning volley smacked the bar and was cleared.

The half time interval gave Chorrillo renewed impetus, but just as they began to get a foot hold, Arsenal got another penalty for what looked like a harsh call for a hand ball. Freeman stepped up, and although he slipped, the ball hit the back of the net. 2-0.

Arsenal continued to push for another, and sealed the result when Deacon’s left wing cross was thumped in by Rees in the box. 3-0, but they weren’t finished yet. Ansah came off the bench and he was involved a move with saw Freeman cut in from the left and lash home a fourth from the edge of the box. 4-0.

A flood of changes then slowed the tempo down, before two combined for a fifth. Boateng’s ball out from the back fed Ansah in the box, he turned away from goal but was pushed to the floor. A third Arsenal penalty, converted this time by Özyakup. 5-0.

A late red card for an elbow on Özyakup summed up what had been a horrible game for Chorrillo FC. But Arsenal were not finished yet. After two brilliant saves from McDermott, they broke, and a sublime finish over the ‘keeper from Ansah made it 6-0.

The win sees Arsenal march on into the knock out phase, safe in the knowledge they can rest players for their final group game against Club Bolivar on Wednesday.

Arsenal kicked off their Dallas Cup SuperGroup campaign in style this morning, coming from behind to thrash The Dallas Texans 5-1. Goals from Conor Henderson, Roarie Deacon, Luke Freeman and a brace from Josh Rees sealed the win.

Neil Banfield’s boys came into the game knowing Club Bolivar had beaten Chorrillo FC 2-1 in Bracket A, so a three goal margin would put them top. However, Corinthians and Barcelona had been beaten by American sides earlier in the day, so the Gunners knew they faced an up hill task.

ARSENAL: Martínez; Hajrovic, Boateng, Monterio, Bihmoutine; Frimpong, Ebecilio; Deacon, Özyakup, Henderson; Freeman

The Dallas Texans promised they would mean business this week, and followed that mandate straight from the off set. A slick team move saw Douglas find space on the edge of the box, but his volley ended up inches wide.

As Arsenal struggled to get into the game, the hosts kicked on. A hopeful ball over the top caused panic in the back line, leading to Martínez coming racing out of his goal. He got nowhere near the ball, and clattered into Richardson. Despite the huge protests from the crowd, no penalty was given.

The Texans would have their revenge shortly after, though. Arsenal failed to deal with a simple free-kick, and Eduardo Aranda was on hand to turn home from close range. 1-0, and thoroughly deserved.

It could have been more just minutes later, when a long throw was lashed just wide by Aranda, before Richardson smacked the bar with a neat volley. Özyakup then looked to respond with a rare Arsenal chance, but his free-kick hit the wall and was easily cleared.

Arsenal won another just before half time, but this time Henderson stepped up to take it. He curled the ball expertly, and despite a deflection, it flew into the net. 1-1 and the Gunners had a foot hold to build on.

Freeman showed off Arsenal’s growing confidence with a flick header that went just wide in first half stoppage time, before an injection of quality saw the visitors take the lead. Özyakup’s delightful through ball found Deacon, and as the ‘keeper rushed out, he finished well to put the Gunners in front at the break. 2-1.

Banfield rotated at half time, bringing on George Brislen-Hall in place of Bihmoutine. It may have a been a tactical change to combat the attacking threat of Richardson, but his second half only lasted a matter of minutes, as the Texan forward was dismissed for a second yellow card.

Arsenal pressed home their advantage, and all but sealed the win when Freeman bundled home Özyakup’s corner, after a shot from Ebecilio. 3-1, and no way back for The Texans.

Frimpong came off shortly after, with the Ghanaian looking a little tired in the midfield. Josh Rees replaced him, and he added the icing to the cake in the closing stages, with a delightful header to make it 4-1. He followed that up with another shortly after, finishing a fine through ball, for what proved to be the final meaningful action of the game.

The full time whistle brought to an end a super start to Arsenal’s Dallas Cup challenge. The young Gunners recovered well after going behind, and will surely face easier challenges ahead in Chorrillo and Club Bolivar.