It was the British capital city VS the Italian capital city as London Arsenal outgunned Rome opponents Lazio in the Amsterdam Tournament
Wenger happy as Silva bullets are added to Arsenal
By SIMON CASS
3rd August 2007
Daily Mail
AMSTERDAM TOURNAMENT
ARSENAL 2-1 LAZIO
(Other score: Ajax 2-0 Atletico Madrid)
Eduardo da Silva celebrated winning his battle to become an Arsenal player last night by scoring as the Gunners beat Lazio.
Brazilian-born striker Eduardo was originally denied a work permit because he had not played the requisite 75 per cent of games for his adopted country Croatia.
Ed boy: Rosicky congratulates Eduardo after his headed winner for Arsenal
But the £8.5million signing from Dinamo Zagreb has been granted one under the 'special circumstances' rule, having been a regular for the Croatia national team over the previous season.
Last night's Amsterdam Tournament appearance was Eduardo's third in an Arsenal shirt but he has yet to make his debut on English soil due to the work permit hold-up.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, delighted with Eduardo's contribution in a 2-1 win and the favourable outcome from the Home Office, said: 'Eduardo got the work permit and celebrated with his first goal and I am very happy for him.
'It is always good for a new player that it doesn't take too long to score otherwise people question their ability. When I told him the good news about the permit you could see his face lift.
'He took his goal well and he is good in the air for a small player. He is a player who is very mobile and that suits us, he has integrated well.'
After a bright start by Lazio, Arsenal opened the scoring through Nicklas Bendtner in the 18th minute to the delight of the smattering of travelling fans who made the trip.
Cesc Fabregas's shot from outside the box was blocked by Guglielmo Stendardo but fell kindly for Bendtner to round Marco Ballotta in the Italians' goal before slotting the ball into the opposite corner.
Wenger employed Eduardo, 24, on the right of his attack, allowing him to cut in on his favoured left foot, and he was unlucky to see his diving header flash just over the bar on 25 minutes.
Five minutes before the break, and with Arsenal seemingly in control, Lazio were back on terms after an Eduardo slip allowed the ball to be hooked across the face of goal for Goran Pandev to finish from close range.
Gael Clichy then tested Ballotta with a stinging drive from the left before Stefano Mauri's header forced a smart save from Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia in the dying moments of the first half.
One interested observer of the second period was Jose Antonio Reyes, who remained on the sidelines to watch new club Atletico Madrid take on Ajax in the second game of the evening.
The forward with an aversion to the English climate was given a hearty kick, although in jest, by Emmanuel Eboue as a reminder of his time with Wenger's side.
Eduardo then went some way to making the No.9 shirt worn previously by Reyes his own by opening his account for Arsenal 10 minutes after the restart.
Tomas Rosicky, on for Fabregas at the break, swung in a corner and the diminutive Croatia striker rose highest, beating his marker, before driving his close-range header into the turf and past a helpless Ballotta.
Arsenal's Fabregas (left) impressed in the heart of the midfield
The biggest cheer of the night, however, somewhat surprisingly given his Feyenoord roots in Rotterdam, was for the introduction of Robin van Persie for Bendtner in the 64th minute — his exploits for the Dutch national side seemingly enough for the Ajax fans to afford him a warm welcome.
Van Persie started the move which should have led to Arsenal's third, feeding Rosicky who then found Justin Hoyte on the left only for the young defender to screw his effort wide.
Such wastefulness was almost punished seconds later when substitute Stephen Makinwa struck a post for Lazio.
Wenger, pleased that his youthful and inexperienced side had held on for the win, said: 'We had a very young side out against Lazio who defended very well. It is good for us to see the young players from game to game raise their belief.'
The Arsenal manager's thoughts now turn to today's Champions League draw before his side take on hosts Ajax tomorrow night.
Assessing Arsenal's first task in Europe, Wenger added: 'It is a big draw because it is a very important tie for the club we wait with impatience — and hope we don't meet Ajax!'
dailymail.co.uk
Wenger happy as Silva bullets are added to Arsenal
By SIMON CASS
3rd August 2007
Daily Mail
AMSTERDAM TOURNAMENT
ARSENAL 2-1 LAZIO
(Other score: Ajax 2-0 Atletico Madrid)
Eduardo da Silva celebrated winning his battle to become an Arsenal player last night by scoring as the Gunners beat Lazio.
Brazilian-born striker Eduardo was originally denied a work permit because he had not played the requisite 75 per cent of games for his adopted country Croatia.
Ed boy: Rosicky congratulates Eduardo after his headed winner for Arsenal
But the £8.5million signing from Dinamo Zagreb has been granted one under the 'special circumstances' rule, having been a regular for the Croatia national team over the previous season.
Last night's Amsterdam Tournament appearance was Eduardo's third in an Arsenal shirt but he has yet to make his debut on English soil due to the work permit hold-up.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, delighted with Eduardo's contribution in a 2-1 win and the favourable outcome from the Home Office, said: 'Eduardo got the work permit and celebrated with his first goal and I am very happy for him.
'It is always good for a new player that it doesn't take too long to score otherwise people question their ability. When I told him the good news about the permit you could see his face lift.
'He took his goal well and he is good in the air for a small player. He is a player who is very mobile and that suits us, he has integrated well.'
After a bright start by Lazio, Arsenal opened the scoring through Nicklas Bendtner in the 18th minute to the delight of the smattering of travelling fans who made the trip.
Cesc Fabregas's shot from outside the box was blocked by Guglielmo Stendardo but fell kindly for Bendtner to round Marco Ballotta in the Italians' goal before slotting the ball into the opposite corner.
Wenger employed Eduardo, 24, on the right of his attack, allowing him to cut in on his favoured left foot, and he was unlucky to see his diving header flash just over the bar on 25 minutes.
Five minutes before the break, and with Arsenal seemingly in control, Lazio were back on terms after an Eduardo slip allowed the ball to be hooked across the face of goal for Goran Pandev to finish from close range.
Gael Clichy then tested Ballotta with a stinging drive from the left before Stefano Mauri's header forced a smart save from Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia in the dying moments of the first half.
One interested observer of the second period was Jose Antonio Reyes, who remained on the sidelines to watch new club Atletico Madrid take on Ajax in the second game of the evening.
The forward with an aversion to the English climate was given a hearty kick, although in jest, by Emmanuel Eboue as a reminder of his time with Wenger's side.
Eduardo then went some way to making the No.9 shirt worn previously by Reyes his own by opening his account for Arsenal 10 minutes after the restart.
Tomas Rosicky, on for Fabregas at the break, swung in a corner and the diminutive Croatia striker rose highest, beating his marker, before driving his close-range header into the turf and past a helpless Ballotta.
Arsenal's Fabregas (left) impressed in the heart of the midfield
The biggest cheer of the night, however, somewhat surprisingly given his Feyenoord roots in Rotterdam, was for the introduction of Robin van Persie for Bendtner in the 64th minute — his exploits for the Dutch national side seemingly enough for the Ajax fans to afford him a warm welcome.
Van Persie started the move which should have led to Arsenal's third, feeding Rosicky who then found Justin Hoyte on the left only for the young defender to screw his effort wide.
Such wastefulness was almost punished seconds later when substitute Stephen Makinwa struck a post for Lazio.
Wenger, pleased that his youthful and inexperienced side had held on for the win, said: 'We had a very young side out against Lazio who defended very well. It is good for us to see the young players from game to game raise their belief.'
The Arsenal manager's thoughts now turn to today's Champions League draw before his side take on hosts Ajax tomorrow night.
Assessing Arsenal's first task in Europe, Wenger added: 'It is a big draw because it is a very important tie for the club we wait with impatience — and hope we don't meet Ajax!'
dailymail.co.uk