Gunners' B-team held to draw by River Plate
Arsenal 0 River Plate 0
An experimental Arsenal team featuring two triallists and a host of reserves were held by River Plate in a lacklustre match in the Amsterdam tournament match at the Amsterdam ArenA.
The Gunners kept most of their big-name players on the sidelines – including Real Madrid target Patrick Vieira – against the Buenos Aires club, who also featured some youngsters.
The first half, played in front of a crowd including England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and new Holland boss Marco van Basten, was a somewhat pedestrian affair.
Cristian Ledesma of River was given a yellow card in the 14th minute for a high tackle on Jose Reyes in what some referees may have considered a last-man offence worthy of a red card.
Reyes provided some rare highlights with some dribbling skills.
After 17 minutes triallist Marco Ne fired just over Franco Constanzo’s cross bar and later the Londoners went even closer.
After 31 minutes Jermaine Pennant almost created a goal when he drove the ball goalwards from the right, with Francis Jeffers just unable to deflect the ball into the net.
Triallists Marco Ne and Manu Eboue then linked up well but Costanzo did well to hold the cross from the latter.
Gael Clichy was cautioned for a tackle on Gabriel Pepeyra even though he appeared to pull out of the challenge.
Almunia was in goal for the Gunners in the first half, with another close-season capture – Robin van Persie – also playing.
The second half offered little in the way of entertainment with neither team succeeding in finding a goal to inject some life into the tournament, which also features hosts Ajax and Greek champions Panathinaikos.
The first promising raid of the second period was launched by Clichy, with a dashing surge down the left flank – but when he fed the ball to Francis Jeffers the striker failed to control it.
Clichy then gave away a dangerous free-kick for a foul on Pepeyra but River spurned the chance with the free-kick from Daniel Luduena coming off the wall for a corner.
Luduena was then replaced by Rubens Sambueza while Jesus Mendez came on for Pepeyra.
Jeffers then missed another chance after 59 minutes, firing wide with his left foot after being set up by Reyes.
Spanish youngster Cesc Fabregas also missed the target for the Gunners, before boss Arsene Wenger made several changes.
Former Ajax favourite Dennis Bergkamp got a rousing reception when he was introduced, while new signing Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto also entered the fray.
One delightful move saw Nelson Cuevas released inside the area for the Argentinian side but he lost control of the ball with two players in good goalscoring positions alongside him.
At the other end Gilberto headed a corner wide of the mark when well placed to score.
River made another change with Jose Sand coming on for Maxi Lopez.
Then with five minutes remaining Bergkamp almost scored what would have been a fairytale goal when he headed an Manu Eboue cross just wide of the far post.
In the 89th minute Sand headed the ball tamely into the arms of Almunia – but at the other end Bergkamp struck a shot which was deflected behind.
Jeremie Aliadiere and Justin Hoyte also got late run-outs for Arsenal, with Jeffers and Ne the men withdrawn.
