Who needs Keane and Berbatov when Darren Bent is in this kind of form – Spurs put five past Orient tonight and Bent fired his second hat-trick in the space of three days.
Elsewhere Richardson notched again for Keane’s men as he returned to Forest to claim a win while Liverpool were held again – this time by Villarreal. Arsenal ran out winners against Stuttgart as Van Persie and Adebayor saw their first action of the pre-season.
Read on for the notes and teams…
Stuttgart 1 Arsenal 3
Wenger gave some of his big players a runout prior to the Emirates Cup this weekend as the Gunners came up against former keeper Jens Lehman.
Both Van Persie and Adebayor started the game up front, while Nasri got a debut in midfield. Gallas and Eboue also got their first starts of the summer.
Those players all saw 45 minutes of action as the Gunners went in 0-0 at half time. Shortly after the restart Arsenal went behind. Basturk giving the German side the lead. It was left to Bendtner and Vela who have both enjoyed promising pre-seasons, to put Arsenal in control.
Vela equalised smartly from an acute angle after running onto a Bendtner through ball. Vela then returned the favour for the assist for the Dane’s goal that handed Arsenal the lead. Wilshire then put the icing on the cake, adding to his growing reputation in the process, by providing the finish to a cross supplied by Clichy after he beat two Stuttgart defenders.
Wenger started with a 4-4-1-1 formation with Van Persie up in support of Adebayor and Eboue the unfamiliar figure in central midfield alongside Denilson who has emerged as the hot favourite to take Flamini’s place alongside Fabregas. Nasri started the game on the left wing.
The Gunners take on Juventus in their first game in the Emirates Cup on Saturday.
Arsenal vs Stuttgart:
Almunia (Fabianski 45), Clichy, Djourou, Gallas, Sagna (G Hoyte 78), Nasri (Wilshire 61), Denilson (Lansbury 85), Eboue (Ramsey 61), Walcott (Randall 78), Van Persie (Vela 45 (Simpson 85)) Adebayor (Bendtner 45).
Villarreal 0 Liverpool 0
Liverpool gave Robbie Keane his debut but he couldn’t help Rafa’s men earn a victory as they were held to their third successive draw of the pre-season.
Rafa started with Keane and Ngog up front while Torres made his first appearance of the summer for Liverpool as a second half sub. Fellow Spaniards, Alonso and Arbeloa also saw action for the first time since their victorious Euro 2008 campaign.
It was certainly a sronger Liverpool lineup then with Rafa adopting a 4-4-2 in both halves. With so many changes made at half-time however, we’re still awaiting definitive clues as to Rafa’s strongest lineup and formation.
Liverpool take on Rangers on Saturday next.
Liverpool vs Villarreal:
Cavalieri (Reina 80), Dossena, Hyypia (Agger 46), Skrtel (Carragher 46), Darby (Finnan 46), Benayoun (Kuyt 46), Gerrard, Plessis (Finnan 70), Keane (Pennant 46), Voronin (Nemeth 46 (Torres 70)), Ngog (Pacheco 46).
Nottingham Forest 0 Sunderland 1
Kieran Richardson’s second goal of the pre-season was enough to earn Keane’s men victory at Championship Forest. The former United man fired home from a Stokes centre in the 71st minute.
Sunderland newboys Chimbonda and Diouf got their debuts for the Black Cats. Chimbonda lined up in his familiar right-back spot, while Diouf was employed in a wide right role as Keane opted for 4-5-1 once again with Murphy the lone striker once again.
Keane’s men take on Ajax on Sunday.
Sunderland vs Nottingham Forest:
Gordon; Chimbonda, Collins, Nosworthy, Higginbotham, Diouf, Tainio, Leadbitter, Richardson, Reid; Murphy.
Leyton Orient 1 Tottenham 5
Spurs came from behind to rattle five goals once again, with Bent hitting his second hat-trick in the space of four days.
Orient took the lead after just four mintues and held onto that lead right through to half-time. Spurs came out in the second half however and simply outpowered the League Two side.
Bent got things underway, powering home after a scramble in the box from a Dos Santos corner. Zokora then crossed for Lennon to head Spurs in front. Lennon then turned provider for Modric who collected his cross before beating the Orient keeper with the help of slight deflection.
Bent then added his second from a Jenas assist before completing his hat-trick after good work from Dos Santos.
Ramos fielded his strongest side of the pre-season and significantly shifted to a 4-5-1 with Bent the lone figure up front. No doubt the absence of Berbatov from tonight’s game will only fuel further speculation over his future but, it must be said, once again they didn’t miss him. Darren Bent has scored 7 pre-season goals since Robbie Keane confirmed his move to Liverpool. He can’t do much more to convince Ramos he deserves a start come the season kick-off.
Bale started on the left of midfield, a role he has a chance of making his own given Malbranque’s departure to Sunderland. Modric started once more with Taarabt and Lennon alongside him.
Spurs take on Celtic on Friday evening next.
Tottenham vs Leyton Orient:
Jansson, Gunter (Assou-Ekotto, 46), Bale (Townsend, 66), Zokora (Adam Smith, 60), Huddlestone, Lennon, Bent, Gilberto (Jenas, 46), Modric (O’Hara, 60), Taarabt (Dos Santos, 60), Dawson.