Arsenal 2-1 MLS All-Stars: Match Report

A goal in each half saw Arsenal beat the MLS All-Stars 2-1. Joel Campbell put Arsenal 1-0 up from the penalty spot, before Didier Drogba equalised just before half time. Chuba Akpom scored the winning goal with 5 minutes to go. In a match filled with substitutions, there were quite a few nice moments of play. One not nice moment of play, though, led to both first half goals. In the first, Joel Campbell, preying on miscommunication from Ciman and Blake, was pulled down in the box. Emulating Simeone Zaza's run-up, Campbell scored the ensuing penalty.

Theo Walcott, playing centre-forward, blew several promising chances on the counter attack, including spoiling a lovely pass from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was impressive throughout. These missed chances hurt Arsenal. The heretofore impressive Krystian Bielik gave the ball away, with Drogba running onto a pass from Giovani Dos Santos. His first shot was saved by Petr Cech, then blocked by the impressive Rob Holding, before he scored. Seasoned watchers of Mathieu Debuchy will not be surprised by his horrible positioning.

Arsenal made lots of changes at half-time, and then again on the hour mark. Granit Xhaka came on, and the young players Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Chris Willock, Gedion Zelalem and Chuba Akpom instilled some pace into Arsenal'sattack, with Jeff dragging a shot just wide moments after coming on. With 5 minutes to go, Arsenal scored the winner: a lovely move saw Willock play a reverse pass for Monreal, whose pullback was tapped in by Chuba Akpom.

It was a good outing for Arsenal, with several players impressing: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Krystian Bielik, Rob Holding and Mohamed Elneny, who was the only good midfielder in the first half, all stood out, and Granit Xhaka was as advertised, involved in the build-up and playing lovely passes with his left foot.

Arsenal will play Chivas on Sunday night in Los Angeles.