CARLOS Vela loves chips. Well he did do as Arsenal chalked up a rather easy 4-0 triumph over Malaysia in the sweltering evening heat of Kuala Lumpur here in the Bukit Jalil stadium tonight.
Goals from Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Vela and Thomas Rosicky gave Arsene Wenger’s side a comfortable victory in the cavernous national stadium which holds 87,000 and was about three quarters full in the first game of their two-match tour of Asia.
The team was greeted by hordes of screaming fans from all over Asia in the club’s first game in the Far East since they last visited Malaysia in 1999. But plenty of Brits made the trip too, with the club telling me about 200 supporters had bought match tickets.
In the Chinatown in the city centre, where a lot of fans congregated simply because you could get a beer (it can be difficult to find an ale house in this Muslim country) I spoke to fans from Holland, Singapore, Norway, Denmark, Singapore and Ireland and the passion these chaps have for the club lifted the spirits, especially given the rather grim six years we have endured in terms of actual silverware.
Wenger would have been delighted as the Gunners helped themselves to a 2-0 half-time lead against the national side — who were indeed industrious but lacked that bit of quality — with an earlyish penalty from Ramsey and a lovely goal from Walcott. Vela, who went out on loan at West Brom last season but who but who the manager has shown faith in bringing him back to the Emirates, came on as a second half sub and it wasn’t long before he increased our advantage with trademark lofted goal.
Wenger had handed first team starts to new boy Carl Jenkinson and Japanese, er, nipper Ryo Miyaichi and both equated themselves well but, of course, they will face bigger and tougher tests when they are eventually handed their full debuts once the new campaign kicks off come August.
Wales star Ramsey missed a sitter with only the keeper to beat early in the first half. Soon after the crowd erupted in cheers as the giant video screen showed RVP warming up on the sidelines. Not long after the stadium went berserk as Samir Nasri , RVP and AA23 came on.
Minutes later Vela delayed his shot half a dozen times (where have you seen that before?) and ultimately dallied too much and had his shot turned wide by a block on the line. Sub Rosicky made it four at the death with a header.
Next up for the Gunners is a game in Yiwu, near Shagnghai, China against Hangzhou Greentown. See you there…
Szczesny Tv5, Koscielny, Walcott, Rambo, Song, Jack, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Chamakh, Miyaichi
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