Olivier Giroud did his best to convince manager Arsene Wenger that he does not need to sign a new striker this summer with a quickfire brace to get Arsenal's pre-season campaign off to a winning start.
The France international, who was the Gunners first-choice centre-forward last season, scored twice within minutes of coming on as a second half substitute to fire the perfect reminder to Wenger, as the Barclays Premier League side smashed seven past an Indonesian Dream Team in Jakarta.Arsene Wenger fielded a strong team for his side's first pre-season match of the summer, Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs all starting the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Pick that one out: Olivier Giroud netted a superb second goal to make it four
MATCH FACTS
Arsenal:
Fabianski (Martinez 68); Jenkinson (Sagna 68), Miquel, Mertesacker
(Koscielny 46), Gibbs; Arteta (Zelalem 46), Ramsey (Rosicky 68),
Oxlade-Chamberlain (Olsson 46); Gnabry (Podolski 68), Akpom (Giroud 68),
Walcott (Eisfeld 46). Subs not used: Szczesny, Wilshere, Aneke, Ryo
Goals: Walcott 19, Akpom 54, Giroud 70, 74, Podolski 83, Olsson 85, Eisfeld 87
Indonesia XI: Meiga; Sanadi, Igbonefo, Solossa, Maitimo; Van Dijk, Kabes, Wanggai, Jufrianto; Roby, Kipuw. Subs: Syukur, Salampessy, Sucipto, Wahyu, Wirawan, Mofu, Pae, Ripora, Bonay, Mokodompit, Pellu, Rahadhan
Goals: Walcott 19, Akpom 54, Giroud 70, 74, Podolski 83, Olsson 85, Eisfeld 87
Indonesia XI: Meiga; Sanadi, Igbonefo, Solossa, Maitimo; Van Dijk, Kabes, Wanggai, Jufrianto; Roby, Kipuw. Subs: Syukur, Salampessy, Sucipto, Wahyu, Wirawan, Mofu, Pae, Ripora, Bonay, Mokodompit, Pellu, Rahadhan
As you'd expect Arsenal looked comfortable in possession from the start, with the central midfield trio of Arteta, Ramsey and Oxlade-Chamberlain all having an early influence.
Akpom squandered another chance in the seventh minute, firing an angled shot wide after good work from Serge Gnabry.
Arteta then fired a venomous drive from 25 yards narrowly wide of Kurnia Meiga's far post three minutes later as Arsenal searched for an opener.
The impressive Gnabry then pierced through the home side's defence with a pacy run, cutting inside from the left-hand touchline, but his low strike was held by Meiga.
But the Gunners finally made their dominance pay in the 18th minute, Walcott cooly slotting home from 13 yards after excellent work from Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The goal was no more than Arsenal deserved after their bright start, and it was to their credit that they didn't take their foot off the gas after breaking the deadlock.
Akpom and Gibbs both missed golden chances to double Arsenal's lead before the break as the Londoners turned the screw.
Big guns: Olivier Giroud (left) started dancing
when he appeared on the big screen but Jack Wilshere (right) did not
play because of flu
Young Gunner: Gedion Zelalem (left) was given a run out in the second half by Arsene Wenger
Hands up: Arsenal celebrate scoring during the friendly
Wenger made five changes at half-time, Laurent Koscielny, Gedion Zelalem, Kris Olsson, Thomas Eisfeld and Chuks Aneke replacing Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta, Mertesacker and Walcott.
And the changes paid instant dividend as Akpom stroked home from close range after Gnabry's low cross.
Despite doubling their lead, the substitutions clearly disrupted Arsenal's flow as they struggled to replicate their first-half fluency during the opening stages of the second half.
Wenger threw on four of his big-guns to add fresh impetus into his side, Bacary Sagna, Olivier Giroud, Tomas Rosicky and Lukas Podolski all coming on.
Super sub: Arsenal's Lukas Podolski (left) came on and scored
Committed: Podolski fights for the ball
On the double: Giroud, left, scored twice for Arsenal
First, Giroud beat Meiga with a deft flick after Sagna's low cross in the 70th minute and the France striker combined with the right-back again just three minutes later, rifling a powerful drive past the helpless Meiga.
Podolski made it five, smashing a low drive home after Rosicky's delicate touch, before Olsson slid home at the back post to make it six.
Eisfeld completed the scoring, hammering a shot home off the underside of the bar as Arsenal cruised to victory.
Backing: Arsena hold up a banner thanking the fans
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