A successful weekend of international football saw three of Arsenal’s stars find the back of the net for their country, all in great style.
On Friday the 18 year old Aaron Ramsey scored a goal worthy of winning any match as Wales U21s managed to pull off an impressive home win at the Liberty Stadium against a well drilled and talented Italian side. Arsenal’s young Welshman was named the Man of the Match after a very good performance capped by a goal of astonishing quality.
Rescieving the ball with his back to goal 30 yards out, he juggled before flicking the ball with his heel towards Simon Church. The Italian defender read the situation but could only head back to the onrushing Aaron Ramsey who took the ball expertly on his knee before volleying into the corner of the net leaving the goalkeeper no chance. Quiet in the 1st half, he grew into the match as he started to be given a free role in the centre of the pitch rather than out wide and should now be guaranteed a starting place for the senior side against Russia on Wednesday.
Robin Van Persie was the next Gunner to strike for his nation, and despite the strike not quite being on the same level as Ramseys effort it was a good finish by the Dutchman. Recieving the ball from a powerful cross by Elia Arsenal’s number 11 did excellently to control the ball before turning it high into the net on the half volley to double Holland’s lead.
The third Arsenal player to grab the headlines for his goalscoring exploits this week was Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner with another goal of real quality. A deep, inswinging cross from the left hand side was taken down by Bendtner on his chest first time, shrugging off his marker in the process before instinctively striking with his weaker left foot into the roff of the net on the half volley.
——————————————–
Meanwhile there was still some action in red and white over the weekend, with Steve Bould’s brilliant Academy side notching up another win to their name as they start the season showing the same form that won the previous generation of players a double last year. The opposition were Birmingham City whose reserves were thrashed by their Arsenal counterparts earlier in the week. The score was closer on this occasion but Arsenal still came out on top with a 3-1 victory, England Youth Internationals Benik Afobe, Luke Freeman and Chuks Aneke all on target before Birmingham’s consolation goal. You can read a more in-depth report over at Arsenal Youth – http://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/u18s-report-birmingham-1-arsenal-3/
