Arsenal are up and running. On an occasion shaped by enthusiasm in the stands and virtual non-league levels from the hosts, Arsène Wenger's team strolled to a victory that pleased him most for the workout it provided, particularly for his younger players.
In stifling temperatures the grandly billed Indonesia Dream Team were more the stuff of nightmares but as the mis-match played out Arsenal went through their full repertoire. If any opponents are even faintly as obliging during the English season, Wenger will be overjoyed.
His first-half team ought to have led by a bucketload only to content themselves with Theo Walcott's early finish but the rout felt inevitable and it came to pass when Arsenal turned the screw in the closing stages. There was a celebration of lethal finishing from Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski, together with Kris Olsson and Thomas Eisfeld, all second-half substitutes, and it was of plain delight to the supporters, who were the real winners.
This was an exhibition in the truest sense and everybody had come to see Arsenal. The locals had all of the banners and songs, and they even cleared their throats for the abusive one about Robin van Persie, proving that Premier League tribalism has made the long trek to east Asia. It was both amusing and slightly disconcerting. "I felt that we played at home," Wenger said.
To paraphrase the Frenchman, there is a purity in the love for Arsenal in these parts; nobody takes them for granted, and particularly not in Indonesia, which has felt off-limits to touring clubs since Manchester United cancelled their visit here three years ago after their hotel was bombed before their arrival.
Arsenal have led the return. After them come Liverpool and Chelsea. It is impossible to overstate how happy everybody is to see them.
The security has left nothing to chance – the team's hotel has resembled a fortress – and it has been impossible to ignore the relentlessly gridlocked traffic. Apparently, it is worse outside Ramadan; Arsenal have been grateful to their police outriders. Yet in the evening heat, with this 88,000-capacity stadium two-thirds full, it was all about thrilling to Arsenal's baby steps.
Wenger gave an opportunity to a clutch of youngsters, with Serge Gnabry lively off the left wing, and the gulf in power, penetration and technique between the teams was evident at the outset. The marketeer who dreamed up the Dream Team moniker must have been at the sauce.
Arsenal called the tune, winning possession easily, finding space and stroking the ball about under no pressure. Aaron Ramsey, or Mr Handsome as he is known in Asia, probed intelligently. He was not afraid to shoot and his footwork was, at times, spellbinding, while his team threatened with every forward thrust.
The first half's only goal came after one of the many Dream Team errors. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who played in central midfield, blazed away from two defenders and cut the ball back astutely for Walcott. The winger opened up his body to execute a trademark low, side-footed finish with his right foot. It was the goal that the home-from-home crowd wanted. To them, Walcott is the poster boy. He enjoyed the biggest cheers.
It was interesting to see Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield, alongside Ramsey and in front of Mikel Arteta. Wenger has said that he sees Oxlade-Chamberlain in the position in the longer term and the England international drove repeatedly into the box. The caveat was the quality of the opposition.
Wenger made changes at half-time but the pattern was entrenched. Arsenal were simply quicker to everything. Chuba Akpom, a case study in persistence up front, who earned a post-match namecheck from Wenger, tapped home after Gnabry's trickery and cross, and it was left to see how many Arsenal would deign to score.
Giroud twice finished from Bacary Sagna crosses; Podolski brought down that hammer of a left foot; Olsson arrived at the far post to guide home a volley; and Eisfeld blasted in off the underside of the crossbar. The truth was that the scoreline could have been heavier.
"It was a positive night for us," Wenger said. His squad will travel to Vietnam with their spirits pepped.
Arsenal (4-1-4-1): Fabianski (Martínez, 62); Jenkinson (Sagna, 62), Mertesacker (Aneke, h-t), Miquel, Gibbs (Koscielny, h-t); Arteta (Zelalem, h-t); Walcott (Eisfeld, h-t), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Olsson, h-t), Ramsey (Rosicky, 62), Gnabry (Podolski, 62); Akpom (Giroud, 62).
Subs not used Szczesny, Wilshere, Miyaichi.
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