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Pre-season Friendlies
Jul 26, 2013 at 11.30am UK
 

2-1

Abe (60'), Akpom (82')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Podolski (49')

Live Commentary: Arsenal 2-1 Urawa Red Diamonds - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Arsenal 2-1 Urawa Red Diamonds - as it happened: ID:95196: from db_amp
Relive Sports Mole's coverage from Japan where Arsenal took on the Urawa Red Diamonds and won.

Arsenal took on Urawa Red Diamonds at the Saitama Stadium on Friday in the final match of their 2013 Asia tour.

The Gunners went into the game looking to preserve their 100% record in the Far East, having crushed Indonesia XI 7-0 earlier this month before brushing aside Vietnam 7-1 last week.

Arsene Wenger's side continued their winning streak with a hard-fought 3-1 win over former club Nagoya Grampus in Japan on Monday.

Arsenal left it late but successfully made it four wins out of four with a 2-1 win over the Reds.

Read how the action unfolded in our live commentary below.

Good morning and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Arsenal against the Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan.
This match marks the final leg of the Gunners' 2013 tour of Asia, and they will be keen to board the plane home with a perfect record.
In three games in the Far East, Arsenal have won three, scored 17 goals and conceded two. Not bad, even if it is only a bunch of friendlies.
Arsenal smashed Indonesia XI 7-0 earlier this month before easing past Vietnam 7-1 last week. They continued their winning streak with a 3-1 win over Nagoya Grampus in Japan on Monday.
This match kicks off at 11.30am, and we have already been handed the Arsenal team news. They look strong.
ARSENAL STARTING XI: Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Miquel, Arteta, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Giroud, Gnabry
So the usual 4-3-3 formation for Arsenal, and with Wojciech Szczesny still out injured, Lukasz Fabianski keeps his place between the sticks.
You could hear the gasps from Asia as the news filtered through to Arsenal fans that Laurent Koscielny had picked up an injury in training. However, their fears will be eased now as the Frenchman starts alongside Per Mertesacker to form the Gunners' rock-solid centre-back partnership. The duo were one of the main reasons for the club's suring run to fourth place last season, and they will be hoping to start the new campaign from where they left off.
Bacary Sagna reverts to his usual right-back role having played in the middle on Monday, whereas young Spaniard Ignasi Miquel finds himself on the left side of defence. No place for the English duo of Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is once again started in the centre of midfield, a position that Wenger eventually sees the former Southampton man making own in the long term.
He is joined by compatriot Jack Wilshere, as well as Mikel Arteta, who will sit deeper and allow the other two to bomb forward.
Arsenal have electric pace on the flanks in the form of Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry, while the in-form Olivier Giroud gets the nod at centre forward.
I'll bring you news on the Arsenal substitutes once I get it.
But just who are the Urawa Red Diamonds? Well, I'll tell you.
The play in the top tier of Japanese football, the J-League, and they finished third last season. With their domestic campaign still ongoing, Urawa sit fourth in the table but just five points off top spot.
They were nicknamed the Reds upon being founded in 1950, and they play at today's stadium, Saitama Stadium, that holds a capacity of 63,700 and are managed by Mihailo Petrovic.
ARSENAL SUBS: Wojciech Szczesny, Damian Martinez, Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs, Tomas Rosicky, Aaron Ramsey, Kristoffer Olsson, Chuks Aneke, Ryo Miyaichi, Thomas Eisfeld, Gedion Zelalem, Lukas Podolski, Chuba Akpom
Just over 20 minutes until kickoff.
Here are the one's to watch in the Arsenal squad.
He may be on the bench but firstly Gedion Zelalem, who has been touted as being better than Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere at his current age of just 16 and has impressed on the tour so far.
Thomas Eisfeld, another creative German, also deserves your attention, while the rapid Serge Gnabry is sure to catch your eye and also starts today.
He may only be playing against minnows, but Giroud has scored six times in just three games for Arsenal over the summer, and it’s not like he has even been playing full matches. He looks razor sharp in both the air and with the ball at his feet, and his hold-up play to bring others into the action is superb. With Arsenal being linked with the likes of Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney, this is a massive pre-season for man who netted 17 goals and racked up 10 assists in his debut campaign at the Emirates.
Less than five minutes to go!
Out come the teams!
Arsenal, as they did with their first two matches of the tour, are wearing their new yellow away kit. Yellow shirt with a blue collar, blue shorts, and blue and yellow hooped socks.
Urawa, as you would have guessed given their full name, are wearing red shirts, white shorts and black socks. Very similar to Manchester United's kit.
The two teams engage in pre-match photos with all the mascots, and I mean ALL of them, and they're just readying up for the kick off now.
ARSENAL KICK OFF!
Arsenal are playing from right to left in this first half. Urawa, obviously, are the other way around.
Will be interesting to see how Miquel gets on at left-back today. He is usually a centre-back but hasn't blown anyone out of the water yet with his performances. Crucial year for him, and he needs to make the most of Thomas Vermaelen and Nacho Monreal being out injured.
Arsenal have had all the ball so far and nearly create a chance as Walcott plays a quick free kick to Gnabry, who beats two man on the right side of the penalty area but just overruns it.
Urawa nearly catch Arsenal on the counter, but Koscielny, as he did so much last year, saves his side's bacon with a tremendous recovery challenge before moving the ball forward.
A lot of noise in the stadium, and a lot of it for Arsenal.
CHANCE! It's Urawa who has the first effort on goal of the match as Umesaki beats Wilshere has drills a shot from the left of the box. However, it flashes past the near post and you would think that Fabianski had it covered.
Big game for Jack Wilshere as well, after his injury-hit couple of years, he starts for the first time in pre-season today and will have a lot of the spotlight over his head.
Urawa have a corner, but Arsenal are able to clear. The Japanese club are enjoy a fair bit of possession at the moment, could be a tough game for Arsenal today.
OFF THE POST! Arsenal are fractions away from taking the lead here and it would have been a brilliant goal from Walcott. He races deep from the midfield and guides to the left of the box past two defenders before striking the ball with his left foot. The ball beats everyone but cannons off the post. Giroud gives it back to Walcott who tries to guide it with the inside of his boot into the top corner, but Urawa can block well and scramble it away.
CHANCE! On first glance it looks a terrible miss for Urawa as the low cross is played across the six-yard box. Michardes looks to have pulled off the miss of the century as the ball sails over the bar, but replays show that Mertesacker got a crucial touch which put off the forward.
Gnabry nearly found a way in there on the break as well. Such an open start to the match but it's still goalless.
Ugajin finds himself on the right wing and cuts inside before making the decision to have a smack from 30 yards out. This would be some strike, but he gets too much power on the ball and sends it over the far corner.
Arsenal nearly find a way through after some fluent football involving the English trio of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere and Walcott which results in the latter being played through on goal, but Urawa have men back to sound out the forward.
Arsenal starting to threaten, and Sagna wins a corner after seeing his cross blocked on the right.
The corner comes in and is over the head of Mertesacker but falling in the direction of Miquel, however, Yamagishi comes and catches the ball just before contact with the Spaniard. Nice take.
CHANCE! It should be 1-0 to the Arsenal and Walcott is wondering how he has missed. It's lovely build up from Arsenal down the right as Chamberlain allows the ball to run through his legs to Giroud, who pushes the ball wide on the right first time to Walcott. He runs at goal on the angle, but skies his effort. Poor.
CHANCE! It just won't go in for Arsenal at the moment, but Giroud nearly scored a very intelligent goal there. He races to the corner of the box on the right to meet the long ball, beats the defender to it and opts to go for a first time lob. The keeper is stranded and scrambling, but looks mightily relieved to see the ball drop just wide of the far post. Better.
Arsenal piling on the pressure now, they have a free kick in a decent position.
The ball is crossed in from Walcott towards the far post where Koscielny is being sandwiched between two defends. The ball heads over the trio, but Koscielny keeps it in play on the far side, knocks it to Gnabry, whose cross wins a corner.
Arsenal have a free kick just five yards outside the box, slightly to the right of centre. Giroud and Walcott over it.
CHANCE! Giroud takes this one and looks for power. It deflects of a defender's face and out for a corner.
OFF THE BAR! What do Arsenal need to do to take the lead here?! Yamagishi pulls off a number of stops and the two sides play pinball in the Urawa box. Mertesacker prods the ball to Chamberlain on the outside of the penalty area, who meets it with a first-time strike that skims the top of the crossbar. So unlucky.
Urawa nearly find a way through, but Miquel uses the offside trap well to win the decision.
Kashiwagi fouls Wilshere, who was pulling out all the tricks and turns, and Arsenal now have a free kick in a good position.
Walcott's free kick takes a touch on the way through and goes out for the corner.
I would expect Arsene Wenger to make several changes at the break. Just hasn't happened for Arsenal in the front of goal so far today.
SAVE! What a top save from Fabianski. Ugajin dummies a shot on the right before unleashing a curling effort that is destined for the top corner. However, Fabianski dives through the air to his right to push the ball away with both hands. The best moment of the half by far for Urawa.
HALF TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Urawa Red Diamonds
So a goalless first half but I'm not quite sure how. Walcott and Chamberlain has both struck the frame of the goal for Arsenal, while Fabianski kept them level with a wonderful save just before the break.
It's been a very good game so far, but I'm expecting a fair few changes at the break for the Gunners. I imagine, like many of the home teams on this tour, that Urawa will make theirs during the second half.
The two teams are back out and ready for the second half.
Arsenal have made a few changes as well.
URAWA GET THE SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!
ARSENAL SUBS Jenkinson, Rosicky, Ramsey, Podolski, Miyaichi all on in place of Wilshere, Mertesacker, Giroud, Arteta and Gnabry.
Tomas Rosicky got a massive cheer when he came on, very popular here.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Urawa Red Diamonds (Lukas Podolski)
Lovely move from Arsenal. Ramsey brings it to the edge of the box and finds Walcott inside, who turns and flicks the ball over two defenders towards Podolski, who absolutely slams it into the bottom corner. Arsenal finally have the breakthrough.
CHANCE! Walcott has the chance to double the lead immediately but his sidefoot effort is straight at the keeper who can catch it. Fantastic work from Rosicky in the build-up though, who beat and held off several defenders before playing a brilliant cut-back pass.
CHANCE! It's just not been Theo Walcott's day. He is slotted through brilliantly and is one-on-one with the keeper. He tries to give him the eyes and take it past him, but Yamagishi guesses correctly and can catch the ball on the run.
Urawa nearly find their way through down the right, but Koscielny makes another awesome recovery to run back and make the challenge. He is in the form of his life at the moment.
Sekiguchi beats Jenkinson all ends up on the right of the field, and the Englishman cynically pulls him to the ground. Free kick for Urawa.
SAVE! Nice hit on the free kick from Richardes, who blasts a dipping effort across the face of goal, but Fabianski pushes it away.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Urawa Red Diamonds (Yuki Abe)
The hosts are level and it's the former Leicester City man Yuki Abe who makes it 1-1. The corner comes in from the right, and Arsenal fail to clear it at the near post. It then falls to Abe, who blasts the volley into the top corner. Great finish, and it's all square.
The home fans are in fine voice now.
Urawa are well on top now, and Fabianski has kept Arsenal in the match on several occasions.
Yajima meets a pass across the edge of the box and opts to try to curl it first time. He scoops it high over the bar, but Urawa are all over Arsenal currently.
OFF THE POST! Oxlade-Chamberlain cannot believe his luck as, for the second time this match, he sees an effort come back off the frame of the goal. So close to restoring Arsenal's lead.
ARSENAL SUB Following his second striking of the goal frame, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain makes way, and Gedion Zelalem, the highly-impress midfielder, comes on.
CHANCE! Everything but the shot from Arsenal! THe build-up play is out of this world, with Miyaichi and Podolski heavily involved, but the Japanese winger looks for the German in the middle, and ends up passing to nobody after Podolski had ran away from his position. Mixed communications there, and Miyaichi should have gone for a shot himself.
Walcott is captaining Arsenal at the moment by the way.
ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION Chuba Akpom is the latest on for the Gunners, as Theo Walcott makes way. Not sure who is the skipper now.
CHANCE! Great opportunity for Podolski to get his second. Terrific work down the left from Miquel, who makes his way to the byeline before cutting back a low cross. It finds Podolski who is arriving late into the box, but he can't get his effort on target, and sidefoots it just over the top left of the goal.
Podolski clashes with Richardes, who is outraged by the German's high boot. Podolski makes a gesture which pretty much says 'dry your eyes' and Urawa line up this free kick.
Urawa very nearly find themselves in front once again, and work a great scoring chance. But once again, Koscielny is there again to thwart the attack and pass his side out of danger. He has been a monster today.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Urawa Red Diamonds (Chuba Akpom)
Akpom gets his fourth goal of the tour and his easiest yet. A ball is played into the box, and the defender and keeper get caught in a mix up which results in the latter saving a header from his own teammate. The ball then falls to Akpom, who taps in the rebound. Arsenal back in front.
CHANCE! Arsenal work it from left to right as Podolski gives it to Rosicky, who spins and lays off Ramsey. The Welshman's shot is low, and creeps just past the far post.
Miyaichi and Arsenal hit Urawa on the break. He is desperate to make an impression on home soil and opts to go alone. His shot takes a deflection, which takes the sting out of the effort, and lands in the arms of the keeper.
We'll have one extra minute to play.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 2-1 Urawa Red Diamonds
Well that whistle brings an end to this match and the whole of Arsenal's Asia tour where they leave with a 100% record after four consecutive wins.
After a goalless first half, Lukas Podolski gave Arsenal the lead only for Yuki Abe to draw Urawa level. But in the final 10 minutes of the match, Chuba Akpom came off the bench to capitalise on a mistake from the hosts to win the match for the Gunners.
Arsenal are next in action when they host the Emirates Cup next weekend. They meet Napoli on the Saturday before facing Galatasaray the following day.
That's all from me, I hope you enjoyed the game, until next time, goodbye.

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