Down back to Earth

Like the Rabbits against The Lion, that is the most suitable words to described the Malaysia Football Squad(Malaysian XI) in their big defeated to Arsernal FC (London). It's been a long time since their last visit to this country. Now they are back with new team, to have another match with Malaysia's football squad.
Straight to the point, the match were kick-off at 8.45pm on 14 July 2011.

Here is the match full report:

ARSENAL kicked off their pre-season Asia Tour in style with a convincing 4-0 victory over Malaysia at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday. The English Premier League side were in a different class despite holding back most of the time in the match. Their performance yesterday should serve as a warning to their English Premier League rivals of what to expect from them in the upcoming season. National coach K. Rajagobal and his players should not be too disappointed with the defeat as they were up against one of the top clubs in Europe. Hopefully, the Malaysian players picked up some finer points from the Gunners.

Malaysia, who are preparing for next week's World Cup qualifier against Singapore, had eight players from the AFF Cup winning squad in their starting line-up while Arsenal started with six first-choice players.

Nasril Mat Nourdin started as Malaysia goalkeeper with the backline manned by Aidil Zafuan Abd Radzak, Mohd Fadhli Mohd Shas, Mahalli Jasuli and Asraruddin Putra Omar. Captain Safiq Rahim operated in central midfield together with Amar Rohidan, S. Kunanlan and Amirulhadi Zainal on the flanks.Rajagobal opted to play Kelantan's top scorer Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Ahmad Fakri Saraani upfront.

Among the first-choice players who started for Arsenal were captain Thomas Vermaelen, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere. The national team were a bundle of nerves and they were overly cautious in the opening minutes with Arsenal playing a patient game.

Arsenal earned a penalty in the fifth minute after England international Jack Wilshere was brought down by centre-back Aidil Zafuan in the box. Aaron Ramsey easily scored from the spot to put his team ahead.

The visitors could have extended their lead a minute later but Walcott fired over the crossbar inside the penalty box. Malaysia's confidence gradually grew after making a few decent passes but found Arsenal's towering players hard to outwit. Safiq's looping attempt, which was tipped over the crossbar by Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the 24th minute, was the closest Malaysia came to scoring in the first half.

The homesters did most of their attacking through flanker Kunanlan, whose darting runs managed to give Arsenal defenders some anxious moments. But their experienced opponents extended their lead after 37 minutes through a counter-attack with Walcott finding himself space in the penalty box before lobbing the ball over the onrushing Nasril into an empty net. Rajagobal made two changes in the first half, replacing Aidil Zafuan and Amirulhadi with Muslim Ahmad and Baddrol Bakhtiar.

Overall, it was a scrappy first half with both teams hardly showing urgency to play their true game.

2nd Half Report:

As expected, Arsenal made eight changes to their line-up for the second half with rightback Carl Jenkinson and midfielders Ramsey and Ryo Miyaichi, the only surviving members from their first half.

National No 1 keeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and Super League top-scorer Abdul Hadi Yahya replaced Nasril and Ahmad Fakri in the second half. A minute after the breather, Malaysia managed their second shot at goal through Kunanlan's attempt in the penalty box. But Arsenal soon shut the door on a possible fightback from Malaysia with their third goal through substitute Carlos Vela in the 58th minute. Vela made his second attempt in the 69th minute but his goal-bound shot from close range was deflected for a corner kick by a Malaysian defender. Thomas Rosicky added Arsenal's fourth in the final minute with a header from close range.

(Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky heads the ball through Malaysia's goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat)

Rajagobal and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger both tried out their remaining players on the bench in the last 20 minutes of the match. Malaysia tried to reduce the deficit but failed in their efforts.