Lacazette set to arrive at Arsenal. Successful tour over…

Morning all.

That was quite entertaining wasn’t it and I thought we played pretty well considering the heat, humidity and how early in pre-season it is.

Theo took his goal well showing strength to beat the defender and keeper, Santi’s goal was like him, pure class and cheeky and Ozil fired home another good goal to make it 3-0. The little Spaniard was magnificent  yesterday, two assists and a goal and the ball to Walcott for his goal was inch perfect.

Petr Cech, making his debut showed just what a difference he’s going to make in goal this season with a stunning fingertip save from Naismith. The offside flag had gone up but he didn’t know that.. That wasn’t the only save he had to make either and it’s nice to see a keeper palm the ball away from danger and not back into the penalty area. Another difference he makes is his kicking, he’s certainly more accurate than Szczesny.

There wasn’t much he could do about Everton’s goal but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be kicking himself for his little error which allowed Everton in. There were a few more dodgy moments in the defensive side of our game in the second half which thankfully Everton didn’t take advantage but other sides will if we repeat them too often.

We could have scored more goals, in fact we should have scored more goals and if we are to seriously challenge for the league, the boys need to be more ruthless in front of goal.

But it’s pre-season, so let’s not be too harsh.

Anyway, 3-1 and another trophy in the bag.

Arsene Wenger was clearly pleased with the performance:

I’m pleased with the performance because the focus in pre-season is to find the quality of our game back and I think for long periods we played in a very convincing way and the way we want to play – together, with good team play. Everybody shared the same vision on the pitch of the game we want to play. That’s positive.

With two victories, some serious training together with a lot of fun times off the pitch, one would have to say the trip to Asia has been a great success and the home fans certainly enjoyed themselves. So all good stuff.

Now it’s back to London, a week of training before The Emirates Cup where we face Lyon and Vfl Wolfsburg.

Lyon = Alexandre Lacazette, a striker many Arsenal fans hope we’ll sign so it’ll be good to see him in action. Yesterday he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan. I wonder if Lacazette is a real transfer target of Arsene Wenger and that’s why Lyon have been invited to The Emirates Cup? Or am I make five out of two plus two…..

Big Ollie says he’s welcome another striker into the side as the more competition there is for places, the better it is which is true of course.

That’s it for Sunday, have a great day…

83 thoughts on “Lacazette set to arrive at Arsenal. Successful tour over…

  1. Malaga gooner says:

    Morning Rico and all
    Solid post. Great performance yesterday, thought are passing game was top notch

  2. allezkev says:

    Hmm, maybe the Chavs?

    Good post btw, not seen the goals yet, but it sounded a very positive performance…

    All we need now is a double hundred from 3 England batsmen over the next couple of days and I’ll be happy…

  3. rico says:

    Morning Mg. Thought we were good going forward but second half there were a few dodgy moments…

    Thanks Kev, three top quality goals. Ozil, Bellerin, Walcott and Santi stood out for me. Jack was busy on the left…

    I reckon it could all be over today… 🙁

  4. rico says:

    Lacazette has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal or Liverpool, but the 24-year-old attempted to silence the rumours by claiming no amount of money will make him leave Lyon in 2015.

    “I want to show those who think that I have my head elsewhere that I’m still here,” he told reporters. “I have already said that I want to continue with Lyon.

    “I have shown that I’m fully committed. It’s football that interests me, not money. I hope to have a strong season.”

  5. allezkev says:

    I read that Bellerin has signed a new deal, but has anything official been announced?

    Walcott signing a new deal seems to be, still, on the back-burner…

    Nothing about Monreal or Cazorla signing new deals either, which is worrying…

    Other than that, the rest of the squad seem signed, sealed and settled…

  6. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.

    I couldn’t get a feed for yesterday’s game , but all the reports I read were generally positive and upbeat.

    Kev – I wouldn’t worry too much about the contract extensions for the likes of Cazorla and Monreal. The club seems to be concentrating on transfers out to cut down the payroll and loan deals for the Young Guns not yet ready for prime time.

    I think Arsene is using the preseason tournaments to assess some of the older first team players for contract extensions, as well as assessing the Young Guns to see if they are ready to step up to the first team or should join others for loan deals.

    There is still plenty of time and we all know how frustrating it can be waiting for Arsene to make his moves for new players.

  7. Adam says:

    Never mind Rico, but the groundsmen have to do better at preparing pitches. These soft, flat mushy surfaces make winning the toss far too important. IMO anyway.

  8. Canadian Gooner says:

    Does anyone know if Santi’s contract has the same option for a one year renewal like was in TR7’s contract and was recently exercised by the club?

  9. rico says:

    They would Cl..

    Agree Adam, this strip has ruined what could have been a great contest but then one has to credit Australia for batting and bowling on it a lot better than us…

  10. scottfromoz says:

    Drizzle?
    Adam, where’s your fighting spirit 🙂
    Morning guys.
    My lads won 5-0 today.
    Scored 7 goals in 12 games…..lord, give me a bloody striker….yet 5 from 8 shots today??
    We out play teams weekly, yet can’t find the back of the net.
    This is one funny game and I love it.
    Benteke to Liverpool?
    Some players are just dumb…..they put dollars over progress all the time.

  11. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Afternoon Lovlies and hunkies.

    Nice match report. I still have to pinch myself about Cech being ours. Too good to be true it seems.

    I liked Cazorla in his Pivote position/deep lying playmaker.

    We have won two games in which Alexis was absent. That is good for the team.

    What I like was the fact that we attacked from all angles. It was not from one channel only. Each player trusted the other, no player is the main focal point.

  12. eduardo says:

    santi cazorla said recently that he still had two years left on his Arsenal contract, and some reports say Monreal has a 1+1 year option left on his contract.

  13. rico says:

    Scott, I don’t think he really wants to go there, he said he wants CL football… lol

    Thanks Devil.

    Eduardo, that’s good news re Santi and Monreal doesn’t want to go anywhere it seems..

  14. rico says:

    Your cricketer Scott, had to go off with delayed concussion after being hit on the head on Friday by Anderson. Hope he’s ok…

  15. Canadian Gooner says:

    eduardo – Thanks for the info on Santii’s and Nacho’s contracts.

    Rico – Re: “Santi was outstanding again yesterday imo, he certainly deserves a new deal…” I agree, but you know Arsene and his treatment of players over thirty. If Santi does have two years left on his current contract, it is doubtful his contract will be extended/renegotiated before next summer and then it will depend on;

    1.) Fitness and performance over the 2015/16 season
    2.) Relative rate of decline of fitness and performance over the coming season in comparison to previous seasons
    3.) Fitness at the end of the coming season
    4.) What positions Jack the Lad and Rambo settle into or show they are best suited for with the current squad
    5.) The growth, progress and readiness of Young Guns such as Bielik, Gnabry, Toral and Zelalem

    I’m afraid it is much like Arsene’s player acquisition(s). We’ll just have to wait and see. Ho hum!

  16. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, I’ve had a massive weekend and haven’t seen any news at all so no, I don’t know that.
    He had an issue quite recently with a similar thing……….not good and I hope he gets things sorted.
    It truly is just a game.

  17. rico says:

    Cg, I think he’s changed a bit re the over 30’s, Arteta and Rosicky are examples. To be fair though, I didn’t know he had two more years on his contract so as you say, a lot depends on how the next couple of seasons go…

    And by then, those coming through will have matured..

  18. rico says:

    Only went off this morning Scott, fingers crossed eh..

    Nipping out now whilst the boys have tea and stickies…. 😉

  19. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – My apologies. I forgot to ask how your holiday at the seaside went, well I hope.

    You obviously weren’t attacked by sharks like many bathers of the east coast of the U.S. of A. this summer.

  20. Canadian Gooner says:

    Scott – We’ve heard about Sean and his team. How are things going with your hounds?

  21. scottfromoz says:

    Hi CG.
    Hounds are coming along slowly……I’m sure they have the Arsneal medical team behind them as injuries are common place of late 🙂
    It’ll never snow where I am, but I’ll tell you, never in my life have I worn two jackets- I have the last two days.
    It’s been bitter, considering what we normally cop.

  22. allezkev says:

    Thanks for info on contracts…

    Seems that we just need Theo to sign to give us a full house…

    Lyth seems to be doing his best to get himself dropped. Shame…

    Cook needs to drop anchor and do an Atherton…

  23. Canadian Gooner says:

    Scott – Canada, specifically the Province of British Columbia, sent you snow in exchange for forest firefighters. We thought you lot needed to cool off a bit.

    I think you Aussies sent us all this very hot (for us at least) very dry weather. The whole of the North American west is alight with fires. The Californians even had one jump a highway setting cars and trucks on fire. Thank God no one was hurt.

  24. Canadian Gooner says:

    I just about choked on my dinner when I read this. The FA have suggested our noisy neighbours from down the road ground share with the Arsenal while they build their new stadium. The one that looks like a giant toilet bowl.

    I can’t see that happening, even if they offer us a shed load of money.

  25. Canadian Gooner says:

    Have a great day everyone. I’m off to shut all the windows and get a few hours sleep before the house gets too hot again. It’s taken all night to get it down to a comfortable temperature.

    Keep The Faith!

  26. Not In The Gang says:

    Click Whoring AGAIN with pop up ads as well —– not really a blog anymore is it ? Youve realised its a cash cow

  27. Dick Tresidder says:

    I think we still play too narrowly up front and our use of attacking ‘full backs’ often leave us open to counter-attacks,
    Dick

  28. rico says:

    Welcome Dick, I think you make a good point…. There were quite a few times Everton players had lots of space on both sides of the pitch….

  29. rico says:

    Not in the gang…

    What a stupid comment!

    HH is a blog and will always be one and if you read here each day you’d know that! If you think adverts mean I can earn millions then you are nothing short of being seriously deluded!

    Why you pop on here just to insult beggars belief but then maybe that’s because you have issues! A PC warrior no doubt!

    Why not set up your own site and then you’d realise just how much work goes into it and when, only when it’s running well, you turn down the odd offer of making a pound or two!!

    Idiot!

  30. Micko says:

    I used to like the cricket when it was over 5 days but they seem to have shortened the tests for some reason or other.

    Where’s Kev…….probably in Costco’s again !

    I’m out to play for the evening, you have a good one.

  31. Wath says:

    4:44… what a complete and utter bell end…. Always some wanker who thinks he can gob off when he knows sweet FA…!

    Should of just binned the twat Rico….!

  32. allezkev says:

    Mick, it’s Adams fault.

    He got me addicted to Costco, and now I spend all my spare time visiting the A406.

    Actually Costco do a fantastic range in men’s underwear, just in case you fancy investing in some vests or purchasing some Armani boxers.

    Adam swears by Armani…

    Lee, he just swears about Gervinho…

    Night All

    Night Rico…

  33. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    Not in the Gang?
    You’re not in the ballpark, you complete muppet.
    Rico, I hope you DO make a million.
    The obvious work you put in never goes unnoticed from we regulars.

  34. Lee says:

    Dzeko is being linked to us……. not for me!

    So if Flamoney goes to Turkey the 33yr old injury prone Arteta will be le Coq’s back up…. surely Wenger will adding someone else in that department?

    Morning all…

  35. allezkev says:

    Flamini leaving – which isn’t certain – will free up a place for a non-British signing…

  36. Wath says:

    Why would Chambers be odd Rico, he played there in his early days for the Saints….!

    I still think we’ll buy…!

    M’Vila obviously….. 😉

    Oh and morning u lot.

  37. Wath says:

    Because Arsene wants to confuse you and who’s to say in the remaining few pre-seaon games he doesn’t play there………..

  38. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, it is but plenty of comments flowed when 1-0 🙂
    All square now,
    Pitch curators over there are doing a wonderful job.
    The captains should get together, toss a coin 5 times as that seems the decision factor…..imagine the time it’d save.

  39. Wavy says:

    Back now from the sweltering heat of the Med! An ambient 20c here and bright! Loverly! I see we have no new recruits! Paper talk is all tosh! He will buy someone no body has ever heard of who will turn into a latter day Pires or a better version of Paddy!
    Patience is a virtue and I have plenty of patience, (a bit short on virtue though!)

    A Bender for me!

    Kev, double hundreds??? They did well if they made double figures!! Roll on the next one, Edgbaston. Usually loads of runs and quite possibly will end in a draw! All still to play for.

    Morning all.

  40. allezkev says:

    Wavy, we start again at Edgebaston…

    At least the crowd will create an atmosphere in Birmingham unlike the praŵn sandwich brigade at Lords.

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