By Nick Lander
Arsenal turned in an impressive first half performance to secure an emphatic win in their last pre-season friendly in Germany. Debutants Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski all impressed as the Gunners turned in probably their most satisfying performance of the summer.
A new look Gunners side started on the front foot, and took the lead on 5 minutes when Thomas Vermaelen converted Per Mertesacker's near post flick on, in a neat corner routine. Giroud had peeled off neatly to get a shot away at the near post immediately prior, to win the corner.
Arsenal's next chance came moments later, as Theo Walcott dug out a good cross which Giroud headed back across goal for Cazorla to fiercely volley goalwards, forcing FC Köln goalkeeper Timo Horn into his second excellent save of the match.
Lukas Podolski bagged his first Arsenal goal on 15 minutes, when he converted from the spot (pictured). The referee had pointed to the spot when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was bundled over in the box by Kevin Wimmer. Podolski made no mistake, sending the 'keeper the wrong way, as his penalty nestled just inside the left upright.
After that FC Köln came into the game a little more. A sloppy pass from Francis Coquelin handed possession to Kacper Przybylko who advanced well with the ball, shrugging off challenges from the Arsenal centre halves, before firing wastefully wide. He did not even manage to test Vito Mannone in the Gunners' goal. He should have.
A good interchange between Chamberlain and Walcott brought about the next Arsenal chance, as Walcott broke towards the box before cutting the ball back for Giroud. The Frenchman opened his body up and his curling shot was destined to bend in at the far post, but again goalkeeper Horn was equal to it, saving well.
Minutes later Giroud, signed from French champions Montpellier in July, forced an even better save from Horn, as he rose to meet Cazorla's outswinging corner. The Köln man just managed to tip Giroud's effort over the bar.
Cologne did manage to threaten again, as Przybylko pounced upon a loose ball, when Gibbs only half managed an interception, but he fired harmlessly into Mannone's arms. FC Köln stayed on top though and nearly caught out the error-prone Italian moments later, as Daniel Royer hit a shot straight at the goalkeeper which he fumbled over the bar. It should have been a simple catch. A corner, perhaps, was deserved by the German side as a reward for their best move of the match.
Arsenal managed to get back on top though, and scored their third of the evening through Podolski - a man who scored 18 goals for Köln last season on the way to their relegation to the second tier of German football. The German international started and ended the move. He dropped deep, picking up the ball in the middle of the Köln half, before playing a lovely ball over the fullback into Kieran Gibbs' path. Gibbs promptly cut the ball back, and, arriving late, Podolski slammed the ball emphatically into the net. He left Horn no chance. That made the score three nil at half time.
Arsene Wenger made 10 changes at the break, with only local boy Podolski surviving. And it was he who almost managed to bag a hat trick, as he closed down Marcel Schuhen (on in goal for Horn for the second half) who only just managed to clear. A very simple, but effective tactic, closing down the goalkeeper is something I hope to see Arsenal doing a lot more this season. Rushing goalkeepers into poor clearances can be really helpful, not only that, but I know that Colchester United (in League 1) managed to score two goals in a month by doing exactly that.
Wojciech Szczesney had a largely untroubled half in the Arsenal goal, but almost lost his clean sheet to a magnificent hit by Matthias Lehmann, who went for goal from 35 or 40 yards, his dipping and swerving shot had the young Pole completely beaten, and it smacked down off of the underside of the bar. Did it cross the line? It was hard to tell, the linesman certainly had no chance of seeing it, but it was certainly mighty close.
Gervinho then made it four. The Ivorian had a neat interchange with Podolski just inside the Arsenal half, before surging into the Köln box and slotting the ball home at the near post. Schuhen should have done much, much better.
The game almost completely fizzled out after that though. Robin van Persie came on for Podolski 15 minutes into the half; and took the captain's armband. The Gunners' passing became slacker in midfield and they started to concede possession all to often, but the home side did not manage to capitalise. Andrei Arshavin (operating in the playmaker role Cazorla had filled in the first half) created one last chance for the Londoners, making a superb, strong run into the Cologne box, before squaring the ball for Gervinho to run onto, but the winger spurned the opportunity completely.
As full time arrived, Arsenal had completely outclassed the German side. A four goal scoreline accurately reflecting the gulf between the two sides. It was a good workout for the Gunners and there were a few interesting things to note: it seems that outswinging corners will be utilised this season, rather than the inswingers we saw last term, and it does certainly seem that the team are much better set up to capitalise on them. It has been suggested that the routines have a little hint of Steve Bould in them.
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