“It was good to get Joe Gauci on the pitch and provides him that chance. Clearly in our goalkeeping division we’ve received to construct depth as properly. And I believed he did very properly.”
Arnold reiterated the choice to start out Gauci over Thomas was all the way down to goalkeeping coach John Crawley.
Bahrain’s Mohamed Adel and Australia’s Jordan Jacob Bos battle for the ball.Credit score: Getty Photographs
Australia dominated possession however had simply seven photographs and struggled to create clear-cut possibilities.
Nevertheless, Arnold wasn’t overly involved, as a substitute relishing the testing pleasant.
“Bodily they had been greater than what we anticipated,” he stated.
“However, for us, it’s the proper fixture to have earlier than the Asian Cup as a result of once we play in opposition to these kind of countries, they sit again. Most nations we performed in opposition to within the final 12 months haven’t actually finished that.
Australia’s Samuel Silvera (left) goes in for a sort out in the course of the pleasant in opposition to Bahrain.Credit score: Getty Photographs
“You noticed that we had been getting higher and higher as the sport went on, breaking them down but additionally ensuring that we weren’t hit on the counterattack, which they love to do.
“So it was in all probability the proper fixture to have earlier than we go into this Asian Cup and little doubt we’ll get fairly various groups taking part in like that as properly.”
Goodwin had a hand in each targets whereas Samuel Silvera impressed on his first begin. Jackson Irvine was captain in Ryan’s absence.
On debut, Gethin Jones began at right-back and was strong. “For a man to make his debut and for a man who’s by no means performed with us earlier than or been with us, I believed he did exceptionally properly,” Arnold stated.
Riley McGree, pictured in Dallas in September, made a profitable return from damage in opposition to Bahrain.Credit score: Getty
Pleasingly, midfielder Riley McGree returned from damage as a second-half substitute, whereas the Socceroos averted any new health issues.
“Riley McGree was implausible,” Arnold stated.
From what I noticed tonight, I feel he’d be prepared for the 90 minutes – or a minimum of 70 minutes.
“However I feel in a bit of manner that damage’s freshened him up and he simply seemed so quick on his ft, so robust and it’s nice to see him again on the sector.”
McGree can play as a midfielder or winger and had been in electrical type earlier than his damage.
There had been fears he could be unable to function in any respect in Qatar, however Arnold is feeling good about backing the South Australian to ship.
“That’s the beauty of my medical employees and sports activities science group – they’re on prime of every little thing on a regular basis,” Arnold stated.
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“Folks had been speaking in all probability again at house ‘how can I decide him? It’s too massive a threat, he hasn’t performed for ages’.
“Nicely, we all know precisely the place he’s at. And if that was too massive a threat, properly then I’m proud of that threat.”
AAP
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