International Watch: Arshavin makes comeback

This week a number of Arsenal first-team players have been in action in international friendlies across the globe.

As always Arsenal.com will keep you posted on their success. Below is a round-up of how our stars got on playing for their nations.

Andrey Arshavin
Hungary 1-1 Russia, Friendly
Wednesday, March 3
Andrey Arshavin returned from a hamstring injury as a half-time substitute in Russia's 1-1 draw with Hungary on Wednesday. Defender Vilmos Vanczak gave the hosts a 39th-minute lead before Everton's Diniyar Bilyaletdinov levelled just before the hour.

Bacary Sagna and Cesc Fabregas
France 0-2 Spain, Friendly
Wednesday, March 3
Bacary Sagna and Cesc Fabregas went head-to-head on Wednesday night as Spain won 2-0 at the Stade de France. David Villa opened the scoring after 21 minutes and Sergio Ramos added a second just before half-time. Fabregas was withdrawn at the break but Sagna remained on the field until the final whistle.

Nicklas Bendtner
Austria 2-1 Denmark, Friendly
Wednesday, March 3
Nicklas Bendtner scored as Denmark lost 2-1 in Austria on Wednesday night. The striker played 61 minutes for his nation and equalised in the 17th minute to cancel out a strike by Franz Schiemer. However, Austria's lead was restored seven minutes before half-time by Roman Wallner. Denmark are set to face the Netherlands, Japan and Cameroon in the World Cup group stage, meaning Bendtner could come up against Arsenal team-mates Robin van Persie and Alex Song.

Thomas Vermaelen and Eduardo
Belgium 0-1 Croatia, Friendly
Wednesday, March 3
Belgium captain Thomas Vermaelen played 90 minutes in a 1-0 defeat to Eduardo's Croatia in Brussels on Wednesday night. The Arsenal striker was introduced as a second-half substitute shortly before Niko Kranjcar put the visitors ahead. Neither team qualified for this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

Theo Walcott
England 3-1 Egypt, Friendly
Wednesday, March 3
Theo Walcott played the first 57 minutes of England's 3-1 friendly win over Egypt at Wembley on Wednesday night. The visitors took the lead through Mohamed Zidan in the 23rd minute but Peter Crouch kick-started a second-half comeback with a 56th-minute strike. His effort was followed up by Shaun Wright-Phillips and Crouch added his second with 10 minutes remaining.

Alex Song
Italy 0-0 Cameroon, Friendly
Wednesday, March 3
Alex Song played 57 minutes for Cameroon as they held Italy to a goalless draw in Monaco on Wednesday night. It was the Africans' first international since their Cup of Nations Quarter-Final defeat to Egypt.

Tomas Rosicky
Scotland 1-0 Czech Republic, Friendly
Wednesday, March 3
Tomas Rosicky played the opening 66 minutes as the Czech Republic suffered a 1-0 defeat to Scotland at Hampden Park on Wednesday night. Scott Brown scored the only goal of the match in the 62nd minute to give new manager Craig Levein an opening-game victory.

Carlos Vela
New Zealand 0-2 Mexico, Friendly
Thursday, March 4
Carlos Vela came off the bench to score for Mexico in a 2-0 victory over New Zealand at the Rose Bowl Stadium in California. Javier Hernandez got the first for Mexico in the 53rd minute and shortly afterwards Vela slotted in from 12 yards after a forward run. Mexico face South Africa, France and Uruguay in their World Cup group.

Emmanuel Eboue
South Korea 2-0 Ivory Coast, Friendly
Wednesday, March 3
Emmanuel Eboue played 90 minutes of Ivory Coast's 2-0 defeat to South Korea at QPR's Loftus Road on Wednesday afternoon. It was the managerless Ivorians' first match since the Africa Cup of Nations but it started badly when Lee Dong-Gook netted for Korea four minutes in. Eboue's side remained in the game until the final minute when Kwak Tae-Hwi sealed the victory for Korea.

[Thursday, March 04, 2010]

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