Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Tim Stillman 
Date:Sunday July 29 2012
Time: 12:46PM
UK time is: 01:12:56
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Friendly Round Up
Arsenal's tour of Asia is now over, with the team having played two friendlies in 48 hours over the weekend. On Friday, the Gunners were defeated 2-0 by Manchester City in Beijing with quickfire goals from Pabloa Zabaleta and Yaya Toure just before half time. Walcott and Santos had previously gone close and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain's second half shot hit both posts, but City ran out winners.
This morning, Arsenal drew 2-2 with Hong Kong champions Kithcee FC. Yago gave the home side the lead in the 8th minute before good work from Abou Diaby saw him tee up Walcott for the equaliser. Kitchee were back in the lead again on 29 minutes through Rodriguez after a calamitous mix up in the Arsenal defence. But a strong dribble from Gervinho to the by line saw him tee up Thomas Eisfeld for the equaliser. It finished 2-2.
Meanwhile, Terry Burton's Arsenal XI played out a 0-0 draw with League One Stevenage at the Lamex Stadium. I was going to produce a match report for that one given my attendance, but honestly, bugger all happened. Gnabry hit the bar in the first half and that was one of only two shots on target in the whole game. It was eye bleedingly dull.
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Your Comments
Eisfeld has been the one real shining light for the season ahead in this asian jaunt, the likes of Myachi, Afobe, Aneke, Miguel don't look anywhere near ready for a 1st team place, carling cup at a stretch. Got to say it's more than a little concerning that with only one more friendly booked in we've not got anywhere close to playing what should be a first choice 11 or any bedding in of the new boys when we're so desperately dire up front wasting time with that hapless berk chamakh. Still good to see Gazidis chillin in the HK, not like there's anything urgent that needs overseeing back here eh?
nikolaijns
I mean to be brutally honest these Asian dates just don't look like anything else other than an exhibition for the Arsene Wenger project youth vanity project, look at me now I give you Yennaris! It most certainly doesn't look like any form of pre season planning for AFC, the defence is as ramshackle and comical as ever, no cutting edge in midfield and the usual toothless shambles up front, noone seems to give a feck about resolving any of it.
nikolaijns
I am rather dubious about how much friendlies tell you myself, but I think you've got a point with regards the planning. I'm not at all sure why Podolski, Giroud, Koscielny etc couldn't fly out and just play today or against City on Friday. They didn't need to play even, just to train with their teammates.
Little Dutch
I'm not putting any slant on drawing with what was a technically proficient nippy up for it Hong Kong team, I'm just saying it all looks completely structureless from the point of view of AFC, I'm sure that Wenger will know his 1st 11 anyhow and that he wants to see how other fringe players perform but I just watched that game this morning in disbelief at just how amateurish and shambolic we were, with the very difficult start of the season we have I'm having difficulty in comprehending a lot of the decisions made, this pre season was the perfect period to iron out problems bed in purchases and build morale and instead it just looks like a random do what you want free for all circus of unstructured randomness all with a midfield built around a bloke that won't last 3 games.
nikolaijns
It's difficult to know how much to notice to take of these matches, but for sure, it's not great that we only get one proper pre-season game against Cologne before it all kicks off for real. Again, we're being dragged around the transfer merry go round and I can see us losing RvP and bagging no one coz of our penny pinching. You would think that having got the guaranteed CL spot without a qualifier we could go out and be bold with what we need.
Gooner_Vin
Park Lives!! The Arsenal legend (legend as in noone knows whether he's real or mythical) is gracing my screen now battling against ze sweees.
nikolaijns
In fairness to the club I actually think they've handled the RvP thing well. We've signed two international strikers and are making a serious attempt to buy an international winger too. We've moved Almunia and Vela on at a loss. We've signed up Kos and the offer has been sitting on Walcott's table for a while. I don't see much penny pinching.
Little Dutch
Speaking of penny pinching I was talking to my plumber the other day, ST holder and huge Wenger fan, he was saying how he gets a bit of work for the club down at colney and that Wenger decides everything, case in point this guy had to replace a length of piping at the complex which involved a length of floor being ripped up. New carpet tiles were needed once the job was done and Arsene was presented with a choice of 5 of varying price. Which do you think he chose lol?
nikolaijns
Not only does Park live he scores!! diving header!!
nikolaijns
"Hopefully, we will get Wilshere back playing for October.With Abou Diaby returning, it will be like signing two new players. " Did Wenger really say this? Please tell me it was some hack making up copy for his rag.
Wyn Mills
Wow.. 1 preseason game left and we havent played a single game with our first choice forwards.. or defence.. We are *****ed.
Sajit
I'll be surprised if we don't book in at least one more short notice friendly before koln to replace the nigerian fiasco.
nikolaijns
It'll likely be a training ground friendly, the club are trying to sort it. But there are still two Arsenal XI friendlies left yet :)
Little Dutch
When and where are they gwan? nothing about them on the .com?
nikolaijns
Lot of work to be done on the training ground in the next two weeks no doubt. The left and right back positions need experienced players and defending is not being done by forwards and midfielders to the level required. Sunderland will be committed, organised and will play on the counter attack, hope the team raises their game in the next two weeks.
Deltaforce
It's very difficult to weigh up the pros and cons of the Asia tour. When we had our Austrian training camp we had a notoriously strong start to the season. But with the need for revenue so obvious tapping into the eastern market makes financial sense.
No 10
Arsenal XI play at Dartford on Wednesday and the mighty Chesham United next Saturday. Not ideal cos it wouldn't be with their teammates per se, but fitness wise it might make sense to get 20 minutes unless we have an agreement with those fixtures that dictates we don't bring that level of player. The Asia Tour could still have worked alongside our new season planning. Podolski, Giroud etc didn't have to fly out and play 270 minutes. They could have played a few minutes in one of the weekend games or else just trained with the rest of the team. Seems odd that we imposed this hardline all or nothing stance with regards to the travelling party.
Little Dutch
These fellows have just returned from a gruelling (for a few) Euros tournament, after getting little rest after the season just passed. They will need the rest; two weeks of intensive training will with the rest of the lads will make for the needed cohesive play; the rest will fall into place as the season progresses. We are hardly alone in this state of affairs, though the likes of Sunderland are not in a similar position. Good thing we shall play at Home.
Naijagunner
...Err, well. I am sure you get my drift. Been some day ;-)
Naijagunner
These friendlies tell you a lot and they tell me that you lot will not win a thing.....yet again .......losers.
Wswilly3
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