Morning all.
I’ve just watch the highlights of Arsenal’s 4-0 thumping of Chelsea and I’d say the level of football has improved. More pace, movement, clinical finishing, albeit we should have scored more and we looked pretty darned good. But, as Mikel Arteta said after the game this was a “friendly”.
After Liverpool lost to Man Utd just a few weeks ago, didn’t anyone with an ounce of common sense think that Liverpool had suddenly regressed or Utd had become world beaters? Of course not, or at least I’d like to think not. A few pre-season matches, regardless of the result, are nothing other than a training session. Of course it’s nice to see Arsenal play well, it’s great to see the team scoring goals but it’s when the new season kicks off that performance and results matter.
Should Arsenal supporters should be excited about this team? A question put to Mikel Arteta after the game.
Yes but it was a friendly match. As you could see there are a lot of positives to take from the game. The way we played, the intensity we showed, the way we were trying to show who we are as a team. But at the same time, it’s just a test match. Don’t get carried away. There are still a lot of things that we have to get better at, and do better. But I think it’s good to get some momentum, finish the tour in the right way, give some enjoyment to our fans and everybody that’s been contributing to make this tour happen. Now it’s time to go back to London, to focus and keep making improvements and steps forwards.
Gabriel Jesus should be fine by the way, despite getting a knock during the game.
Does the result change anything about the transfer strategy?
Nothing. Again, don’t get carried away. There were a lot of positives, there are a lot of things we can do much, much better than we have done today as well and we have to continue to improve as a team.
There’s a plan at Arsenal and that plan is clearly going to be seen through to its end regardless of how pre-season has gone. Rightly so too because anything else would be foolhardy as well as being risky. At the moment, Thomas Partey is fit but that’s not to say he will be in November, January or March.
We’re less than two weeks away from our opening fixture of the season and we have Tomiyasu, ESR, Tierney and Vieira out. Tierney played 30 minutes in Germany and hasn’t been seen since. Missing pre-season will set them back but it is what it is and at least Mikel Arteta has other options.
Signing American players?
We have already one that we just signed so it’s a good start. Let’s see how he adapts but it’s a huge market, there are a lot of opportunities there and hopefully we can bring some more to make you happy.
I’m sure Mikel Arteta had his tongue firmly planted in his cheek when answering that particular question but I hope the club can sign one, if not two more players. A winger and a central midfielder in the mould of Partey. Earlier this month we were linked with Amadou Onana but that story has gone cold. West Ham we’re linked with him too, they’d even made an offer for him according to Sky Sports but again, that’s gone cold too. I know YouTube can make Yaya Sanogo look world class but Onana really does look a promising young player. Perhaps Lokonga could have a word or two in his ear. Lol
So that’s it for Arsenal as far as being overseas goes and now it’s home time. The Emirates Cup takes place next weekend when Mikel Arteta’s team will face Sevilla in our final pre-season fixture. Then we go again. A rollercoaster of emotions as the the next few weeks and months go by but you know what? I feel more optimistic about this season, more confident that this season will be much better than we’ve had for a long time because the squad looks so much stronger and more balanced than it’s looked in years. We have depth, not just in numbers but in strength and quality.
And we’re still in July…..
Nice and early Sunday rico, morning!
Good to see what seems our strongest team available, start the game. Just need those injured to get back quick.
Morning Andrew, yep, need the injured back but it’s so refreshing to see options in reserve, strong ones too.
Morning Rico. Nice ‘friendly’ win last night and of course it’s enjoyable to see a skeletal Tuchel blaming the fact that we played a strong team. What matters to me is that we came out of it relatively unscathed after they kicked Partey out of the season’s opening games this time last year.
Morning Adam. Agreed, I feared the worst ahead of the game but apart from Jesus, we got lucky.
Nice to see Lokonga score.
Hey Rico,I was personally afraid because they normally kick our players forcing them to early injury making them to miss starting games which affected us last year of which I think caused us our fourth position. That’s why I didn’t want us to play our rivals in preseason game but thank God it went successful.
They tried Apongu
The opening twenty minutes was stop start , the stops usually with Jesus, Saka or Martinelli on the ground. Eventually the ref who I imagine was American decided to clamp down and Mount got booked for a culmination as the second half started .
We were rattling them by pressing hard and fast and they were not at the races until changes were made and Tuchel obviously told the newcomers to get tighter as when they came on both Ampadu and Alonso were carded pretty quickly , Alonso for a tackle that would have been applauded at Twickers , rugby tackling over a distance of about 5 yards.
Still 4 nice goals , albeit Saka looked offside to me but Lokonga’s stood out a great cross from Cedric and a well placed header and off to bed where the coffee continued to work and sleep was not forthcoming.
Hi Apangu, I think we all feared the same.
Morning Rico and all
Very happy to see Lokonga score, hopefully he will take the next step up this season.
I too thought Saka was offside and I thought he spurned a chance to play a one two with Martinelli instead of shooting himself. Still, that’s me being picky. Lol
BTW :- Saliba looks absolute class . He is going to give White a real run for his money.
Good morning Rico and all.
Found this and copied and pasted it here
Pre-season goals and assists after 5 Arsenal games:
Nketiah ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🅰️🅰️
Jesus ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🅰️
Lokonga ⚽️⚽️🅰️🅰️🅰️
Saka ⚽️⚽️🅰️
Martinelli ⚽️🅰️🅰️
Cedric 🅰️🅰️
Balogun ⚽️
Elneny ⚽️
Nelson ⚽️
Ødegaard ⚽️
Smith 🅰️
Xhaka 🅰️
I look forward to seeing Saliba in the PL. Rumour has it he’s going to extend his contract
Morning Devil, that’s nearly as many goals we scored all last season. Lol
Good post Rico.
Yes its only a friendly. but the overall result and what can be observed mean more than thumping them 4-0.
1) not many have noticed but when captain Odegaard went off the arm band was given to Elneny. I am so happy for him because it shows his growing influence in the team. Better late than never. Maybe its not because he wasn’t up to standard but because those around him weren’t suited to this game and now he has players who are.
2) Xhaka had one of his best games and can easily be MOM.
3) When Jesus went off Nketiah took his place and immediately began purring around. Yes he didn’t score but his running gave the Chavs a problem to contend with.
4) Sambi headed in a goal….that will boost his confidence. Its true that he wasn’t expected to be there and it should have been a forward in his place but he was in the right place at the right time.
5) As you rightly pointed out the level and style of play was exciting and fresh air. With the team we had in the past I dont think we could have played like that even in a friendly.
6) Yes it was a friendly…..but not against a minnow. It was against a Chelsea side which finished above us…or rather we allowed to finish above us.
So we gained a lot and am not talking about thumping them 4-0. But I still enjoyed the result. Especially keeping a clean sheet against a very good oppponent.
Morning Rico, nice post, fool that I am I sat up and watched the game but it was worth it, it also gives you an insight into how Arsenal fans from across the globe go that extra mile to watch our club, I was so impressed by the American Arsenal fans, 63.000 to watch the match and they created a great atmosphere.
Is it ever a friendly against Chelsea?
I don’t think so there’s too much apathy between the fans for a start, maybe not in the US but over here for sure. If Chelsea had won 4-0 you can only imagine the media reaction, Arteta Out would be treading on social media.
It’s a bit rich of Tuchel to be complaining about the strength of his squad after spending £83m on two players and allowing a £90m striker to return to Italy on loan.
Maybe it points towards the holes that Rudiger was covering up and that the likes of Reece James and Mason Mount aren’t as good as everyone thought they were?
Where were the Germans or the American winger they signed to a fanfare a couple of years ago, you know the guys who won the Champions League?
Maybe someone should ask Tony Cascarino if Thomas Tuchel should get the sack if Chelsea don’t finish in the top four?
Morning Kev.
I’m surprised as I was led to believe that Americans don’t really follow the PL. I suppose there are a lot of overseas residents, certainly Brits who would have been there.
Totally agree re fan reaction had we lost. Quite sad really.
Pre-season has been a great success I’d say, as has our transfer window. I still have hope for a midfielder though.
Adam made a good point about Partey yesterday and how an injury to our Ghanaian could scupper our brave new world. Partey isn’t Vieira or Gilberto, he’s not even like the guy who plays that role at Man City, yes he can put in a decent challenge but Partey is all about the turnover, transition if you like, switching attack into defence and I wonder if despite the difference in physique if Tielemans could do that job?
There’s your midfielder Rico…
Er, switching defence into attack that should read.
Too quick on the send button.
you had me scratching my head Kev. I mean….PArtey was supposed to bring the ball forward not backward. hehe
but now you clarified it.
tbh….Partey is not one of my favourites. but he brings attributes to the team for now.
I find it worrying that Tomiyasu and Vieria are not even training with the squad, according to Arteta it’s next week maybe for our right back to start training outside the gym and another two to three weeks for Vieria. Tierney has played only forty-five minutes of our pre-season games. Ben White and Zinchenko are going to get a lot of playing time as fullbacks.
Been saying the same all summer too Kev, I’m surprised that position wasn’t one of the first in during this window. I fear the Tielemans ship might have sailed…
Rico I think that the Thielemans situation is more from a financial sense. Maybe the fact that he is in his last year of contract means that Arsenal are trying to get him on the cheap. Maybe even as little as 10-15 million. In January he will cost only 5-8 million. so maybe ArtEdu are waiting to get him for less.
I might have the wrong opinion on this but I feel that he will come in very late in the window.
Maybe Devil, if he does then good. Not ever been negative about us potentially signing him..
Says that he is only interested in us , so for once we have the whip hand if Leicester see him going for nothing.
Until another club offers him a lot of money… lol
I think he has turned down a couple of others including Newcastle and they have the cash to pay well.
having watced Zinchenko play for a half time I have a feeling that he will not play at LB for long. I feel he will be selected as a midfielder. Shades of Petit17. His technical ability is of the highest level and he is comfortable with the ball at his feet. He will play at LB when KT is injured but otherwise he will be a CDM when KT is fit.
DG, cannot we attribute the assist to Saka’s goal to Xhaka, as his shot was parried in front of Bukayo?
It was a shot to goal and not intended to as a pass. If it were for me yes I would attribute it to him, however, I dont think it will add as an assist.
I’m always a cynic Potter.
Who cares who got the assist, it was a friendly. 😀
Good morning all.
We are being linked to Brazilian attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta. He plays for Lyon after signing from AC Milan for €20 million in September 2020. He originally played for Flamengo before joining AC Milan for €35 million in January 2019.
Something strange there, his value dropped €15 million in eighteen months.
Morning Cicero, all.
Edu ruled him out just a couple of days ago.
New post up now