Premiership aspirants enjoy mixed fortunes
Bendtner scores first goals
Saturday, 28, Jul 2007 08:08
Premiership title aspirants Chelsea and Arsenal enjoyed mixed fortunes today in warm-up games in the build-up to the start of the new season.
Playing in the inaugural Emirates Cup at Ashburton Grove, a youthful Arsenal side showed moments of promise in defeating Paris St Germain (PSG) 2-1.
Despite bossing the game for much of the first half, PSG went behind after Mathieu Flamini hit the back of the net from close range to hand the Gunners a 1-0 half-time lead.
Danish international Bendtner, who spent a profitable period on loan last term at Birmingham City, scored his first goal in Arsenal colours in the 70th minute to double the home team's advantage.
The lanky striker out-muscled PSG's goal-custodian Mickael Landreau and poked the ball home from close range, displaying the kind of opportunism which Arsenal have not been renowned for in front of goal in recent times.
Arsenal had the opportunity to restore a two-goal lead in the final minutes, after Peguy Luyindula had given PSG hope of snatching a draw by slotting home from an accurate cross from the right.
Aleksandr Hleb was sandwiched by two PSG players as he stole into the area, but Bendtner's subsequent penalty was easily saved by Landreau.
Earlier this afternoon, Chelsea were surprisingly defeated 2-0 by Glasgow Rangers at Ibrox.
Two late goals from Nacho Novo and Filip Sebo will not have pleased Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, whose team philosophy places great emphasis on a solid defence.