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Arsenal 1 - 0 Liverpool (12.08.2002)
Arsene Wenger expressed his delight after new signing Gilberto Silva came off the bench to score the winning goal against Liverpool in the FA Community Shield.
Our Brazilian midfielder was a surprise inclusion on the team-sheet as it had been suggested his registration would not be processed in time for the traditional curtain-raiser to the new season at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Silva replaced compatriot Edu at half time and then showed perfect timing of his own as he met Dennis Bergkamp?s clever cut-back with a low shot past Jerzy Dudek in the 69th minute.
We held on despite some Liverpool pressure to start the new season as we ended the last ? by winning trophies.
"I am happy for him because he is a bright, intelligent boy," Wenger told Arsenal.com. ?He makes things simple and, as we have seen, he gets into the box at the right time.
"I think he was surprised by the physical side today but he will adapt quickly to that and I think he`ll be very strong player for us".
"Brazilian football is physical too but you have more room. People close you down quickly over here and you must get used to that."
The manager was pleased with the rest of his side as well after a fluent, combative display.
"It was a competitive game and got quite physical at times but we looked quite mature," he said. "Maybe we could improve our sharpness on some occasions but we looked confident and passed well for the first 25 minutes".
After that we lost our way a little but overall we created chances to win the game. We had four or five clear opportunities and Jerzy Dudek had a great game. He kept them in the match while David Seaman did not have too many a save to make.
After we scored we came under pressure in the final 20 minutes but we never really came under threat apart from free-kicks and throw-ins.
"When you play friendlies you play at one level but you need to get that competitiveness back. It`s important to get back to the real world of the Premiership."
Wenger`s starting XI was not a surprise. The back four was the one that played a large proportion of last season?s Double-winning campaign. However Tony Adams, who lifted the FA Cup on our last visit to the Millennium Stadium in May, was absent having officially announced his retirement on the morning of the match.
Elsewhere, Sylvain Wiltord filled the berth on the left-hand side of midfield with Edu joining Patrick Vieira in the centre. There was familiarity up front in the long-serving partnership of Theirry Henry and Bergkamp. But the bench included new faces in
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JeremieAliadiere, Kolo Toure Pascal Cygan and, of course, Silva.
We began with confidence and fired the first shot across the Liverpool bow when Sol Campbell flashed a header wide after only two minutes. Although we continued to look the sharper side, it took until the 15th minute for us to threaten again.
First, Bergkamp?s goal-bound volley was blocked by Abel Xavier after a neat flick by Henry, then our French striker tried a speculative curler from 10 yards but Dudek easily gathered.
Three minutes later, the Liverpool stopper was worked significantly harder. He beat away Henry?s fierce drive, then parried Bergkamp?s follow up and, finally, snaffled a third effort after the ball had once again rebounded to our Dutch frontman.
Liverpool drew the first save from Seaman on the half hour when Emile Heskey escaped on the right side of the area. However the angle was too acute and our England No 1 blocked his shot. Although it heralded a period of pressure for Gerard Houllier?s side, their best efforts were a couple of long-range drives from Jon Arne Riise.
Henry burst clear and, via Wiltord, gave Ray Parlour the chance to fire across the face of goal as we finished the half in comfort.
Wenger introduced Silva as light rain began falling after half-time. Our new Brazilian midfield had barely touched the ball when Henry latched on to Bergkamp?s astute through pass and raced clear. The Frenchman managed to squeeze his shot under Dudek?s body but, with the goal gaping, the ball cannoned off an upright and away to safety.
Wiltord and then Henry tested Dudek in the following few minutes as, again, we started the half in the ascendancy. But Liverpool responded quickly with El Hadj Diouf and Owen sending thunderous efforts just wide.
In the 59th minute, the England striker went even closer. Steven Gerrard?s low corner bobbled dangerous across our area and Owen just failed to get the required touch to turn the ball in at the far post.
Ten minutes later we took the lead through Silva, much to the delight of his new team-mates.
Liverpool`s biggest hope of an equaliser came though Diouf. But the Senegal midfielder failed to trouble Seaman and we held on to take our first trophy of the season.
ARSENAL
David Seaman
Lauren
Martin Keown
Sol Campbell
Ashley Cole
Ray Parlour
Patrick Vieira
Edu
Gilberto Silva
Sylvain Wiltord
Theirry Henry
Dennis Bergkamp
Kolo Toure
SUBS
Stuart Taylor
Pascal Cygan
Matthew Upson
Oleg Luzhny
Jeremie Aliadiere
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