Once more we find ourselves in the middle of that dreaded time for football fans: the International break. However, although it has gone under the radar with fellow Gooners complaining about everything from Newspapers to medical staff, a number of Arsenal players have played, representing their various countries across the world.
Chu-Young Park and Lukasz Fabianski: The two squad players went head-to-head as South Korea faced Poland in an international friendly. Fabianski deputised, as he does at Arsenal, for the injured Szczesny while Park captained his side. Poland started well and were in the lead at half time; Lewandowski followed up after his Dortmund team-mate Blaszczykowski hit the bar. The Koreans equalised in the second half as Park finished well after a Dong-Won Ji cutback. Park the gave his side the lead, slotting the ball through the onrushing Fabianski’s legs. Park was then one of six Koreans to be substituted, as the coach tried out some new players. An error from Korea at the back then gifted the ball to Blaszczykowski, who took his chance well, making the final score 2-2.
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Per Mertesacker: The lofty German played 90 minutes against Turkey in a game refereed by the infamous Martin Atkinson. The Germans took the lead after 35 minutes; a long ball was well controlled by Gomez, who beat the defender fantastically and fired into the far side of the net. Their lead was doubled after half time when Podolski cut the ball back and Muller drove it powerfully past Demirel. Turkey had a lifeline when Balta got in at the back post to volley home a Gonul cross. However the Germans secured their 9th win in 9 qualification games when Schweinsteiger scored from the penalty spot after Muller was fouled.
Aaron Ramsey: The midfielder captained Wales in their penultimate game in EURO 2012 qualification. After a quiet first half, their opponents Switzerland gave away a penalty for a foul on Chris Gunter. Ramsey stepped up and scored the penalty on the hour, but was lucky as the keeper Benaglio should really have saved it; as it was the ball slipped under his body. 10 minutes later, Morison slipped in Bale down the right and he finished well, securing Wales’s 2nd win and taking them off of the bottom of the group and above Bulgaria.
Tomas Rosicky: Spain got off to the perfect start as Juan Mata was slipped in by Xavi and he put one past the Czech Republic after just 6 minutes. Their lead was doubled when Xavi Alonso made a late run into the box and slotted past captain Petr Cech. The Czechs did manage to hold out and not concede another, but, along with Rosicky, offered very little going forward; this was mainly due to to Spain’s domination, having 70% of the possession. Hubschman was also sent off for an appaling tackle on Xavi Alonso, leaving the Real Madrid midfielder with several gashes in his leg.
South Korea v Poland
Andrei Arshavin: Russia moved to the top of Group B with a 1-0 win away in Slovakia. In an open game, both sides had multiple chances to take the lead, but the keepers stood strong and at half time both had clean sheets. The deadlock was finally broken in the 70th minute when a deflected shot from Dzagoev looped over the helpless Mucha and into the net. Arshavin looks a much better player for Russia than when he plays in an Arsenal shirt; when he is at the centre of a team’s creative hub he comes alive and appears far more interested. With Arsenal currently lacking real creativity, Wenger may have to consider this option in the near future.
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Robin Van Persie: Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored the only goal as the Netherlands lumbered to a 1-0 win at home to Moldova. The striker scored after Dirk Kuyt pulled the ball back from the right. Other than this it was a very quiet game and Moldova held their own without ever really threatening.
Theo Walcott: The winger provided an unusually accurate cross after 10 minutes, allowing Ashley Young to nod in at the far post. England doubled their lead after Ashley Young squared the ball to Darren Bent for a simple tap in. England, especially Walcott, faded as the half went on and Montenegro pulled a goal back through Zverotic just before the break. England remained on the back foot in the 2nd half, but the game really swung towards Montenegro in the 73rd minute; a ridiculous kick of his opponent by Rooney earned him a red card. Walcott, who had done nothing in the 2nd half was replaced by Welbeck as Capello gave England some sort of threat upfront. A stoppage time equaliser earned Montenegro 2nd place in the group and a play-off to qualify for EURO 2012.
Russia Highlights
Nicklas Bendtner: Four first half goals against Cyprus earned Denmark a win that puts them 2nd on goal difference in Group H. Jacobsen, Rommedahl and Krohn-Dehli all scored in the first 20 minutes. In the 22nd minute the fourth goal came, as Bendtner, who is on loan a Sunderland, laid the ball off to Rommedahl for the veteran’s 2nd. Denmark the took their foot off the gas, allowing Avraam to pull a goal back just before half time. The 2nd half was goalless, although Denmark had an incentive to reduce the goal difference between Portugal and themselves.
Joel Campbell: The striker, who is spending a season at Lorient in France, came on after 63 minutes in Costa Rica’s 1-0 defeat to Brazil. Neymar scored the only goal just minutes prior to Campbell’s arrival, tapping in after keeper Navas came for and missed a cross. Brazil’s performance was average whilst Campbell was said to have impressive with some dynamism and flair after coming on.
Oxlade-Chamberlain and Henri Lansbury: The expensive young winger scored a hat-trick as England under 21s cruised to a 3-0 win in Iceland. For the 1st goal Chamberlain drove forward and finished excellently across the goal, giving keeper Petursson no chance. His second was far easier as the keeper spilled a cross at his feet, allowing him to pass it into the empty net. Early in the 2nd half Chamberlain then beat multiple players, cutting inside from the right, before scoring with a ‘Maicon-esque’ cross that beat the woeful keeper at the near post. Lansbury also had a good game as England dominated the game from back to front.
Denmark Highlights
