GLASGOW, 7 August 2003 — Arsenal demonstrated the gulf in class between the top of the English and Scottish premier leagues with an efficient 3-0 thrashing of Rangers in Tuesday’s preseason friendly clash.
Arsenal were without key men Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Sylvian Wiltord at Ibrox but still managed to outclass the Scottish champions in their final warm-up before Sunday’s community shield match with Manchester United in Cardiff.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger declared himself content with his side’s efforts on Tuesday following Saturday’s less dynamic 1-1 draw with Rangers’ Glasgow rivals Celtic.
“In the second-half, we controlled the game. We looked much sharper than against Celtic and we went up a gear and also controlled it mentally,” Wenger told reporters.
Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira continued his comeback from his knee injury by impressing during his hour on the pitch.
The French midfielder won the penalty that led to Arsenal’s second goal and is now likely to face United this weekend.
“The hour he played was very good. He came out of the game without any knee problems. I worked him very hard in training on Sunday and there was no reaction.
“We’ll look at the knee again tomorrow but the signs are very good,” added Wenger.
Celtic’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond reaffirmed his club’s aspiration to join the English Premier League on Monday but judging by the ease with which Arsenal tore Rangers apart, the Glasgow sides have some way to go before they could challenge for the English title.
After a deflected shot from Edu found the net on 32 minutes, Wenger’s side dominated and a Lauren penalty on 46 minutes and a header from Sol Campbell 12 minutes later completed the rout.
Arsenal also missed a penalty when Rangers keeper Stefan Klos saved from Lauren on 78 minutes after Freddie Ljungberg had been felled by Craig Moore — who later admitted the match “was men against boys” — in the box.
The 3-0 scoreline did not flatter Arsenal and Rangers manager Alex McLeish must turn his attention to Saturday’s league opener with Kilmarnock at Ibrox and a final Champions League qualifying match against FC Copenhagen next week.
“Tonight showed that we have to raise our game all over the pitch and raise our performance level,” said McLeish, who completed the signing of Blackburn Rovers defender Henning Berg on a one-year deal before the match.
“Arsenal made us look ordinary at times but we have to remember that we had players missing and a number coming back from injury.”
Shearer Turns on the
Style Against Bayern
In Newcastle, England, Alan Shearer turned on the style with two expertly-taken goals as the English Premier League club drew 2-2 with German champions Bayern Munich in a friendly at St. James’ Park on Tuesday.
Midfielder Lee Bowyer received a rapturous welcome on his home debut but his captain Shearer upstaged the former Leeds player with the opening goal.
Newcastle manager Bobby Robson said he was pleased with his team’s performance after the stalemate.
“Considering we’ve been training for about a month I think we’re about as far ahead as we could be at this stage of the summer and we’re getting better every day,” Robson told reporters.
“The friendly with Bayern was a fantastic workout for both teams. Bayern said they had not had a friendly like that for many years in terms of competitiveness and quality. We’re both delighted with the work-out but I think that we should have won it in the end.”
Former England captain Shearer was in fine form.
He latched on to an astute pass from Craig Bellamy — who limped off midway through the second half — to break through the defense and round goalkeeper Michael Rensing before slotting the ball home with typical confidence for the opener.
England international Owen Hargreaves grabbed a deserved equalizer for the visitors with a superb free kick.
He curled the ball over the wall and beyond Shay Given after a foul just outside the penalty area by another former Leeds man, Gary Speed, on the hour.
Shearer volleyed home five minutes from time to restore Newcastle’s lead but his side were unable to hold on to their lead and substitute Claudio Pizarro struck a late equalizer.
Man United Agree to
Sell Veron to Chelsea
Manchester United agreed to sell Argentine international Juan Sebastian Veron to big-spending Chelsea for 15 million pounds ($24 million) yesterday.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who cost 28 million pounds when he joined United from Italian club Lazio in 2001, was set to tie up a contract and undergo a medical at the west London club.
In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, United confirmed they had accepted Chelsea’s bid “subject to contract and player medical”. Chelsea chief executive Trevor Birch told the club’s website: “They have accepted our bid of 15 million pounds.
“And now providing he wishes to speak to us we can proceed with negotiating personal terms and putting him through a medical.”
Veron is set to sign a four-year contract and his agent Fernando Hidalgo was quoted as saying by Sky Sports television on Wednesday: “He is happy. It has been a club decision, and he has accepted it.”
United’s decision to sell Veron came a week after manager Alex Ferguson expressed confidence in the Argentine on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States and suggested he did not expect the player to be sold. Chelsea will be anxious to agree personal terms with the Argentine quickly as the deadline for registering players for the Champions League third qualifying round is 1000 GMT today.
