Sadly, I couldn’t watch the MLS All Stars vs Arsenal game live for two reasons; 1. The timimg (2 a.m in Lagos, Nigeria) and 2. The mere fact that it wasn’t even shown in this part of the world. Users of applications like Mobdro turned out to be real MVPs as they feasted their eyes on some good Gunner footie.
The hosts had a strong lineup with Arsenal’s scourge, Didier Drogba, leading the line in a team that had the legendary Andrea Pirlo, Giovani dos Santos, goal poacher extraordinaire, David Villa, and 2007 World Player of the Year, Kaka. On the Arsenal side, Petr Cech led the team out with a rearguard that contained Kieran Gibbs, Krystian Bielik, Rob Holding and soon-to-be-departing Matt Debuchy. Mo’ Elneny and Francis Coquelin provided the picot in the midfield with Joel Campbell, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in front of them. Then Walcott led the line.
The game itself was end to end stuff with Cech making a couple of saves for his side but Arsenal got the lead when Campbell got scythed down in the box leaving no choice but to point to the spot. The Costa Rican dusted himself up, placed the ball in the spot and blasted it home. He needs to rehearse that celebration dance with Coquelin though.
I wasn’t surprised when Drogba fired in the equalizer but I was more concerned with the acres of space he had to do his thing. The first shot was blocked by Cech, he had a second bite of the cherry and it was blocked by Holding, then he was third time lucky as his looping shot evaded all the bodies on the goal line to creep into Cech’s unguarded net.
MLS MVP, Sebastian Giovinco, joined the fray in the second half and made a nuisance of himself but there was one moment when Cech had to be on his guard to keep the Toronto forward at bay. Just when it seemed like the spoils were going to be shared again, Chuba Akpom reacted quickly to a Nacho Monreal drilled effort to win the contest for the Gunners.
It was another good run out for the lads, and those that watched the full game stated how impressive Rob Holding was.
Elsewhere, the away and third kits for the season have been launched. They weren’t looking bad at all and I’m sure I can’t wait to get my hands on them.
Sayonara
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