Barnet 0 Arsenal 1

by JOHN POLLARD

The gloom clouds that have hung over Underhill of late were briefly swept aside as Arsenal's stars displayed their skills to the delight of both sets of fans on a gloriously sunny Saturday.

It was a memorable day for Barnet and particularly their young followers as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Patrick Vieira and Ray Parlour kept the autograph hunters in a crowd of 3,938 happy.

Watching the action were former Barnet boss Ray Clemence, and ITV soccer presenter and former Arsenal and Scottish international keeper Bob Wilson.

Wenger had allowed Vieira, his fellow Dutch internationals Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars and England stars David Seaman and Tony Adams extended leave following the Euro 2000 tournament.

England midfielder Parlour, who had missed the summer spectacular through a knee injury, made an impressive return to action, showing his class, as did Cameroon international Lauren, the Gunners' £7million buy from Real Mallorca.

Jermaine Pennant showed why he is rated an exciting prospect. Pennant succeeded the late Gerry Ward (one of Barnet's most gifted performers), as Arsenal's youngest ever player to figure in the first team when he faced Middlesborough in the Worthington Cup last season aged 16 years and 319 days.

Young star Jermaine Pennant, who became the youngest player to play for Arsenal last season at just 16 years 319 days, scored the only goal of the game after 52 minutes when Barnet's defence was caught out by a cross from the left by Maurice Volts.

When Volts delivered another accurate cross a few minutes later, Barnet defender Mark Arber sustained a leg injury in a duel for possession with Jeremie Aliadere and was stretchered off. After the game Arber, limping with his leg heavily strapped went to hospital for an X-ray.

Arsenal, predictably monopolising the possession, could have scored many more goals, particularly when Parlour raced clear in the last minute, only to be thwarted by a great save from keeper Lee Harrison.

Barnet are short of strikers after selling Marlon King to Gillingham for £255,000 and last season's top scorer Ken Charlery is troubled by a back problem.

Austin Berkley, their recent signing from Shrewsbury, showed some neat touches after taking over from John Doolan in midfield but Mark Arber suffered a leg injury after a clash with Jeremie Aliadere.

BARNET: Harrison; Stockley, Basham, Heald, Arber (Darcy, 53), Sawyers; Darcy (Brown, 46), Doolan (Berkley, 71), Toms; Currie (Wilson, 77), Strevens (McGleish, 46).

ARSENAL:Manninger; Lauren, Grimandi, (McGovern, 46), Silvinho, Luzhny; Pennant (Harper, 58), Vernazza (Volts, 46), Alidiere, (Kaffour, 58), Yappy, Cole.