by Kingseyi Thu Jul 26, 2018 6:20 pmNew-look Arsenal left out controversy-hit Mesut
Ozil but still impressed before they were edged
3-1 on penalties by Europa League champions
Atletico Madrid in a friendly on Thursday.
Ozil, who caused a furore when he quit German
national duty claiming racism, was rested after
his World Cup exertions as 17-year-old
midfielder Emile Smith Rowe took centre-stage
in Singapore.
After Luciano Vietto’s opener for Atletico against
the run of play, teenager Smith Rowe hit a
dazzling equaliser — his first senior goal — in
front of new boss Unai Emery as it finished 1-1
after normal time.
Under International Champions Cup rules, the
game went straight to penalties where substitute
Atletico goalkeeper Antonio Adan starred, saving
three before coolly slotting the winner himself.
Mesut Ozil of Arsenal sits at the players
bench during a match against Atletico
Madrid at the International Champions
Cup match in Singapore on July 26,
2018. / AFP PHOTO
Both sides started with unfamiliar line-ups but
Arsenal were the dominant force in the first half
before they were hit with a sucker-punch four
minutes from the break.
In a rare Atletico foray forward, Angel Correa
crossed from the byline to his fellow Argentine
Vietto, whose header looped past new Arsenal
goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
The German, starting ahead of Petr Cech in goal,
otherwise had little to do as Arsenal, employing
Emery’s trademark high press, kept Atletico in
their own half.
French forward Alexandre Lacazette was denied
from close range on three occasions, including a
full-length save by Atletico’s Jan Oblak after
good work from Smith Rowe.
But Arsenal struck two minutes into the second
half when Smith Rowe curled the equaliser into
the top corner from the edge of the box, before
being mobbed by his team-mates.
Mass substitutions in the last half-hour made for
a disjointed finale before the penalty shoot-out.
Arsenal, rebuilding under Emery after Arsene
Wenger’s 22-year reign, are hoping for
silverware this season and a return to the
Champions League, while Atletico finished
second in La Liga behind Barcelona.
AFP
Ozil but still impressed before they were edged
3-1 on penalties by Europa League champions
Atletico Madrid in a friendly on Thursday.
Ozil, who caused a furore when he quit German
national duty claiming racism, was rested after
his World Cup exertions as 17-year-old
midfielder Emile Smith Rowe took centre-stage
in Singapore.
After Luciano Vietto’s opener for Atletico against
the run of play, teenager Smith Rowe hit a
dazzling equaliser — his first senior goal — in
front of new boss Unai Emery as it finished 1-1
after normal time.
Under International Champions Cup rules, the
game went straight to penalties where substitute
Atletico goalkeeper Antonio Adan starred, saving
three before coolly slotting the winner himself.
Mesut Ozil of Arsenal sits at the players
bench during a match against Atletico
Madrid at the International Champions
Cup match in Singapore on July 26,
2018. / AFP PHOTO
Both sides started with unfamiliar line-ups but
Arsenal were the dominant force in the first half
before they were hit with a sucker-punch four
minutes from the break.
In a rare Atletico foray forward, Angel Correa
crossed from the byline to his fellow Argentine
Vietto, whose header looped past new Arsenal
goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
The German, starting ahead of Petr Cech in goal,
otherwise had little to do as Arsenal, employing
Emery’s trademark high press, kept Atletico in
their own half.
French forward Alexandre Lacazette was denied
from close range on three occasions, including a
full-length save by Atletico’s Jan Oblak after
good work from Smith Rowe.
But Arsenal struck two minutes into the second
half when Smith Rowe curled the equaliser into
the top corner from the edge of the box, before
being mobbed by his team-mates.
Mass substitutions in the last half-hour made for
a disjointed finale before the penalty shoot-out.
Arsenal, rebuilding under Emery after Arsene
Wenger’s 22-year reign, are hoping for
silverware this season and a return to the
Champions League, while Atletico finished
second in La Liga behind Barcelona.
AFP
