Post by dennisrofe on Jul 20, 2024 13:54:01 GMT
Report: Arsenal XI 2-0 Leyton Orient
By LOFC Media www.leytonorient.com/news/2024/july/20/match-report--arsenal-2-0-leyton-orient/
The O's fell to a 2-0 defeat versus a strong Arsenal side at the Gunners' training ground this afternoon.
Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe condemned Orient to a first defeat of their pre-season schedule versus last season's Premier League runners-up.
Five minutes into the fixture, Ethan Galbraith sprayed a delightful cross-field pass towards Tom James, who advanced towards the edge of the Arsenal penalty area, but his effort was saved by Karl Hein in the Arsenal net, the first shot on target of the encounter.
The hosts’ first sight of goal came after 13 minutes, when Eddie Nketiah looked to split the Orient defence with a through ball, but the linesman’s flag denied the Brazillian a chance to test Sam Howes as he crept just offside.
Orient went desperately close to taking the lead in the 17th minute, when a brilliant move down the left-hand side involving Jordan Brown and Ollie O’Neill saw the ball fall to Ethan Galbraith in the area, but the Northern Irishman’s effort was headed off the line.
The Gunners took the lead in the 22nd minute, as they advanced through the pitch with a quick counter-attack, which was finished calmly by Jesus, just outside the six-yard box.
Fabio Vieira had a great chance to double the lead for the hosts three minutes later, but blazed his effort over the crossbar after he was found at the back post.
Sam Howes did wonderfully well in the 27th minute, as he rushed quickly off his line to smother the ball at the feet of Nketiah.
The hosts were keeping the pressure on the O’s at this point, when Jesus brought a long ball down remarkably and played in Nketiah, but a superb block from Brandon Cooper touched the ball past the post.
Howes was again on hand to deny Nketiah, producing a fine save down low to deny the English international.
Orient’s goalkeeper continue to frustrate the Arsenal frontman, excellently tipping the striker’s effort onto the post.
Just before the break, a surging run from Jordan Brown saw the O’s midfielder take aim from around 20 yards, but his effort was deflected wide of the target.
Half-time: Arsenal 1-0 Leyton Orient
Orient made seven changes at half-time with Omar Beckles, Dan Happe, Diallang Jaiyesimi, Sonny Perkins, Darren Pratley and two trialists entering the pitch. Arsenal also made three alterations to their XI.
Three minutes into the second half, Martin Odegaard’s lofted through ball found Jesus, who squared the ball to half-time substitute Emile Smith-Rowe, who struck powerfully to extend the Gunners lead.
Orient looked for an instant response with Dan Agyei taking aim from the edge of the 18-yard box, but couldn’t hit the target with his strike.
Smith Rowe looked for his second and Arsenal’s third in the 57th minute, but shot wide from outside the Orient penalty area.
Arsenal made seven changes on the 60-minute mark, whilst Zech Obiero came on in place of Dan Agyei.
67 minutes into the fixture, Sonny Perkins had a big chance to pull a goal back for the O’s, but he was unable to beat Arsenal goalkeeper, Hein.
Smith Rowe, the senior name in the Arsenal XI for the final 30 minutes continued to look to make things happen, putting a dangerous delivery into the Orient area, but it couldn’t be tapped home past Orient substitute goalkeeper Noah Phillips.
Phillips made a very tidy save in the 86th minute, denying Ethan Nwaneri.
Despite enjoying the majority of possession in the closing stages, the hosts were unable to extend their lead further, as the fixture finished 2-0.
Full-time: Arsenal 2-0 Leyton Orient
Arsenal XI: Hein (Nygaard 70), White (Rosiak 60), Timber (Rekik 46), Heaven (Monlouis 60), Lewis-Skelly (Nichols 60), Partey (Patino 46), Odegaard (Gower 60), Nelson (Nwaneri 60), Vieira (Smith-Rowe 46), Jesus (Salah Oulad-M'hand 60), Nketiah (Sagoe Jr 60).
Orient first-half XI - Howes, James, Simpson, Cooper, Sweeney, Warrington, Brown, Agyei, Galbraith, O'Neill, Kelman.
Orient second-half XI - Howes (Phillips), Cooper, Beckles, Happe, Simpson, Trialist (Pegrum), Pratley, Jaiyesimi, Agyei (Obiero), Trialist, Perkins.
