Arsenal v. Rangers 3-0 2/Aug/09

[Photo: PA through Telegraph]



Again the brilliant feet and intelligent mind of young U-21 Jack Wilshere made their way into the match to give Arsenal the Emirates Cup, previously won by Hamburg SV. The main question that shows from the performances of Jack, as in the previous FA Cup final, is his permanence in the bench or in the starting XI. Jack was given the start due to his display the previous day and he did not disappoint with two impressive goals.
With the final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético drawn in a one-goal share, the Gunners secured the symbolic title previous to the clash against Valencia away. That match shall be competitive enough against a team that survived from last year's onslaught. David Villa will prove a handy threat to Arsenal's new defence.




[Photo: CalcioIta]



And it was the same magical youngster who took advantage the chance of a loose ball in the edge of the box. A shot to the near post and the Gunners enjoyed an advantage that lasted the whole match. With this calm Eduardo sealed the fate of the Scottish team, with the second goal of the evening seven minutes after Wilshere's goal. It came after a long ball was headed back to Merida, who with a precision of a surgeon delivered Eduardo in the box, who finished neatly.
Already ten minutes and the Gunners were in the way of another six-goal salvo; this was not confirmed due to the lack of accuracy in Arsenal's finishing: six or seven scrapped chances from Clichy, Eduardo and so many others. Although the ardent and loyal Rangers supporters demanded a bit of decorum from their team, it was clearly that the match was pretty much one-way lane.
Even though in the final minutes the visitors made decent attempts to narrow the distance, there was a feeling that reaching the half time whistle there was no way in which the scoresheet could have gone in favour of Rangers. Wilshere's dexterity with the ball, as well as an astonishing play in the 43th minute, kept both Rangers' centre-halves really busy.




[Photo: Yahoo Sports Spain]



With a pair of substitutions at break, Denilson and Traore for Gallas and Clichy, the Gers renewed their attempts as they attacked with more clarity than in the previous minutes. McCulloch provided the deadliest opportunity for the Glasgow team but their momentum faded into thin air when Arsenal regained possession. Almunia starred as a dangerous counterattack from the Scots broke in the 63th minute.
With twenty minutes on the clock, the match turned into a sombre and languid display of football. Bendtner and Sánchez-Watt came in for Arshavin and Eduardo. Rangers apparently wanted nothing aside from counter-attacks and the Gunners piled up a lot of possession and chances. As if the performance of young Wilshere was not outstanding enough, he scored an impressive volley after Watt saved the ball from the line. The third goal was suitable to ease the final gasps of effort that the visitors had.
As the match wore off there was no particular highlight in which the match could have turned upside down. Everything was set for the Gunners to watch the following match and see who was going to win the tournament.