Barnet suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal at today's opening Pre-Season Friendly at Underhill. o

However, The Bees more than matched their Premiership counterparts over the 90 minutes and the near-capacity crowd of 5,091 were treated to an excellent afternoon's entertainment.

After a five minute delay to kick off to allow all supporters to enter the ground, a minute silence was impeccably observed for first-team coach John Harding who tragically passed away this summer.

Arsenal, shooting towards the South Stand, were quick off the blocks and their first attempt came after just two minutes from Ivorian striker Emmanuel Adebayor, however he skewed his volley high and wide of the goal.

Dutchman, Robin van Persie, returning from a foot injury, saw his free kick comfortably fall into the hands of new club captain Lee Harrison after ten minutes as Arsenal continued to press forward.

The aforementioned Adebayor was to open the scoring on 18 minutes as a static Bees defence watched Theo Walcott place his cross to be be fired home by Adebayor.

Howeve, Arsenal were not having it all their own way in an even first 20 minutes. Soon after the restart, an excellent move involving Jason Puncheon, Adam Birchall and Liam Hatch saw Puncheon go one on one with Gunners keeper Manuel Almunia, however the Spaniard did well and blocked Puncheon's effort.

The game was beginning to open up with both sides having efforts on goal. Another pin-point cross from Walcott landed straight to van Persie whose header bounced back off the crossbar.

After 34 minutes, Brazilian star Denilson was allowed space outside the Bees box but fired his shot just wide of Lee Harrison's goal.

The game slowed down in pace as referee Mick Russell bought the first half to a close.

Both sides made numerous changes at the break, with the Bees fielding a number of trialists.

Arsenal started brightly in the second half, and it was Adebayor again with a good chance in front goal. Chasing a long ball over the top, Adebayor shot just wide across the face of substitute keeper David Blackmore.

Two minutes later, midfielder Denilson went down heavily under the challenge of Jason Puncheon and was stretchered from the underhill turf. 16 year old Henri Lansbury took his place in the heart of midfield.

Arsenal continued to look dangerous, and Walcott was again causing problems on the right hand side with his cross nearly converted by Adebayor.

And they were to add a second after Lansbury's pass sent Nacer Barazite on a mazy run and he fired a sweet shot from the edge of the box into the back of the net for 2-0.

After this, Walcott, Toure, Flamini and Adebayor were replaced as the Gunners side was completely changed from the one that started.

On 71 minutes, Anthony Thomas who was signed from Hemel Hempstead Town, went on a determined run of his own and was unfortunate not to score as he just ran the ball on too far before getting his shot away.

Puncheon was a continuous thorn in Arsenal's side and was dangerous throughout. On 76 minutes, he broke away from the half way line and sent trialist Stefan Seanla through on goal. Seanla saw his shot saved by Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and was unable to get a clean shot away on the rebound.

On 81 minutes, Armand Traore sent a bullet heading towards the top corner, but Blackmore was equal to it with an impressive save to his right.

Puncheon was in the thick of the action again soon after. He left Lansbury for dead outside the box and sent a piledriver just wide of the left post. It would have been a goal to cap off a superb performance from the ex-MK Dons man.

In the dying minutes, Dr. Richard Evans, whose wife had bid £10,000 for him to take a place on the bench was bought on in place of Seanla. Evans managed a touch, but unfortunately it did not reach its intended target to the dismay of the capacity crowd who left a sunny Underhill well entertained.

Barnet: Harrison, Devera, Yakubu, Burton, Nicolau, Porter, Bishop, Leary, Puncheon, Hatch, Birchall - Subs: Blackmore, Hendon, Bostwick, Carew, Thomas, Seanla, Evans

Arsenal: Almunia, Gilbert, Clichy, Song, Toure, Denilson, Walcott, Adebayor, Flamini, van Persie, Randall - Subs: Lansbury, Gibbs, Traore, Barazite, Fran, Nordvett, Fonte, G. Hoyte, Simpson, Fabianski, Rodgers

Attendance: 5,091

by James Harrison