by Lee Hurley

Arsenal get their pre-season underway with a game against a Singapore XI and their goalkeeper is expecting to have his hands full.

Speaking to the press ahead of the game, Izwan Mahbud is no stranger to busy evenings having had to produce an astounding 18 saves to keep Japan out recently and he will be expected to do more of the same when he faces a strong Gunners side in the Barclay’s Asia Trophy on Wednesday night.

“I don’t know about that (bettering 18 saves), but there will be more shots,” Izwan said at the pre-match press conference at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Monday. “I see them (Arsenal) on TV and they have many attacking-minded players.

Mahbud (left) poses with V Sundramoorthy during the pre-match press conference ahead of the match between Arsenal and Singapore of the 2015 Barclays Asia Trophy Tournament at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on July 14, 2015 in Singapore. Photo: Getty Images
Mahbud (left) poses with V Sundramoorthy during the pre-match press conference ahead of the match between Arsenal and Singapore of the 2015 Barclays Asia Trophy Tournament at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on July 14, 2015 in Singapore. Photo: Getty Images

 

“About the record, let’s see about that tomorrow. My preparations are the same. There will be some nervousness but when I step onto the pitch, it will be a different ball game.”

Arsenal used the trip to Singapore as an opportunity to provide the fans there the chance to witness an event they would have otherwise had to watch on TV. Launching their away kit, the Gunners paraded nine of their biggest stars (and Mathieu Flamini) with the players all seeming to really enjoy the occasion in front of a large crowd of adoring fans.

Arsenal will face either Stoke or Everton on Sunday in the final of the competition or the third/fourth play off game should they lose to Singapore.