Malaysia XI 0 - 4 Arsenal: match report

0 - 1 Ramsey 5' pk
0 - 2 Walcott 37'
0 - 3 Vela 58'
0 - 4 Rosicky 90'

Arsenal began their preseason fixture list today with a comfortable 4-0 win against a Malaysian squad in front of a huge crowd in Kuala Lumpur.

I was unable to see the first half of the match, but from all accounts, Arsenal's top performers were Jack Wilshere and Thomas Vermaelen. Wilshere was brought down in the fifth minute in the penalty area, and Aaron Ramsey stepped up to put home the spot kick for the opener. Theo Walcott provided threat on the right, twice squandering opportunities to score from Marouane Chamakh. He would make up for it as halftime started to approach, though, chipping over Mohd Nasril Mat Nourdin after a ball from Ramsey had put him in alone.

Arsène Wenger changed most of the side for the second half, placing Carlos Vela up front with Ryo Miyaichi, who had played in the first half as well, and Tomas Rosicky. Vela snuck through onto a lovely pass from the Czech, and, one-on-one with the keeper, there was only ever going to be one option for Carlito: the chip. He didn't miss.

Ten minutes later, Vela popped up on the end of a pass from Samir Nasri, but got a little too cute. In homage to the Frenchman, he danced around the keeper and defenders in the area, but did not shoot until Malaysia had recovered, and when he finally did shoot, they cleared his effort off the line.

There was one incident of some note squad-wise for Arsenal. Andrei Arshavin, Robin van Persie, and Nasri had all come on in the 66th minute. Nasri came on for Denilson, who had only come on himself at halftime. Denilson was visibly upset with being asked off after 20 minutes, and immediately went up the tunnel without stopping at the bench.

Arsenal would add a fourth in stoppage time as Arshavin did his Meerkat thing, getting to the byline, dribbling past the first defender, and lobbing a cross that the goalkeeper deflected up into the air, where Rosicky was able to meet it at the back post and head home.

All in all, it was a fine run-out for the squad, despite the intense heat and humidity. Now, it's on to China for the second portion of the Asia Tour.