Morning all.
I didn’t see last night’s game but by all accounts, it wasn’t good from an Arsenal perspective. I’ve seen the goals, two of which should decide Kepa’s fate. Illan Meslier is unlikely be our third keeper once the new campaign gets going, of that I’m pretty confident.
Starting XI: Kepa, White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Havertz, Nwaneri, Dowman, Gyokeres, Tzolis
Subbed on: Copley, Salmon, Gabriel, Vieira, Nelson, Jesus, Martinelli, Julienne, Meslier, Ibrahim, Ogunnaike, Clarke, Kabia, O’Neill
A midfield of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Kai Havertz was always likely to struggle against a Betis side which finished 5th in La Liga last season. Lewis-Skelly is very good but he’s not superman is he? I read that 70 of his 74 passes found a teammate.
Mikel Arteta said after the game:
I’m disappointed with the result, obviously, because we are here to win football matches, We had some fantastic moments in the first half, the way we played, the way we opened them up. We have to score first, clearly, in the two chances that we had before the score.
I’m very disappointed in the manner that we conceded the first goal, the two giveaways leading to the other two goals. It’s true that the finishing quality from them was exceptional, but to win a football match, you have to compete at a different level, especially in those areas of the pitch and that’s the learning from today.
Arteta said the players were upset over the result and performance. Fuming too which he thinks is a good thing. It brings fire to the players belly he added. Well, pre-season is certainly the time to get rid of all of rustiness and mistakes although in Kepa’s case, mistakes seems to be his middle name.
Of course it’s disappointing to lose but honestly, I never take pre-season results seriously, especially when so many key players are still on their summer break. These games are about little more than building up fitness ahead of the new campaign and sorting the wheat from the chaff and let’s be honest, we have a few players who sit in the latter category. There is 25 days left for the club to sell them.
Christian Norgaard has officially left the building as yesterday he signed on the dotted line for Everton. I wish him well, apart from we play Everton of course. Hopefully, Jesus, Kepa, Vieira and Nelson will soon follow him.
Just two more fixtures of pre-season remain and both are at The Emirates. The first is against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, the second is against Cesc Fabregas’ Como 1907. Then of course it’s the curtain raiser ahead of the new campaign with Arsenal taking on Man City in the Community Shield in Cardiff.
Premier League Champions v FA Cup winners and for the first time in a long long time, it’s The Arsenal going into this fixture as reigning Champions. By then, our expected £75 million new signing Bruno Guimarães should be ready to make his debut. Perhaps one or two other new signings too.
Yep, my glass is definitely half full, despite the shenanigans of last night.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Geoff, I’d be concerned if they weren’t.
Bruno in London apparently, mixed reports that he’s set to undergo his medical whereas others suggest he’s already completed it.
Morning Rico and all, although it was a practice match, it was good read that the players were disappointed with the result and their performance. looking forward to the start of the season.