Arsenal in Singapore for Barclays Asia Trophy
The 27-man squad of English football giant Arsenal FC, including new recruit Petr Cech, arrived in Singapore Monday (Jul 13) ahead of showcase matches this week in the Barclays Asia Trophy friendlies.
Arsenal will take on a Singapore Select XI on Wednesday before an all-Premier League clash against either Everton or Stoke City on Saturday, in a showcase tournament for the clubs’ Southeast Asian fan base.
It is the first time the Gunners have participated in the Asia Trophy and their first visit to Singapore shores since 1991.
"I don't think it's bad - about the heat here - because we want to sweat a little bit," manager Arsene Wenger said. "We want to put the effort in, everyone's fighting for places now so it's an important game already for us.
"You want to win every game and you know a few years ago no-one was interested in preparation but now there's so much," he said. "The pressure is on us to do better."
Arsenal have brought a near-full squad on tour as they kick-start preparations for the upcoming English season, but will be missing the attacking trio of Chilean superstar Alexis Sanchez, last-season recruit Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky.
Sanchez will rest after winning the Copa America on home soil last month, while Welbeck is continuing his recovery from a knee injury.
Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere are prime candidates to lead the Arsenal line-up; the latter looking to break back into the starting side after an injury-interrupted 2014-15.
Mikel Arteta also experienced an inconsistent season and said he was hoping to build some good preparation for the year ahead as well as impress the large contingent of Gunners fans in Singapore.
"We've heard it's going to be quite crazy here so we're hoping to have a good experience. We've been in Asia before so we know what it's like," Arteta said.
Fans may get their first glimpse at Cech in a Gunners strip after the Czech goalkeeper completed a 10 million pound (US$15.5 million) transfer from champions Chelsea in the off-season.
He will compete with established number one Wojciech Szczesny for time in goal.
Wenger said he could make a difference to Arsenal's title ambitions when asked why he had signed the veteran stopper. "First of all his talent, his experience and the fact he has won before, that can strengthen the team's belief," he said.
Wenger confirmed he was confident of keeping his three top keepers at the club, despite the increased competition with Cech's arrival.
Wenger is rumoured to be looking to bolster the squad’s defensive assets, with Roma’s Kostas Manolas and Manchester United’s Johnny Evans reported to be transfer targets. "It doesn't depend on my wish, if we can find still one or two players we'll do it," Wenger said.
Established defenders Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Kieran Gibbs and Mathieu Debuichy are likely to get time on the pitch during Arsenal’s two matches in Singapore.
Wenger said he was not surprised by the £49 million transfer of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City, nor the big money deals secured by Manchester United for Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin.
The general public can watch Arsenal, as well as Everton and Stoke, train at the National Stadium on Tuesday evening.
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
The 27-man squad of English football giant Arsenal FC, including new recruit Petr Cech, arrived in Singapore Monday (Jul 13) ahead of showcase matches this week in the Barclays Asia Trophy friendlies.
Arsenal will take on a Singapore Select XI on Wednesday before an all-Premier League clash against either Everton or Stoke City on Saturday, in a showcase tournament for the clubs’ Southeast Asian fan base.
It is the first time the Gunners have participated in the Asia Trophy and their first visit to Singapore shores since 1991.
"I don't think it's bad - about the heat here - because we want to sweat a little bit," manager Arsene Wenger said. "We want to put the effort in, everyone's fighting for places now so it's an important game already for us.
"You want to win every game and you know a few years ago no-one was interested in preparation but now there's so much," he said. "The pressure is on us to do better."
Arsenal have brought a near-full squad on tour as they kick-start preparations for the upcoming English season, but will be missing the attacking trio of Chilean superstar Alexis Sanchez, last-season recruit Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky.
Sanchez will rest after winning the Copa America on home soil last month, while Welbeck is continuing his recovery from a knee injury.
Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere are prime candidates to lead the Arsenal line-up; the latter looking to break back into the starting side after an injury-interrupted 2014-15.
Mikel Arteta also experienced an inconsistent season and said he was hoping to build some good preparation for the year ahead as well as impress the large contingent of Gunners fans in Singapore.
"We've heard it's going to be quite crazy here so we're hoping to have a good experience. We've been in Asia before so we know what it's like," Arteta said.
Fans may get their first glimpse at Cech in a Gunners strip after the Czech goalkeeper completed a 10 million pound (US$15.5 million) transfer from champions Chelsea in the off-season.
He will compete with established number one Wojciech Szczesny for time in goal.
Wenger said he could make a difference to Arsenal's title ambitions when asked why he had signed the veteran stopper. "First of all his talent, his experience and the fact he has won before, that can strengthen the team's belief," he said.
Wenger confirmed he was confident of keeping his three top keepers at the club, despite the increased competition with Cech's arrival.
Wenger is rumoured to be looking to bolster the squad’s defensive assets, with Roma’s Kostas Manolas and Manchester United’s Johnny Evans reported to be transfer targets. "It doesn't depend on my wish, if we can find still one or two players we'll do it," Wenger said.
Established defenders Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Kieran Gibbs and Mathieu Debuichy are likely to get time on the pitch during Arsenal’s two matches in Singapore.
Wenger said he was not surprised by the £49 million transfer of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City, nor the big money deals secured by Manchester United for Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin.
The general public can watch Arsenal, as well as Everton and Stoke, train at the National Stadium on Tuesday evening.
~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~
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