Stevenage Borough
This game took place at Stevenage's home ground, Broadhall Way, on Wednesday 17th July at 8pm as part of the club's pre-season friendly fixtures, this was Stevenage's Paul Fairclough's testimonial.
Final result was 6-1 to Arsenal with Arsenal's goals scored by Juan (27'), Edu (57'), Liam Chilvers (68'), Jermaine Brown (75'), Paulinho (82') & Graham Barrett (83'). Stevenage's goal scorer was Robin Trott (40') (although credited on the night to a Stevenage fan, Dave Ratcliffe, who had contributed to the testimonial fund for the opportunity to play against the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Ray Parlour).
The game was watched by approximately 6,500 people.
The Evening Standard reported the game, thus: "Wenger saw his side - lacking his players on World Cup duty - demolish a past-and-present S t evenag e XI 6- 1 in a testimonial for their former manager Paul Fairclough. And there was evidence of the growing impact of Brazilian Edu. It is important to keep in mind the quality of the opposition - especially when for 20 minutes Stevenage included a fan, one Dave Ratcliffe, who had contributed to the testimonial fund to play against the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Ray Parlour. As a further egoboost, Ratcliffe was even credited with the Stevenage goal which was in fact scored by Robin Trott. But Edu illuminated the evening with a spectacular goal from the Brazilian repertoire, though Wenger admitted that he had very nearly released the midfield man signed from Corinthians for £6 million two years ago. "Yes, I was very close to letting him go," said Wenger. "Now he is becoming an important player and that shows at times you need to be very patient. I was thinking about letting him go because he didn't play for so long. I never doubted his qualities but if a guy cannot show how good he is you have to think 'Can he make it or not'. I gave him a chance in the right period in the season. He is now very much part of the firstteam squad here." Pascal Cygan made an assured Arsenal debut as the Gunners began the game with eight first- team players. Wenger views the 28-year-old Frenchman as the centre-back successor to 35-year-old Highbury legend Tony Adams, due to announce his retirement. Juan's lucky drive gave Arsenal the lead - and after Robin Trott's tame equaliser came Edu's 25-yard show-stealer. Young prospects Liam Chilvers, Jermaine Brown and Graham Barrett got in on the act during a late flurry of goals, with Brazilian Paulinho also getting on the scoresheet."
The offical report from Arsenal.com: "The World Cup may be over but it seems the Brazilians don't know how to stop partying, as our trio of Edu, Juan and Paulinho all hit the target in a 6-1 victory. Our first pre-season game, a testimonial for former Boro manager Paul Fairclough, saw new signing Pascal Cygan pull on the red and white for the first time, and he was solid and impressive for the first 70 minutes of his Highbury career. The tall Frenchman dealt ably with long balls into the area, and his passing was always accurate. Also on display was our new home shirt, with the new sponsors name, pulled on for the first time in this match. But it was our attacking force which was to grab most of the headlines. Young left-back Juan, playing on the left of midfield for the first half, opened the scoring with almost half an hour on the clock with a hard, low drive from outside the area. But 15 minutes later Stevenage equalised thanks to a scrambled goal from a corner. Any number of players got a touch to it, but the final touch belonged to Robin Trott. Half time saw Arsenal make substitutions en masse, and a number of younger players got their chance. But the goal deluge began with the experienced Edu, who - with probably his last touch before being substituted - fired in an awesome long-range shot. Eleven minutes later it was the turn of the English to get on the scoresheet, when Liam Chilvers drew the Boro 'keeper and chipped over him into the top corner. With 75 minutes on the clock David Bentley put in a corner from the right and Jermaine Brown was there to head it goalwards. And another seven minutes later the Brazilians took over again when Paulinho fired a shot which the diving 'keeper could only get a finger to. And almost immediately from the restart Graham Barrett was free on goal and lobbed a shot from the edge of the box. In the end this was an easy game for the Gunners, and a gentle warm-up for the new season ahead. As well as the more experienced players on display, our youngsters show that the future is looking even brighter for Arsenal."
