San Jose, CA — MLS All Star XI vs. Arsenal FC; July 28, 2016
San Jose, California played host to the stars of MLS on July 28th, 2016 as the league hosted English Premier League giants, Arsenal FC. Coached by San Jose Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear and captained by soccer legend and Orlando City SC number 10 Kaka, the MLS All-Stars looked to showcase the league’s best talents against the Gunners from North London.
With the likes of Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, and Petr Cech and a managerial legend in Arsene Wenger, Arsenal is a perennial challenger for the Premier League title, finishing in the top 4 for two decades and second last year. While only Walcott and Cech have made the trip across the Atlantic for the Summer tour, promising young stars Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have made the trip along with 19-year-old United States Men’s National Team prospect Gedion Zelalem.
Arsenal controlled the pressure early on, controlling the pace of play and getting the first shot on target. After earning a free kick Theo Walcott stepped up and curled a low shot around the wall and almost caught keeper Andre Blake off guard but Blake was able to make the stop.
The All-Stars began to find their stride as David Villa made a deep run into the box but had his shot stopped and minutes later Andrea Pirlo played a ball over the top from deep in his zone for Giovanni dos Santos who controlled it on the run but had his shot stopped by Petr Cech.
San Jose, CA — MLS All Star XI vs. Arsenal FC; July 28, 2016
Arsenal would get on the board in the 11th minute when Joel Campbell received a ball over the top and got around a charging Blake and was brought down by Laurent Ciman for a penalty kick and a yellow card. Campbell then stepped up to the spot and beat Blake to the keeper’s left for the opening goal.
After 25 minutes both teams began to settle into their defense and cut down their opponent’s scoring chances although the All-Stars continued to try to connect through Didier Drogba, Kaka, dos Santos, and Villa.
In the 32nd minute the game would take a short break as Pirlo was substituted for Sacha Kljestan and Villa was replaced for Ignacio Piatti, with both teams using the time to take in fluids.
The MLS All-Stars began to pressure Arsenal more with the Gunners content to counter on any misplayed balls and playing deep in their own end.
With the half winding down, Arsenal’s defense began to get complacent and the MLS All-Stars took advantage as Kljestan intercepted a pass in the midfield, gave a through ball to dos Santos in the box who then fed a short pass to Drogba. Drogba’s first chance was saved by Cech, his rebound attempt was then saved by Rob Holding, and as the ball rebounded to Drogba a third time he was able to chip a shot into the back of the net to tie the match just before the halftime whistle.
San Jose, CA — MLS All-Star XI vs. Arsenal FC; July 28, 2016
With the half came numerous substitutions for both sides. For the All-Stars Blake, Kyle Beckerman, Keegan Rosenberry, Kaka, Jelle Van Damme, dos Santos, and Drogba all came off and on came David Bingham, Darlington Nagbe, Sebastian Giovinco, Andrew Farrell, Kendall Watson, Wil Trapp, and Mauro Diaz. Arsenal subbed off Mathieu Debuchy, Francis Coquelin, Wilshere, Krystian Bielik, and Kieran Gibbs and brought on Granit Xhaka, Alex Iwobi, Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers, and Nacho Monreal.
Giovinco made himself known fairly quickly as he pulled a Cruyff turn at the top of the box and ripped off a shot forcing Cech to get a hand on the ball and make a save.
Kinnear decided to sub off Kellyn Acosta in the 57th minute for Brandon Vincent, possibly concerned with making sure Acosta didn’t injure himself after taking a hard tackle earlier.
The pace of the second half was noticeably slower than the first, both teams being patient and seeking out space in the wide areas.
Arsenal would make four substitutions in the 67th minute and one in the 68th, bringing out another water break stoppage as off came Cech, Mohamed Elneny, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Campbell and on came Emiliano Martinez, Chris Willock, Chuba Akpom, Jeff Reine Adelaide, and Zelalem.
Coming out of the substitute break, Granit Xhaka lined up a rocket of a shot from distance, forcing Bingham to make a diving save to keep the game tied.
Arsenal would get another chance in the 72nd minute after the All-Stars committed a foul just outside the 18-yard-box. Xhaka stepped up to take this shot as well and rocketed another shot on target forcing another save by Bingham, this time catching the shot.
The MLS All-Stars’ final subs would come on in the 73rd and 77th minutes, as Chris Wondolowski replaced Piatti and Clint Dempsey replaced Kljestian and then Cyle Larin would come on to replace Giovinco
In the 81st minute the All-Stars would get a chance to break the tie as Dempsey gave a great forward ball to Nagbe who maybe took too many touches into the box. As he drew the attention of the defenders he dropped a ball off to a trailing Wondolowski who’s first time shot went over the crossbar.
In the 85th it was Arsenal’s turn to just miss taking the lead, this chance from a corner kick that found the head of Holding but would too go just over the bar.
Two minutes later Arsenal would take the lead as Monreal made a cut at the edge of the 6 yard box and passed the ball through the box to a waiting Akpom for the tap in, giving the Gunners a 2-1 lead.
Now chasing the game, Larin found some space in the center of the field and linked up with Dempsey on a give and go but couldn’t find the space for a shot.
The MLS All-Stars wouldn’t get another chance in the match as the head referee blew his whistle moments later ending the game 2-1 in favor of Arsenal.
