Pre-season Friendly : Ajax 2-3 Arsenal (video link)

Emmanuel Adebayor struck twice as Arsenal came from behind to beat hosts Ajax 3-2 at the Amsterdam Tournament.


Bonus Video link ... all five goals

With a Champions League qualifier in Holland against Steve McClaren's FC Twente coming on August 13th, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had suggested this encounter would serve as "ideal preparation" for the opening of the new campaign.

Arsenal named a strong XI, which included a first start of pre-season for Euro 2008 winner Cesc Fabregas - while defender Kolo Toure also featured, fit again following his bout of malaria.

And it proved to be a good test, as the Dutch side - beaten by FC Twente in a play-off for a crack at Europe's elite club competition - went into the break 2-0 ahead following quick-fire goals from Uruguay striker Luis Suarez and highly-rated captain Klaas Jan Huntelaar.

Arsenal rallied in the second half and were given a lifeline through Adebayor's bullet header - before, with 15 minutes left, substitute Nicklas Bendtner levelled the scores.

There was still time for a winner too - which came when Adebayor slotted home from Denilson's pass following another slick passing move by the Barclays Premier League club.

Stumble It!

Preseason wins for Chelsea, Arsenal, Hamburg and Ajax

Nicolas Anelka scored four times as Chelsea tore apart a weakened Milan team 5-0 in their pre-season friendly.

Without Kaka or Ronaldinho, the Italians fell behind to Frank Lampard's second minute opener, and were never in the game as the Blues emphatically settled the third-place play-off in the Railways Cup.

There were four goals for Anelka during a game where Milan looked barely interested, especialy after finding themselves 0-3 down at halftime.

In London, a near-full strength Arsenal beat Real Madrid 1-0 at the Emirates, with Emmanuel Adebayor scoring the winner in the second half.

Unlike yesterday's match against Juventus, Arsene Wenger chose a strong side - led by captain William Gallas, with Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor also featuring, and home start for summer signing Samir Nasri on the left of midfield.

Hamburg won the Emirates Cup with a 3-0 victory over Juventus taking them to 7 points in the mini-league that also awards a point for each goal scored.

Sunderland lost 1-0 at home to Ajax. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored the only goal in the 80th minute at the Stadium of Light.

Stumble It!

Arsenal and Ajax look to link-up

Arsene Wenger has said that Arsenal are looking to create a "relationship" with Ajax from next season.

Marco van Basten, who will step down as Holland coach after Euro 2008 to take charge of the Amsterdam club, has visited Wenger this week. The two men discussed the possibility of a mutually beneficial agreement that could see players loaned out from Arsenal to Ajax.

"Van Basten visited us at the training ground this week," Wenger wrote in his programme notes for the Premier League clash with Liverpool.

"We spoke a bit about Euro 2008 and about Ajax, because he is taking over there in the summer. We also spoke about how he wants to see the future of the club and how he wants to work there, and any similarities with our policy at Arsenal, and about whether they can take players on loan for example."

-----

GOONER ADDS : Obviously this would be a huge boost for both clubs - who these days are well known and admired for their attacking philosophy in football.

For us football oldies who remember the time of "Dutch Total Football" and "Playing The Ajax Way" anything that helps Arsenal to learn and play this way is a great development.

Stumble It!

Marco Van Basten to coach Ajax

Dutch legend coach Marco van Basten will become the new Ajax coach next season.

The former AC Milan striker will manage Holland in Euro2008 before stepping down to take over at his former club on 1 July.

Van Basten, three times a winner of the European player of the year award, had been linked with Chelsea and Barcelona - but he has agreed a four-year deal with Ajax after good friend Johan Cruyff was charged with overseeing an overhaul of the ailing Amsterdam club.

Van Basten - a former Ajax youth coach - will be assisted by John van't Schip and Rob Witschge, who are also currently with the national side.

He will take over from Adrie Koster, who succeeded Henk ten Cate on a temporary basis after he joined Chelsea last October.

Stumble It!