Friendly: Huddersfield Town 1-2 Arsenal
-
Arsenal's pre-season preparations continued on Wednesday night as a young Gunners outfit came from behind to win thanks to late goals from Sanchez Watt and Nacer Barazite.
The evening formed part of the Terriers centenary celebrations and had garnered a lot of interest in the local area with over 16,000 tickets sold prior to kick-off.
So why invite Arsenal? The answer is simple. Herbert Chapman, the visionary manager of the early 20th Century led both these sides to almost unparalleled success in their respective histories. With tonight's hosts, Chapman won two First Division titles and an FA Cup in just four years before swapping Yorkshire for London. At Arsenal he revolutionised the Club, setting up an era of dominance in the 1930s.
For tonight's game Johan Djourou captained the team from centre-half, alongside the Hoyte brothers and Kieran Gibbs. Jack Wilshere, fresh from the news he is to wear the No 19 shirt this season, roamed the left wing, and Theo Walcott was joined upfront by Carlos Vela.
Much like the Arsenal side on show, Town boasted a smattering of Academy talent in their squad, however the starting XI included several experienced names with Premier League experience, Danny Cadamarteri, Chris Luketti and David Unsworth.
The last time Arsenal travelled to Huddersfield, they left with a 5-0 first leg lead in their 1993 League Cup Second Round. A similar scoreline tonight and they might be considered party-poopers. And when Randall went close inside a minute, a repeat certainly didn't seem out of the realms of possibility. But Fabianski soon became the busier of the two stoppers as Luke Beckett and Gary Roberts forced the Pole into emergency action at his near post.
Beckett then had the clearest opportunity of the match just after the quarter-hour. The striker raced clear off the right touchline with Gavin Hoyte hot on his heels. The tackle from behind, when it came inside the box, needed to be impeccable. It was and Arsenal's goal remained intact.
The visitors soon found their groove. The wealth of creative talent sitting in behind the pace of Walcott couldn't be shackled all night. Sure enough the Englishman, played through by Randall went close with a snapshot as the Gunners pressed midway through the half.
In truth, though, Huddersfield remained on top and went close again through Lucketti. The captain was found inexplicably unmarked at the back post and somehow planted a header wide off the opposite upright.
But you cant keep a good side down and Arsenal had the final act of the half. Walcott's pace again made the difference but twice in a matter of seconds he was thwarted by Matt Glennon in the Town goal.
At the interval the visitors made six changes. Huddersfield unleashed an entirely new 11, but the complexion stayed the same with chances at both ends. Justin Hoyte came agonisingly close to connecting with a lofted through ball, while Phil Jevons bent an effort just wide from distance.
Nacer Barazite and Jay Simpson were now leading the line for Arsenal. The pair had hauled the Gunners back from the jaws of defeat against Barnet in the pre-season curtain raiser almost a month ago. Both looked dangerous again tonight.
After the hour, and for the first time in the evening the tempo slowed right down. With 25 minutes to go Gibbs did his best to raise it with a powerful surge to the byline, but his cutback was skied by Sanchez Watt.
Randall's trickery almost opened the door for the Gunners but Town remained resolute. Then in the 75th minute a few minutes the hosts led. Arsenal's now very young backline failed to deal with a long throw into the box and allowed Berrett to slam home with the aid of a wicked deflection.
But as the old saying goes, you are always at your most vulnerable shortly after you score. So it proved for Huddersfield. Within three minutes Simpson had surged down the right flank, beaten his man, rolled the ball into a crowded box allowing Watt to apply the finish.
Now Arsenal seized the initiative. Gibbs flashed wide and Barazite had a goal-bound effort charged down. The Dutchman didn't have to wait long for his big moment though.
The 18-year old had scored the winner against Barnet and here with three minutes to go he plundered another one. Bursting into space on the edge of the area, he pulled the trigger and although the 'keeper got a hand to it, he could only take out some of the sting rather than the direction.
source: arsenal.com