The Socceroos emerged victorious in their last match before the start of the Asian Cup.
Soccer: Perth-born, Wales-raised right-back Gethin Jones is set to make his debut for Australia against Bahrain ahead of the Socceroos’ Asia Cup campaign.
An own goal from Bahrain defender Amin Benadi and a header from Mitch Duke ensured the Socceroos’ victory in the Asia Cup pre-match in Abu Dhabi.
“It was a great hit out,” Arnold told Paramount+.
“It was a pretty physical game and you play against these types of countries (and) how calm they are, as long as they can present and train and prepare, they play like that. It’s always great to play against someone who does that.”
“It was a perfect match that will lead us to the Asian Cup.”
Arnold gave Perth-born and Wales-raised Bolton Wanderers defender Gethin Jones his Soccerers debut, playing him at right-back in a starting back four that included Cameron Burgess, Harry Souter and Jordan Boss. Ta.
Midfielder Jackson Irvine captained the team in the absence of regular captain goalkeeper Matt Ryan, who has not yet fully recovered from a fractured cheekbone he suffered last month.
Ryan’s absence also allowed Adelaide United gloveman Joe Gauci to earn his second Socceroos cap.
Gauci was rarely called into the match against a Bahrain team who, apart from a sharp save in the second half, posed little threat to the Socceroos.
“These kinds of countries, especially against us, are always on the back foot, and they’re always trying to fight back against us,” Arnold said.
“It was important for us to make the rest of our defense strong and send a lot of players up front so they wouldn’t get caught up on the break.
“They only had one shot on goal the whole game, which was good.”
Attackingly, the Socceroos were a little clumsy at times, but that didn’t stop them from taking the lead in the 35th minute, when Bennadi was left staggering as he tried to clear a dangerous low cross from winger Craig Goodwin. He poured the ball into his own net.
Goodwin also contributed to Australia’s second goal in the 61st minute when he headed a cross from the far post from midfielder Aiden O’Neill into the path of Duke and slotted the ball into the goal from close range. .
Arnold made six changes in the second half and then substituted Duke and Goodwin to prepare his players for next weekend’s Asia Cup Group B match against India in Qatar.
Other starters were Jones, Burgess, attacker Sammy Silvera and midfielder Connor Metcalfe.
The six players off the bench were defenders Nathaniel Atkinson, Kai Rowles and Aziz Behic, attackers Marco Thirio and Kusini Yengi, and midfielder Riley McGree, who returned from a foot injury. .
“We made a lot of changes and used guys who haven’t played in a while,” Arnold said.
“It just shows you how much depth we’re creating and building with these six boys that I’ve brought in.
“This is pretty much what I’ve been trying to do for the last four years, which was to add depth to our football players because we had a lot of older players.
“You’ll see some of the young players coming in. They’re doing well, (and) they have experience.”