Football
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent 8y

Arsene Wenger satisfied with Arsenal's performance against MLS All-Stars

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger pronounced himself satisfied with the 2-1 friendly win over the MLS All-Stars on Thursday, especially when his team were without several of their regular starters.

Arsenal took the lead in the 11th minute through a Joel Campbell penalty. Old Chelsea adversary Didier Drogba equalized in first-half stoppage time, but Chuba Akpom popped up in the 87th minute to tap home Nacho Monreal's low cross to seal the win against an All-Star team featuring Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, Kaká, and Sebastian Giovinco.

"When I looked at the players on the team sheet [for MLS], I thought, 'That could be a very difficult game for us.' And it was," Wenger said.

The Arsenal manager was particularly pleased with the play of his team in the first half, especially in the attacking half.

"We had good balance between keeping possession and going very quickly on transition in behind," he said at his postgame news conference.

"We had good penetrating runs in the final third, so that was positive. For me it was a good opportunity to see many young players that we educate, so that was positive."

In terms of individual performances, Wenger noted that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was "very dangerous and exceptionally strong," and thought that Theo Walcott, Campbell, and Jack Wilshere also did well.

Wenger also highlighted the contributions of new signings Granit Xhaka and Rob Holding.

"[Xhaka] did adjust very well," he said. "His passing was clean and technically he did well. Overall, I believe that his first game was encouraging.

"[Holding] he's adapted surprisingly in a very good way because he reads the game and understands what's going on, anticipates well. That's a quality at such a young age that you will not find a lot."

Arsenal did look vulnerable at times on long balls over the top, and were at sea on Drogba's equalizer, which was started by a poor pass by Krystian Bielik. Drogba ultimately got three cracks at goal before finally scoring.

"It was a typical poacher of a goal," said Wenger. "When I see [Drogba] fighting in the box against young defenders, I always think, 'Now there is danger there,' because you know he will get the upper hand and score a goal and that's what he did."

With the first win of the preseason behind him, talk inevitably turned to whether Wenger has to win the Premier League title this season or is finishing in the top four again enough.

"It's never enough," he said. "I personally feel that no matter what you do, it's never enough, but we have to absolutely give everything to take the best out of the team. What will our best be?

"I believe we know what we have to do. We finished second last year, we had 18 teams behind us, but we want 19 behind us. It's a big ask, but you look at the Premier League and every club is hugely ambitious. You look at the checks that everybody signs, and it's quite scary. That is what the Premier League is about at the moment. "

^ Back to Top ^