Randall makes Champions League debut as Arsenal win

18 year-old midfielder Mark Randall came on for the last eight minutes of tonight’s UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round 1st Leg win over FC Twente after replacing Theo Walcott and occupied a position on the right side of midfield. Mark, wearing the no.47 shirt which he occupied during pre-season, showed a couple of good touches as Arsenal saw out the game. The Gunners won 2-0 thanks to second half goals from captain William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor, who was set up by Walcott. Kieran Gibbs, meanwhile, was an unused substitute.

In other news, loanee Kerrea Gilbert’s Leicester City side have been handed a tricky away trip to Fulham in the Carling Cup second round draw.

Pre-season summary, news round-up

PRE-SEASON SUMMARY

Arsenal’s pre-season kicked off on Saturday July 19th at Underhill Stadium as the Gunners took on Barnet. Second-half goals from Jay Simpson and Nacer Barazite cancelled out Kenny Gillet’s opener to give Arsenal a 2-1 win. The match also saw a debut handed to Francis Coquelin who impressed in midfield.

Next up was the trip to Austria and Hungary and Wenger included Wilshere, Lansbury, G.Hoyte, Coquelin, Randall and Simpson in his squad. The first game was a 1-1 draw with Szombatheyli Haladas with Coquelin again impressing, whilst Theo Walcott scored Arsenal’s goal.

Then came the 10-2 thrashing of Burgenland, with Nicklas Bendtner grabbing four, Carlos Vela scoring a hat-trick and Jack Wilshere getting two including one from the penalty spot.

A stronger side started the next fixture against Stuttgart but Arsenal had to rely on the youngsters to do the job with Vela, Bendtner and Wilshere all on target in a 3-1 win.

Then came the Emirates Cup, with Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs starting the defeat to Juventus, with Wilshere also in action in the 1-0 win over Real Madrid the next day as he showed his class again.

After that, a young side dispatched of Huddersfield with a 2-1 win to claim the Herbert Chapman trophy. Sanchez Watt and Nacer Barazite scoring Arsenal’s goals.

The Amsterdam Tournament saw a sub appearance for Wilshere against Ajax, whilst Thomas, Gibbs and Randall joined him in the starting line-up for the 1-1 draw with Sevilla which was enough to win the Amsterdam Tournament for the second year in a row.

The Reserves also played three friendlies of their own. Kieran Gibbs was on target in the 1-0 win over Crawley, whilst Fonte and Barazite strikes saw off Rushden & Diamonds. Last night, Fonte hit a brace and Simpson and Murphy also found the net in a 4-0 win over Boreham Wood.

Fran Merida is set to rejoin Real Sociedad on loan, Theo Walcott has been named in the latest England u-21 squad, whilst Arsene Wenger says that Jack Wilshere needs a breather. You can view pictures from last night’s 4-0 win over Boreham Wood here.