Pre season : Arsenal – Lazio : 2-0

By Walter Broeckx

Starting XI: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Chambers, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Torreira, Nelson, Iwobi, Lacazette, Nketiah
Subs: Bellerin, Sokratis, Mustafi, Mavrapanos, Elneny, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Guendouzi, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang

A first start for the new boys Lichtsteiner and Torreira and the return of Xhaka for his first match. Holding and Chambers is the central defensive pairing today. And young forward Nketiah getting a chance to impress. Lichtsteiner being the first to show this is not a real friendly, maybe and old bill to settle from last season? Lazio also going in making themselves felt. Both teams not giving any room on the field so a rather dull opening minutes. The first shot after some 8 minutes from Nketiah but he dragged his shot wide at the near post. Arsenal having most of the ball and Lazio content with sitting back. Lichtsteiner with a long ball to Lacazette who took it first time on the turn but a good stop from the keeper as it was on target and Arsenal win the first corner of the match. No score in the first 15 minutes.

Lazio with a first meaning full attack but the Lazio striker missed the target from a promising position around the penalty spot. Nelson in some room and he finds Iwobi on the left who goes past his mand and sees his shot bounce against the goalpost. Nelson who had followed his run puts the ball over the line from 2 meters out. GOAL!! Replay showing Nketiah being largerly offisde but not involved but Nelson looked a foot offside but the flag stayed down.

Torreira needing some attention but it might just be a some broken footware… I hope. Lazio going more forward since the Arsenal goal. Arsenal almost give the ball away just outside the penalty area but Leno quick off his line to smother the ball. Torreira being targeted a bit as he is tripped from behind. A sloppy ball given away by Arsenal laving to a real chance but Leno again with a good strong challenge to stop the ball. Oh please let us stop giving the ball away deep in our own half will we. Thank you! Iwobi to Maitland-Niles but nobody at the end of his cross, the attack is kept alive but the shot from distance from Xhaka goes over. Still 1-0 after 30 minutes.

Another lost ball deep in our half leaves Lazio with another chance but the shot bounces off the crossbar. Could we scrap the overplaying part in our own half. It really is bad for my nerving system. A next cross from Lazio is headed but it goes just wide. Sorry for stopping the live report as I lost connection with Untold for now. Maitland Niles with a good run after a good pass from Iwobi but the cross can’t find a striker in the middle. Arsenal struggling now and Lukic with a header but Holding can clear the danger for a moment but still Lazio get a corner that is put wide by a striker. The balance has shifted Lazio’s way now and Arsenal hanging on to their lead. Lulic with a strong challenge on Nelson who seems to suffer a bit. Arsenal now back in the match and Iwobi really looking impressive so far and having a good understanding with Maitland-Niles so far on the left flank. Iwobi going past a defender but his shot goes wide and we go in at the half time break being 1-0 in front and with Untold being down. I hope it gets back on line quickly…..

Aubameyang and Guendouzi come on for Arsenal in place of Nketiah and Nelson. Iwobi on the right flank now and Aubameyang on the left flank. Lazio has a shot from 10 meters out but it ends in the site net. Arsenal playing the ball around in their own penalty area under pressure…. what is the meaning of that? Lacazette going down in the penalty area but he was looking to make contact himself with the defender so I can understand the decision from the ref to give nothing. Meanwhile Untold is still down over here….. Lazio gets a free kick but it goes well over. Lulic and Lichtsteiner really seem to have an old bill to settle…. they don’t like each other obviously. Arsenal counter over Lacazette to Aubamyean to Iwobi and then back to Lacazette but his shot on the turn was blocked by a defender so the keeper could make the save. Torreire so far looking a calm player who can sure keep the ball in the team and is a bit of a player who keeps it simple. Still 1-0 after 60 minutes.

Arsenal make a lot of changes: Bellerin, Özil, Elneny, Mkhytarian coming on.

A good attack from Elneny who goes past a few players and the ball goes to Lacazette who just can’t get a shot away and then pushes it back to Aubameyang and his low shot goes in! GOAL!! 2-0 to The Arsenal after 63 minutes.
Another good attack and Guendouzi with a shot that is saved by the keeper. The ball comes to Özil who gives a great ball in front of the goal but nobody to put it in the net. A foul on Maitland Niels earns Arsenal a free kick but the Lazio wall stopped the effort from Mkhytarian. Arsenal now really on top. Lazio with a shot but Leno with a good save. An Arsenal player being down for a while now with the ref not stopping play. Arsenal still 2-0 in front after 75 minutes.

Holding with a needless strong challenge gets a yellow card for his effort. Sokratis, Mavrapanos and Smith Rowe coming on for Chambers, Holding and Lacazette. And the site is being down once again. Arsenal with an attack and Aubameyang with shot that was spilled by the keeper but then Proto made an excellent block on the rebound from Mkhytarian. Aubameyan with a clever ball to Smith Rowe but the youngster looked the wrong way. Lazio with a counter but the ball goes well over the Arsenal goal. Elneny with a shot from distance but straight at the keeper. Arsenal really being the strongest team now for some 15 minutes. But Lazio with a good cross but the shot in the end was well over. A good Arsenal attack is stopped at the last moment but Lazio can’t counter Arsenal. Maitland Niles with a some subliem skill to control a pass from Özil.

Final score Arsenal – Lazio 2-0

Arsenal finish their pre season unbeaten and some players really impressed while others got no chance of showing much as they only arrived near the end of the pre season.