Scout Scribbles – Gunners Pick Up Some Silverware

Paul Lambert’s career as Villa boss gets off to a winning start with a 2-1 win at Burton Albion. West Ham cruise past Southend as Sam Baldock scores for the third game in a row, Leon Osman impresses in Everton’s win at Morecambe, Reading hit AFC Wimbledon for seven, while Arsenal clinch some silverware in the round robin Markus Liebherr Memorial Cup at Southampton:

Southend 0 West Ham 3
Sam Allardyce’s side picked up their first win of the pre-season at the third attempt yesterday with a comfortable stroll at Southend. The Hammers had previously lost 3-1 to Austria Vienna and drawn 1-1 with Boreham Wood but the result was never in doubt from the moment Nicky Maynard nodded them ahead from a Matt Taylor corner on 22 minutes. Allardyce gave many of his first-team regulars a run-out, with the likes of Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan and Ricardo Vaz Te all starting; indeed the latter set Jordan Spence up for his side’s second just after the half hour mark. West Ham’s third came in the 64th minute courtesy of Sam Baldock – he has now scored in all three of the club’s matches so far. Allardyce’s only concern was an injury to Dan Potts, which saw the defender stretchered off towards the end of the match.

West Ham Line-up: Jaaskelainen, Spence, Reid (Demel 59), McCartney (Nasha 59), Potts (Mavila 90), Noble (Bywater 59), Nolan (Morrison 59), Taylor, Hall (O’Neil 33), Vaz Te, Maynard (E.Lee 59)

Burton Albion 1 Aston Villa 2
Paul Lambert named a strong starting XI for his first match in charge at Villa, with summer signings Karim El Ahmadi and Matthew Lowton both in from the kick-off. The Midlands outfit went behind to a 30-yard effort from Robbie Weir but, with El Ahmadi pulling the strings in midfield and Charles N’Zogbia tormenting from out wide, they eventually levelled after an Andreas Weimann effort was deflected into his own net by Burton’s Marcus Holness. Lambert made 10 changes after the interval, with only keeper Andrew Marshall retaining his place between the sticks – Barry Bannan and new boy Brett Holman were the standout performers, with the latter firing home to seal victory seven minutes from time. Injury-wise, Stephen Ireland (toe), Fabian Delph (knee) and Marc Albrighton (foot) all missed out for Lambert’s side.

Aston Villa (first half): Marshall, Hutton, Clark, Lowton, Stevens, Carruthers, Johnson, El Ahmadi, N’Zogbia, Weimann, Bent

Aston Villa (second half): Marshall, Lichaj, Collins, Baker, Warnock, Gardner, Herd, Bannan, Holman, Delfouneso, Agbonlahor.

AFC Wimbledon 0 Reading 7
Brian McDermott named new signings Danny Guthrie and Garath McCleary in his starting XI for the trip to AFC Wimbledon. Adam Le Fondre opening the scoring just before the half hour mark from the spot – all the more intriguing, bearing in mind that Ian Harte was on the pitch when the penalty was awarded. Le Fondre then added a second prior to the break from a Kaspars Gorkss pass before McDermott rang the changes, replacing 10 players in his lineup – this included an introduction for Nicky Shorey at left-back. In total, Reading gave a run out to 23 players and, with their hosts also utilising their squad, the Royals hit another five in the second half; Michail Antonio and Jordan Obita bagged a goal apiece, while Simon Church notched a hat-trick.

Reading (first half): McCarthy; Keown, Harte, Morrison, Gorkss (c); Guthrie, Tabb, Robson-Kanu, McCleary, Le Fondre, Hunt.

Reading (second half): McCarthy (Taylor 62), Cummings, Shorey, Hector, Pearce, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Obita (Sheppard 82), Antonio, Church, Roberts.

Morecambe 1 Everton 4
David Moyes named Sylvain Distin and Leon Osman amongst his starting XI for the testimonial for Morecambe boss Jim Bentley, with Osman lining up on the right of midfield in a 4-4-2. Jack Rodwell returned to feature in his first game since March and was joined in central midfield by Francisco Junior – the latter opened the scoring early on with a superb 25-yard strike, while Osman pulled the strings in midfield and provided assists for Apostolos Vellios and Rodwell as the Toffees threatened to run riot. Moyes made a couple of changes at the break and, after hauling off Osman, Everton’s threat was reduced, though Victor Anichebe fired home a fourth. The hosts snatched a consolation late on, when Bentley – a lifelong Everton fan – was afforded the chance to slot home.

Everton Starting XI: Taudal; Coleman, Duffy, Distin (Browning 63), Bidwell; Osman (Hibbert 46), Rodwell, Junior, Kelly (McAleny 46); Anichebe, Vellios (Forrester 71)

Arsenal 1 Anderlecht 0
The Gunners took part in the 2012 Markus Liebherr Memorial Cup at St Mary’s, which involved three lots of 45 minute matches between Arsenal, Southampton and Anderlecht. The first of their two matches saw Marouane Chamakh lead the line against the Belgians alongside Sanchez Watt, with Kieran Gibbs handed the armband in what was, overall, a youthful side. It was the Gunners’ other full-back, Carl Jenkinson, who proved decisive – his determination down the right handed Henri Lansbury the chance to settle the match with 34 minutes on the clock.

Arsenal Starting XI: Martinez; Jenkinson, Boateng, Miquel, Gibbs;Yennaris, Eastmond, Lansbury, Eisfeld; Sanchez Watt, Chamakh

Arsenal 1 Southampton 1
Later on in the evening, Arsene Wenger rolled out a more experienced starting XI for the game, with the likes of Johan Djourou, Andre Santos, Francis Coquelin and Gervinho all featuring from the kick-off, while Lansbury and Craig Eastmond retained their roles from the Anderlecht game. For Southampton, Dan Seaborne returned for the first time since suffering a serious head injury last September, while new boy Jay Rodriguez was handed his debut as a lone striker, with Richard Chaplow tucked in behind.

Danny Fox was unlucky not to notch after Vito Mannone spilt his free-kick – Kyle Bartley cleared off the line. The left-back wasn’t to be denied, though, with his creativity down the flank supplying the chance for Rodriguez to make an immediate impact in his first appearance for the hosts by nodding Nigel Adkins’ side in front. The Saints lead lasted only four minutes, though, with Gervinho squeezing home a shot from inside the box after some good work out wide. Wenger watched on as Chucks Aneke had to be replaced by Martin Angha after sustaining a possible injury but, after no further goals or incident, the match went to penalties. Southampton triumphed 5-4 but the Gunners’ earlier win over Anderlecht was enough to see them clinch the silverware.

Arsenal Starting XI: Mannone, Meade, Bartley, Djourou (c), Santos; Eastmond, Ebecilio, Lansbury (Olsson 16), Coquelin, Aneke (Angha 29), Gervinho

Southampton Starting XI: Forecast, Butterfield, Seaborne, Stephens, Fox, De Ridder, Hammond, Ward-Prowse, Puncheon, Chaplow, Rodriguez.

Southampton 0 Anderlecht 1
Nigel Adkins named a strong starting lineup for Southampton’s 45-minute match with Anderlecht. The likes of Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert carried the attacking threat, while first-choice centre-half pairing Jos Hooiveld and Jose Fonte provided resilience at the back. The Saints boss also handed academy graduates Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers a chance to impress but watched his side go behind after Tom De Sutter followed up his own rebounded shot to slot home on the 15-minute mark. Hooiveld hit the bar from a Lallana corner but that was the closest the hosts came to breaking through, with the Belgian champions sealing a narrow victory.

Southampton Starting XI: Davis; Richardson, Fonte, Hooiveld, Shaw; Guly, Chambers, Schneiderlin, Lalanna; Sharp, Lambert.