Arsenal Football Club put a damper on the pageantry and glitz and glamour of the MLS All Star game Wednesday night. It only took 5 minutes for Arsenal to flex it's muscle when Gabriel Jesus audaciously chipped St. Louis FC keeper Roman Burki opening up the scoring.
MLS All Stars had a brief response but we're not technical or ruthless enough in the final third to threaten the gunners. Leandro Trossard doubled Arsenal's lead from the top of the box beating Burki again with another top class goal. That is how the half ended with Arsenal leading 2-0.
Arsenal wasted no time to get going in the second half earning a penalty within the first few moments of the kickoff of the half. Jorginho hopped, skipped and froze Tyler Miller tripling the lead for Arsenal.
With both teams making whole sale changes seeing Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice make their Arsenal debuts AFC did not stop their onslaught. A goal from Gabriel Martinelli from a sumptuous through ball from Martin Odegaard and a Kai Havertz half volley capped the scoring for the Arsenal.
For New England Djordje Petrovic and Carles Gil played, but both were unable to effect the game as they usually do for the Revs. Gil missing a sitter and Petro beaten twice in a matter of minutes is something we usually don't see.
The most glaring detail of the night was the technical ability of both teams. Yes MLS All Stars didn't have time to properly prepare, but the gulf in technical class was massive. This has to be an eye opener for MLS. Perhaps they change the format going forward with either an East vs West game, or a matchup against Liga MX All Stars again.
Off the field MLS knows how to put on a good show. Before kickoff there was a flyover with 4 F-16 fighter jets. Grammy award nominee Brian McKnight again proved his voice is timeless in his rendition of the star spangled banner. Concluding the pregame festivities was a fireworks display. That was the only fireworks for MLS All Stars and the league needs to look in the mirror next time they want to play a top world club team in an All Star game.
I particularly enjoyed Jorginho shit talking Tyler Miller and then scoring a pk on him.