Drogba returns to haunt careless
Arsenal
Tuesday, August 06, 2013
From Print Edition
From Print Edition
LONDON: Didier Drogba returned to
haunt Arsenal as the Ivory Coast striker scored both goals in Galatasaray’s 2-1
victory in the Emirates Cup on Sunday.
Drogba made a habit of scoring
against Arsene Wenger’s team when he was at Chelsea and, after appearing as a
half-time substitute, his strikes overturned Theo Walcott’s first half opener
and ensured the Turkish team won the four-team pre-season tournament.
Wenger’s men paid the price at
their Emirates Stadium for failing to make the most of early pressure and
Drogba’s contribution highlighted just why Wenger is trying to add Liverpool
striker Luis Suarez to his squad.
With the pursuit of Suarez
having so far failed despite Arsenal making a bid over 40 million pounds for
the Uruguay international, France under-20 striker Yaya Sanogo is the only
pre-season addition to Wenger’s squad.
Sanogo’s inclusion in the
starting line-up attracted much of the attention following Wenger’s claims the
youngster was a “top class” striker who would surprise many this season.And the
former Auxerre youngster was handed an immediate opportunity to make an
impression when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dispossessed Semih Kaya and picked out
his unmarked team-mate in the visitors’ penalty area.
Sanogo made room for a left
foot shot but was unable to find a way past Fernando Muslera, Galatasaray’s
Uruguayan goalkeeper.The youngster again found himself free inside the
Galatasaray area shortly before half time following an intricate passing move
and was spared by the offside flag after his tame shot had again been saved by
Muslera.
In between those openings
Arsenal largely dominated the first half, appearing sharper than they had in a
2-2 draw against Napoli the previous day.
A strong appeal for a penalty
was turned down when Aaron Ramsey went tumbling early on before Walcott failed
to make the most of a 19th minute opportunity after being picked out by an
accurate long ball from Ramsey.
Walcott controlled the ball
well to take him away from Albert Riera but his clip over the advancing Muslera
drifted wide.Fortune, however, was on Walcott’s side when he made the 39th
minute breakthrough.
Walcott whipped in a
right-footed cross that drifted between Muslera and his Galatasaray’s defensive
line before creeping inside the far post.
Arsenal’s half-time lead was
deserved but the introduction of Drogba and Wesley Sneijder at the interval
lifted the visitors, who immediately looked more threatening as Nordin Amarabat
forced Wojciech Szczesny into a save at his near post.
Olivier Giroud appeared for
Arsenal in place of Sanogo and twice forced saves from Muslera.But Drogba was
always likely to make his presence felt and the forward struck his 78th minute
spot-kick past Szczesny after going to ground following the slightest of
touches from young Arsenal defender Ignasi Miguel.
And the Ivorian — who scored
15 goals in 15 appearances for Chelsea against Arsenal — sealed the victory
with an excellent piece of one-touch control and a fine left foot finish in the
87th minute.
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