The international break is well and truly over with Arsenal having their contingent play the final fixtures of the year, with all focus shifting to the Premier League and its grueling fixtures over the festive period.
I had touched on the earlier set of international games that took place last week Thursday and Friday, so here’s a quick roundup on the rest of the games featuring Arsenal contingent.
Saturday
France 14-0 Gibraltar: William Saliba came on as a sub with nine minutes to spare as France sent minnows, Gibraltar, to the cleaners with 14 unreplied goals. It was a fun fest for the French fans at the Allianz Riviera, with ex-Gunner, Olivier Giroud, scoring a spectacular scissors kick late on which made it 14-0, and celebrating the goal like it was 1-0.
Germany 2-3 Turkiye: Kai Havertz was featured in an unorthodox left back position for Germany, but still managed to get on the scoring early, then suffered the ignominy of conceding the penalty via a handball that allowed Turkiye instill Julien Nagelsmann with his first defeat in Germany colors.
Sunday
Spain 3-1 Georgia: David Raya was an unused substitute in Spain’s victory over Georgia. One would have thought that with Spain already securing qualification to the European Championships, Raya would get a run out, but it was the main man, Unai Simon, taking his spot between the sticks.
Belgium 5-0 Azerbaijan: Leandro Trossard played all 90 minutes and scored the final goal in the Red Devils thrashing of Azerbaijan. Romelu Lukaku stole the show with four goals on the night, but Trossard took his goal well, blasting a cut back from the dangerous Jeremy Doku from the byline.
Monday
North Macedonia 1-1 England: England had sealed qualification to the Euros and Arsenal fans were hopeful that Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice would sit this one out, but Saka played 84 minutes before leaving the pitch for the in-form Cole Palmer, while Rice played all 90. Enis Bardhi opened the scoring for the home side with a well-taken penalty, while Jack Grealish’s equalizer was chalked off by VAR but England earned a point off an own goal from Jani Atanasov.
Ukraine 0-0 Italy: In what was undoubtedly that biggest match in the group for both sides, the shares were spoiled as Italy edged out Ukraine to qualify automatically to the Euros in a tense affair. Arsenal contingent, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jorginho, started the game but were both substituted in the course of the game.
Tuesday
Greece 2-2 France: Saliba played all 90 minutes in France’s 2-2 draw with Greece. Randall Kolo Muani opened the scoring for the visitors after receiving a neat pass from Giroud, but quick-fire goals from Tasos Bakasetas and Fotis Ioannidis set Greece up for an unlikely win. Youssef Fofana equalized for France and that goal settled the contest.
Syria 0-5 Japan: Takehiro Tomiyasu played 76 minutes for Japan as the Blue Samurai ran riot past Syria. Takefusa Kubo opened the scoring, Ayase Ueda scored a brace, Yukinari Sugawara scored the fourth and substitute, Mao Hosoya, completed the rout.
Poland 2-0 Latvia: Jakub Kiwior was part of the back three for Poland that beat Latvia in a routine friendly. Przemyslaw Frankowski opened the scoring, before talisman, Robert Lewandowski, made his presence felt with a goal of his own.
Austria 2-0 Germany: Havertz continued his experiment as a left back, as Germany suffered back to back defeats in international friendlies, taking their losing toll to six defeats in their last nine matches. For a nation hosting the Euros, these set of results will not inspire any confidence and Nagelsmann certainly has his work cut out to uplift the spirits of everyone associated with the nation.
Marcel Sabitzer and Christoph Baumgartner scored the goals that put Germany to the sword. Leroy Sane also saw red.
Wednesday
Brazil 0-1 Argentina: Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes all started in the standout fixture of the international window, Brazil taking on Argentina. It was a very feisty affair that saw red cards dished out and police even get involved due to crowd unrest. However, Nicolas Otamendi scored the only goal of the game, while Jesus played 90.
Thankfully there were no additional injuries and all plans will be in place for the away clash against a very good Brentford side that has been a thorn in the flesh of top six sides in the Premier League.
Sayonara.
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