De ja vu for Arsenal

     Well then. Not exactly the performance the squad wanted to give in front of the home support, was it? I woke up yesterday morning full of optimism - another chance to see Gervinho and Jenkinson! I was even happier when I heard that Bartley had made the bench for the match, but sadly not Miyaichi, due to work permit issues.

     Wenger set us out to play Boca Juniors like this:

                            Fabianski

Jenkinson     Djourou     Koscielny     Traore

                  Frimpong      Wilshere

                             Nasri
     Gervinho                           Arshavin

                         van Persie

     The first half was good. Boca had trouble getting the ball down our end of the pitch, and Arsenal seemed happy to keep the ball in midfield. While there weren't many chances created, we did manage to score. A great counter saw van Persie meet a Gervinho cross to take the one goal advantage.
     It really was a fantastic counter. RvP held the ball up well for Wilshere, who played a perfect pass down the flank for Gervinho. Then I saw the impossible. Robin van Persie, and Arsenal striker, made a near post run. This was pleasantly greeted by a perfect pass from Gervinho, and the ball was in the back of the net. Perhaps van Persie is learning that he needs to be more direct with balls from wide areas. If so, that's a great bonus for us.

Robin van Persie's goal

     We went into half time a goal up, looking very comfortable. Every player on the park at the very least looked decent. Some played better than others, such as Koscielny, Jenkinson, Gervinho, Wilshere, Frimpong, and van Persie.

     What looked very good in particular was the rotation of the front three. Van Persie was often found on the right flank, Gervinho was everywhere, and Arshavin was too (though he usually is)!

     At half time Wenger made five changes in Mannone, Squillaci, Ramsey, Vela, and Chamakh. The new lineup looked like this:

                          Mannone

Jenkinson     Squillaci    Djourou      Traore

                  Ramsey      Frimpong

                             Nasri

       Vela                               Arshavin

                          Chamakh

     Right off the whistle, we scored. After some fast feet from Vela on the edge of the box, the ball fell to Rambo whose first touch of the match bulged the back of the net. Yes, you could draw parallels between Boca's 'keepers attempted save to Almunia's attempted save against Leyton Orient, but Ramsey's shot was a right bullet.

     The match continued, and I'm not going to go into every little detail, but at around, eh, maybe the 60th minute or so, perhaps earlier, we started to fade away. Boca had most of the ball, and when we did win it back we couldn't hold onto it. And while Boca had most of the possession, they were simply possessing it in areas that couldn't hurt us. Even so, the brilliant mind of Riquelme was slowly getting more and more into the match.
     Then, out of what seemed like nothing, Boca scored. Squillaci easily gave the ball away in midfield, which was pounced on by Boca. Djoruou's positioning was poor, and gave Viatri (the goal scorer) too much space. The ball was played to him, Djourou couldn't make up for his poor positioning, and Viatri smashed the ball into the top corner. It really was a fantastic finish, but the goal should never have happened. Squillaci fucked up, Djourou fucked up, and even Mannone wasn't tight enough to his near post.

     So three defensive errors in a row - that's not unlucky. That's a problem. Yes, Djourou, Squillaci, and Mannone aren't first choice, but they are players at Arsenal football club. In order to win a trophy a side has to have depth. At this point in time we don't. Luckily, we can still buy players in the transfer market, but will Wenger make the correct decisions?
     We were close to signing Chris Samba from Blackburn. Yes, we have been missing a dominating physical presence in the back, but Arsenal needs more than that. Samba would have been a poor choice and I'm glad we haven't signed him. He just doesn't fit the bill at Arsenal. He isn't capable of reading the game and having the required technical ability to make a positive difference at Arsenal. Cahill is a better option.
     Anyway - back to the match. We now found ourselves only a goal up, but to be completely honest, I sensed no comeback. Boca wasn't threatening us too much. In fact, I had forgotten the all the leads that Arsenal had let slip last season - what a fine three minutes that was! Because in the 71st, we suddenly found ourselves level, and only two words came to my mouth. Two words that seem come to my mouth fairly often when watching Arsenal: FUCK OFF.

     Some Boca bloke played a ball between Djourou and Squillaci. Djourou went to clean up the mess, which at first it seemed he did effectively. As Djourou and Mouche tried to get to the ball, Mannone raced to the ball, but never got to it because of Djourou's tackle. Unluckily for Djourou, the ball knocked off his sliding leg, and went straight to Mouche, who's finish was a simple one.
     It was poor defending from Djourou. He let Mouche get to the ball far to easily, but was unlucky when the ball popped off his leg in the way it did. And you can't get mad at Mannone. When you saw the ball played in, you didn't think Djourou would get to the ball, but he did, and by that time Mannone was in no-mans-land.
As a goalkeeper, you have to make a decision fast, and you have to stick to it. Mannone did so, but Djourou's fuck up made Mannone look like a fool too.

     So a pretty shit second half to say the least. The only bright part was that Eboue came on. It may have been his last performance in an Arsenal shirt sadly enough. He's got a fair amount of criticism over the past few years, but how could one dislike Eboue?!

     What really dissapointed me more than giving up two goals was where the captains armband ended up in the second half after van Persie left. Nasri. Are you kidding me?!
     Nasri has been a demon lately. He has held this club up for money and made us look like fools. Yes, he is a fantastic player, but that does not mean Wenger should give Nasri the armband to lure him to stay! Some fans believe that the captaincy role isn't very important. I on the other hand think it is very important. The captain of the club is also the face of the club. The captain is the player that others look up to. The captain sets an example. Does Nasri do any of that well? No. It was an embarrassment to Arsenal football club to have that armband on Samir Nasri.
     On top of that, when the Cesc rumors started to arise yet again this summer, some said Nasri could fill the void. I didn't think so, and I was proven right with his performance against Boca. Nasri holds onto the ball for too long. He doesn't know the right times to release like Wilshere, Ramsey, and Cesc. While Nasri can produce magical moments such as his goals against Fulham, that doesn't necessarily mean he is a creative player. He isn't. He doesn't find that split second gap to split defenses like Cesc does.
     Nasri's position, according to him, is central attacking midfield. But according to me and many other Gunners out there, he's now a winger.

Take that armband off right now!

     I don't want this entire post to be full of hate though! Jenkinson produced another solid performance. He was very good defensively, but going forward is still very raw. His decision making isn't the best, but his deliveries are very good.

     Gervinho once again gave us something to be positive about. He looks like such a good player. He did lose the ball a little too easily on some occasions, but he is extremely quick of the mark, and I honestly think he can make a huge difference on the upcoming season.

     Frimpong, like last year, had a good match in the Emirates cup. He really hustles players off the ball; a great physical presence. He isn't ready to start for us and still has to learn when to release the ball a bit better, but other than that he looks fantastic.

     Traore looked good as well. It seems his time in Turin taught him how to defend better, however he's not 100% convincing. Either way, I think he could give Gibbs a real run for his money.

     Away from player reviews and onto another matter. Our offside trap. In the match, the trap didn't work well at all really, and we were lucky not to concede any goals from a simple ball played through/over our defenders.

     Set pieces - we saw something different on corner kicks. Zonal marking. Yes, we are shit at man marking, but I really don't think zonal marking is the answer. In order to defend corners with zonal marking, you need a couple players who would really attack the ball and head it clear. We don't have any. I'd much rather go back to man to man marking. We all know how well zonal marking worked for Liverpool...

     So with that I leave you. Later today Arsenal plays the New York Red Bulls, where Henry will return. A tear may come to my eye...
     Tomorrow I'll have a post reviewing the Red Bulls match. Hopefully I will be happy at the end of this one. Cheers.


.

Nasri's future depends on Barcelona's maturity - Cesc saga

I bet it was that B flat we heard. No wonder why it hurt so much...

     In past seasons, Arsenal have ended their campaigns poorly, year after year without a trophy, imploding in the late months. But last season didn't end on a bad note for Arsenal, it ended on a right shit note. Like an old piano that hadn't been tuned or played for years. The sound that started to ring and pierce our ears in March, finally came to an end in May.
     So as the past season came to an end with a terrible melody of losses and draws, everyone knew the upcoming summer was huge for Arsenal. Some were even calling for Wenger to get the sack, others rightly keeping their sanity and simply asking for Wenger to change his philosophy a bit. While Arsene has always been a smart spender, he's never been a big spender. This summer is the most important of his Arsenal career  in my opinion, because a trophy is desperately needed at the Emirates by the end of next season.
   
     The timing of skepticism over our own players's futures was poorly timed. During a summer when important signings have to be made, the Cesc saga continues, and to a certain level of surprise, Nasri refuses to sign a new contract. This gives Arsenal two options for the Frenchman: sell now, or keep him for another season, but let him go on Bosman. Many would choose to sell Nasri this season to make the £20 million profit while we can, as would I. For now, it looks as if Wenger intends on keeping him, and allowing Nasri to leave next season. However, I have a different take on the situation:
     Right now, Cesc looks more likely to leave than Nasri, but there is still a chance Cesc will stay. If Cesc does indeed stay thanks to Barcelona's lackadaisical bids for him, Wenger may look to offload Nasri in order to make some cash. This cash would be spent immediately on big transfers such as Juan Mata. *crosses fingers*
    Of course, this is pure speculation and may not be the case, but hopefully is. £20 million is quite a sum to let strut out of the club.

     Neither situation looks good, as the two are some of the very best players at the club, and in the world as well. Holding onto both players will be hard, but its possible. Even so, I doubt Wenger will decide to do so. Arsene realizes this is the summer for Cesc to go. Barca Xavi wants him, and Cesc wants to go. However, that won't let Arsenal give in and be held for ransom. Arsenal will not sell Fabregas for less than his value, which is either at 40 million or 45 million.
     It was quite humorous when Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said to the Daily Star:

     "They have been messing about for a year and a half now and they have got to make up their minds, the ball is in their court. They have made one bid of around £26 million and another rather tentative one."

     Humorous not only because Hill-Wood was giving interviews to the Daily Star, but because of the weight of the bid. It's actually very disrespectful to Arsenal and Cesc especially to offer a measly £26 million pound bid for Cesc, when Javier Pastore was sold to PSG for £45 million pounds. Surely they know that £26 million won't buy you Cesc Fabregas? Hill-Wood then went on to say:

     "If they want to buy the player they are going to have to pay the right price - and when you look at what is being paid elsewhere I don't think what we are asking is at all unreasonable."

     It's simple Barca, "Cough up or Cock off." -as Arseblog puts it. And it appears Arsenal are close to boiling point. When asked if Arsenal would call of negotiations, Hill-Wood said the club is close to doing so.

He certainly looked happy here...

     As was the case with Nasri earlier in the season, we are letting Barcelona and Cesc control the situation. Instead of giving Barcelona a deadline of August 31st, why not give them a deadline of the end of next week? We cannot go into the season and through the beginning of the season worrying about qualifying for the Champions League, going to Old Trafford, and holding onto OUR CLUB CAPTAIN.

     That is another ordeal. Just read these quotes by Wenger regarding Cesc playing in the Emirates Cup, from Friday's press conference:

     "He will not be involved because at the moment he is not settled, he is coming back from an injury and is not settled with us."

     So Cesc isn't settled with us then? Then why is he still our captain? Yes, Cesc has received criticism that his heart hasn't always been in it when he played for us, but that was a load of tosh. However, now it is time for Cesc so lose the captaincy. He has in no way helped lighten or calm this transfer saga down. He (supposedly) said to Xavi that he was suffering at Arsenal. Yes,  it must be a horrid experience being captain of a club like Arsenal, getting paid more money per week playing football than I get in an entire year doing real labor.

Hand that armband over, Cesc.

     While the players at Arsenal respect Cesc, this speculation over his future is not the way to lead by example. Even if Cesc doesn't leave the club, the captain's armband should go elsewhere, to a player that is 100% committed, and has no plans on leaving.
     Not only that, Cesc isn't exactly the type of leader we need at Arsenal right now. Lee Dixon said in an interview that one of the reasons Arsenal implodes in the latter part of the season is because of the lack of a dominant leader. When you think of a commander at Arsenal, the only player that comes close is Vermaelen. A monster of a defender, he was clearly missed this past season.
     Dixon went on to say that during tough times, inexperienced players, and also young players, when having a poor match, look to someone for guidance. Reassurance. Cesc does not give that to Arsenal.

 "You can shove my eight goal season up your arse, Evra!"

     There is often debate over the two different types of captains in football - the leaders by example (Cesc) and the shouters (Vidic). Both are good, but Arsenal is in somewhat of an ordeal at the moment, where a commanding shouter needs to grab all the players, get them together, and set them straight. Cesc wouldn't do that. Vermaelen would.

     But here's another thought - Last year Barcelona were after Cesc, but Arsenal managed to have him sign a new contract, worth £110,000 pounds per week. Perhaps (and this isn't out of the realms of possibility) Arsenal included in the contract that Cesc would remain as captain until he left the club. Hopefully not.

     No matter what, this drama has to end now. Either Barcelona makes a serious bid, or Wenger gives them a strict deadline. Arsenal is a club of class (unlike Barcelona) and will not deal with their childish games any longer.

     New post tomorrow reviewing the Boca Juniors friendly. Check back.
     Cheers.

It's a Mata of Cesc Fabregas

 
     Alright.
     Tons of talk lately over nearly player at the club, from Rhys Murphy to Cesc Fabregas. However, most of the talk has concerned Juan Mata.
     There are rumors everywhere, each one different from the other. But all have one thing in common: Arsenal made a bid for Juan Mata and the bid has been accepted.
     The apparent bid for Mata was 20 million pounds, and the apparent buyout clause was 17.5 million pounds, which was apparently matched by Arsenal.
     You may notice that I said "apparent" numerous times. That is because nothing is concrete, and we must try our best to think this deal won't happen. Having hope that Wenger will sign a big player like Mata is like thinking Xavi isn't gay for Cesc. I'll only believe the deal is done until I see Mata in an Arsenal shirt.
     There were also rumors that representatives of Mata were in London yesterday. Instead it seems that Arsenal sent representatives over to Valencia. Lastly, Sky Sports said that Arsenal want to sign Mata soon in order to unveil him at the Emirates Cup. That will be tough considering how slow Arsenal is at signing players!

     The signing of Juan Mata would lighten the heavy blow of losing Cesc Fabregas, who seems to be on his way out. It seems Mata will act as a replacement for Cesc, although Mata is better out in wide areas than the middle.

     Tomorrow I will have big updates on the Cesc, Bendtner, Eboue, and Jagielka situations. Sorry this update wasn't as detailed and enthralling as some expected, but I've been terribly busy lately. The next post should be well worth your time.
     'Till then.

Wenger's silly bias - Lansbury and Bartley must get a chance

     A football club is not a family, but a business. All the same, there are indeed feelings that the fans feel towards the players and the club, there is no doubt in that. So in most cases (excluding Denilson), a fan doesn't like it when a player is rumored to leave for another club.
     That's how I feel right now with rumors linking Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Rhys Murphy, and Henri Lansbury away from the club. But sadly, my feelings don't matter. This is all business.

     The reason why I mention football as a business is because that is the main reason why Rhys Murphy will probably leave the club. He is 20 now, and while that is still a young age, it's a little old for the reserve squad in Arsenal terms. The U18 squad is a fantastic group of players, and it seems that a clear out of the reserves is to make room for the U18's to step up. Rhys will have a trial in a few days at Middlesbrough, and if he does well enough he will probably leave us.

     Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been quite a "famous" reserve player for us, after the spectacular goals he scored against Everton reserves and Hull City. His skill is undoubted, but his attitude is where he lacks. He is Arsenal's longest serving player, but even after all these years he hasn't sufficiently changed. Arsenal is not a club that tolerates bad behavior, which has led JET to leave the club. A fee of 1.1 million pounds has been agreed between Arsenal and Ipswich Town for Jay, and he will leave the club soon enough. It's a shame that he won't make it at Arsenal with his talent, but to be a professional footballer you have to take your chances when they come along and listen to those above you. He hasn't done that, and will have to restart his career at Ipswich, when he could have made a career at Arsenal had he sorted his attitude problems. JET's potential is undoubted, so I'm sure he can become a great player, and may even make Arsenal regret selling him just like Bendtner (although he hasn't been sold yet). Ta, JET.

     That brings us to Henri Lansbury. He spent last season on loan at Norwich City, where he did well, and scored a fantastic goal at White Hart Lane for Arsenal during the Carling Cup which I'm sure he will never forget.
     There are rumors going around that Lansbury will be sold, or that he is weighing up his future. Norwich recently made a 1.5 million pound bid for Lansbury, but this bid was rejected by Arsenal. Even so, there is a feeling going around that Henri may leave. There was also speculation that Lansbury would be offered in a deal with Bolton for Gary Cahill.
     This disappointing transfer speculation wasn't helped by Lansbury's tweet that suggested he would have a change in his life. Conveniently for me, he deleted the tweet. Lovely.
     To be honest, I think it's absurd if Arsenal sells Henri. Denilson was shit last season, and Arsenal fans were fed up with him very early. Denilson got chance after chance, and never proved himself. Unlike Denilson, Lansbury has heart, drive, and a great right foot. He should be given the chance to prove himself, which I think he can.
     Perhaps Wenger is more eager to give Denilson a chance is because he brought Denilson in, and looked to be a player with great potential. Maybe Wenger feels that if Denilson fails, it reflects poorly on him. Selfishness? Maybe. But I hope not.

     And speaking of players not getting a chance, attention is immediately directed towards Kyle Bartley.
     Last season Kyle was sent on loan to Sheffield United, where he made 23 appearances. He then broke his cheekbone, and missed a month of action. By the end of the January transfer window though, he was sent on loan to Rangers. There, he wasn't a first team regular, but did make 9 appearances, three of which were in Europe. He even scored for Rangers, a headed goal in a 1-0 win over St. Mirren.
     Bartley was called up to play some big matches too, such as an Old Firm Derby, and matches against Sporting Lisbon and PSV. All big games for the Kyle and Scottish outfit, but matches that he performed very well in.
     While Rangers isn't the strongest side, they are still a very good team and a big club. They have a huge fan base, and I can only imagine the amount of pressure on a player before and during an Old Firm Derby - arguably the biggest rivalry in the world of sports. Arsenal players tend to have problems in high pressure situations, and I won't mention any. *coughcarlingcupfinalcough* Bartley has matured and gained loads of experience, and at only 20 years old could be a real asset to the club. I highly doubt he would prove to be more mistake prone than Squillaci or Djourou, so that in itself could be a huge bonus.
     Bartley only has one more year on his contract, and while letting him get one more year at Rangers would be good for his experience, he may wish to make a career there and leave Arsenal. In my opinion, Arsenal would regret this. Like Bendtner, Bartley has great potential but has fallen out of favor. Both of them may leave the club, and I feel that if they do, we will regret their departures. However, Bartley is also rumored with a move to Burnley and Crystal Palace, which is fairly understandable. Playing in England would allow Wenger to keep a closer eye on him - that was why Vela went on loan to West Brom vs. a Spanish club.
     Anyway, back to Bartley - while Wenger has made Miquel his "favorite" young center back, Bartley has more potential than Miquel and the two of them can make for a fantastic pairing in the future. It's odd to say this, but Wenger must look towards the future. Bartley can become a fantastic defender, and while I don't expect him to play every other game this season if he stays, I believe 15-20 appearances for Kyle would do him justice. Bartley said himself he can offer the squad a lot:

     “If I’m honest, I don’t think I was anywhere near the level to play for Arsenal last season, but I've come back, I feel really strong and I feel that I am ready now. 

     I learned the demands of being at a top football club who are trying to win things and how important it is to be a champion and a winner. Every time you step on the pitch, you are going out there to win so there is a lot of pressure on you.

     I think I can offer something else [because] I am a little bit different to the other centre-backs. I like the physical side of the game and I see myself as a leader. If Arsene decides that he wants me in the first team then that will be fantastic. 

     He has said he doesn't want me going on loan yet and he hasn't made his mind up. My hopes are the same as every year, to be an Arsenal first-team player. Hopefully, this year, that will happen."

    Those are very strong words from Kyle, but words that he had every right to make, and I'm happy he did. I believe him to an extent: of course every player would think they're ready to make the step up. You only know if you're "ready" when you're "there", if you understand what I'm trying to say.
     He said that Wenger hadn't made his mind up on whether or not he will send Bartley on loan yet, which is interesting. I think the only reason why Bartley's future is undecided is because Jagielka and Cahill's futures aren't. I interpret this situation like this: Bartley hasn't been sent on loan yet because we haven't signed a center back yet. Once we do, perhaps Bartley will be sent on loan.
     The only scenario in which Arsene signs a center back and Bartley stays is if Squillaci leaves, or one of our center backs get injured by the end of the Emirates Cup. Sadly, I don't see either of those things happening. With Bendtner, Eboue, Denilson, and Almunia on their way out, for Squillaci to leave as well would be something else - regardless of the fact Squillaci consistently makes mistakes.
     So, it sadly seems Bartley will not be given a chance this season, which could lead to his departure. A departure that could forever sting Arsenal fans on "what could have been".

     To conclude this fairly depressing post, I make one last point. While we all know Wenger is big on youth, it seems he puts a priority on those that he had a hand in bringing to the club. That if those he brought in succeed, he succeeds as well.
     We also know that Wenger is a stubborn man. This could be why Bartley may not get his chance at Arsenal despite many Arsenal and Rangers fans rate him highly. I myself would rather have him than Squillaci, and arguably Djourou as well.

     Good luck to JET at Ipswich, and good luck to Murphy at Middelsbrough where I doubt he will fail to impress. Either way, a move for him is inevitable. All I really want is for Lansbury and Bartley to stay. The former to get at least one more year on loan with Norwich, and the latter to stay with us this upcoming season, which is creeping up on us fast - Just 2.5 weeks until kickoff!

     Should JET stay longer? Should Lansbury stay with Arsenal and not go on loan? Should Bartley get his chance? Drop a comment! Let me know your thoughts. You can comment below as "Anonymous" if you don't already have a Google account or whatever other options they have down there. 

Thierry Henry's 226 Arsenal Goals in 14 Minutes

     A simply lovely video of all his goals. It makes me miss him and Highbury so much. Thanks for all you've done Henry.  

Is the back four a scapegoat for the midfield?

 
     Hello all,
     On Saturday Arsenal took on German side FC Cologne, and it was quite an interesting match. It ended 2-1, which isn't interesting, nor was the match interesting to a neutral, but what we discovered was interesting.

     Gervinho got his first start, and played on the left. The starting XI looked like this:

                             Szczesny

Jenkinson     Koscielny     Vermaelen     Gibbs
     
                         Song     Ramsey

                             Wilshere
      Walcott                                  Gervinho

                            Chamakh

     It was nice to see Gervinho get his first start, and after just seven minutes he got his first Arsenal goal. There was some good play in the midfield, until Jack played a ball over the top for Gervinho, whose run was perfectly timed, as was his finish over the 'keeper.
     Minutes later, Jack played a ball out wide for Theo, who fizzed a ball into Gervinho's feet who finished the tap in. Two goals in 15 minutes for Gervinho, and both from a center forward position . We must take not of that. He wasn't as good at holding the ball up as Chamakh, but his runs were far better.
     Gervinho was then taken off to make way for Ryo Miyaichi, who also did well.

     Despite having a two goal lead, FC Cologne should have scored a few. They had chances but didn't take them. And while fingers are almost always pointed at the back four, the match yesterday told us something very different.
     Cologne's only form of attack was on the counter, where we wer constantly caught out. The back four didn't deal with the pressure perfectly, but they got the job done. And it must be noted that these past three friendly matches are the only times this back four has played together - they barely know each other.
     And on that note, I find it interesting that Jenkinson is starting - It is expected the back four for next season will be Gibbs, Vermaelen, Koscielny, and Sagna, but why is Jenkinson in Sagna's place? Just some food for thought.
     But back to what I was saying, Cologne broke on us but could not take their chances because our back four was playing well. It was very worrying, because if the same were to happen against a Manchester United or a Chelsea, we wouldn't come out of the 90 minutes as happy as we did against Cologne.

     When Cologne broke, it's not that they broke with numbers, but we didn't have many players back on defense. Our "defensive" midfielder in Song was nowhere to be found. He was caught too high up field, which resulted in the pressure.
     This also brings up a second helping of food for thought: perhaps our center backs/back four aren't as bad as they're made out to be. Perhaps it's our midfield that isn't up to par defensively. Wilshere certainly does his job when he's in the side, but when he decides to venture forward (which he has more license to than Song) Song doesn't cover for Wilshere's empty space.
     Last match it seemed Jack was in the creative role with Ramsey alongside Song. Both Ramsey and Song ended up playing level with Jack most of the time, so no one was back to provide cover.
     So instead of a center back (although one is needed), Wenger should look into getting a defensive midfielder that sticks to his job and does it right. At the moment, Song has absolutely no competition for his place in the squad.

     All in all, everyone seemed to have a good first half besides Ramsey and Chamakh, who seemed a little off. Ramsey wasn't himself, and misplaced a few passes.
     Then, literally right before half time, Jenkinson scored a brilliant goal. One that he will never forget. It was a fantastic first time volley that sailed over the 'keepers head and into the back of the net. Only problem was, the 'keeper he sent it over was Szczensy. He looked distraught, which is understandable, but I don't mind. He played very well, it was only a preseason friendly, and he will never be able to score a goal like that again even if he tried 100 times.

     In the second half, ten changes were made, everyone coming off the pitch except Gibbs who stayed on. Oddly enough, Traore didn't even travel with the squad. Why, I'm not sure but it's something to question all the same.
     So with all the changes, the new line up looked like this:

                    Mannone

Sagna    Djourou    Squillaci     Gibbs

                    Frimpong

         Rosicky              Nasri

   Vela                             Arshavin
                    van Persie

     The second half was pretty shitty in all honesty. There was barely any chemistry going forward, so chances were at a premium. There were a few, but Arshavin's finishing was poor.
     In the defending apartment, Cologne still hit us on the counter but we stood strong enough to keep them out.
     Connor Henderson was able to make an appearance at left back, but what looks to be a nasty, long-term injury sent him out of the match. This allowed Benik Afobe to make a late cameo.

     All in all, it wasn't a terrible outing, but it wasn't the best. Cologne exploited our flaws much better than the Asian sides, and the injury Connor Henderson suffered doesn't look good. On the positive side, Gervinho looked fantastic, as did Jack.

Full match highlights

     That's that for today. I'll have another post up soon enough, I've got some interesting thoughts on the Cesc situation.
     Laters.

Ryo Miyaichi - A name all defenders will cringe at the sound of

  
    Ryo Miyaichi: A name some of you non-Arsenal fans are unaware of. While some of you don’t know him now, you will in the coming years. And more than that, not only will you know him, but you will fear him.

     Ryo is an 18 year old Japanese winger from Nagoya, Japan. He has represented Japan at the U15, U16, U17, and U19 levels. In all of his 19 appearances for these sides, he has managed to produce a whopping 6 goals. Not bad for a winger!

     In the summer of 2010, Arsenal offered Miyaichi a trial, where he impressed. Arsene Wenger eventually signed him on January 31^st of 2011, saying:

 “We’re delighted that Ryo Miyaichi has joined us. He trialed with us in the summer and has raw ability which has attracted many clubs around the world. “

     Unfortunately, Ryo was unable to get a work permit, as he didn’t play in the required 75% of first team Japanese National team matches, nor could he get a “Special Talent” Visa. This was not a problem though, as Wenger immediately sent Ryo to Dutch outfit Feyenoord. 

     There, Ryo sparkled, and was named man of the match and played 90 minutes in his first match of top flight football. As you can see in the video, he has bundles of talent, giving the Vitesse right back a headache in the second half.

     Ryo continued with his fantastic play, and instantly became a fan favorite at Feyenoord. He scored his first goal against Hercules, and ended the season with three goals in twelve appearances. 

     Ryo returned to Arsenal, and took part in Arsenal's overseas tour of Asia. He started against Malaysia, and came on at halftime against Hangzhou Greentown. In both matches he did well, but still looked raw. 

     Nothing is confirmed yet, but early rumors suggest Ryo will return to Feyenoord for another season on loan, as he is unable to receive a work permit, and development is still necessary. 

     Ryo is a skill player, with bags of talent. You could say he's a mix between Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri, blistering pace with fantastic foot skill. In fact, these attributes have led him to be labeled as "the Japanese Messi", and "Ryonaldinho" by the Dutch press.

     While it is evident from watching Ryo that he is still a very raw player, it is obvious that he can become something great. Theo Walcott is mainly known for his sheer speed, but Miyaichi is right up there with him in speed. In fact, the two raced and it was a close tie. Their 100 meter sprint times are very close as well: Theo finishing in 10.34, and Ryo in 10.80.

     I like the look of Miyiahci more than Theo. Miyaichi not only has speed, but he has fantastic foot skills, confidence, and seemingly a smart footballing brain. These attributes plus some first team match experience can create Ryo Miyaichi into a deadly weapon in The Arsenal.

     Forget Eden Hazard, Raheem Sterling, Alexis Sanchez, and Neymar. Ryo Miyaichi could be the slinet weapon that will creep out of the shadows and terrorize opposition defenses in the coming years.

Watch out for him.

Ryo Miyaichi highlight video

This post was originally posted on http://www.kantapallo.com/, as a guess post. Check out the blog!

Ebullient Eboue - Should he stay or should he go?

     Eboue. What can I say about him? He really is something else. Known as the jokester of the dressing room, he also is a decent player. He was signed in 2005 and has put in a very good shift for us: he played in the Champions League Final, and didn't do terribly during his time as a starter. However, Sagna rose through the ranks and eventually took his place.
     But credit to Eboue - he was never really suited for defense, as his natural position is right midfield. Even so, he did well enough and we should credit him for that.

     Eboue is now 28, which many "experts" say is the prime period of a players career. For Eboue, it seems like his career is nearing an end, sadly enough. According to People, Turkish side Galatasary are on the verge of signing Eboue. And while People make it sound as if Eboue was left behind during the Asia Tour so that he could sort out a deal, Eboue was in fact injured. People is just desperate to make a story!
     So while this story is only coming from People, it does seem like a very possible transfer.

     I'm on the fence on whether or not I want Eboue to leave the club. Here's my take on both views.

     I once had a vocabulary test for a school, and on the list of words to memorize was the word "Ebullient". I didn't have to study the word at all, because "Ebullient" matches Eboue's personality perfectly.

Ebullient
e·bul·lient
adjective 
Cheerful and full of energy.


     Works perfectly, doesn't it? 
Anyway, what I'm trying to get at is that Eboue has a special personality. He's funny, upbeat, and always positive. I mean, look at him.

     He brings something to the club, and especially the dressing room that no one else does. Did it not deeply hurt you, when after the Carling Cup Eboue was consoling a broken Jack? 

     While he wasn't the best on the pitch, I think he is needed off the pitch. During away matches, who always seems to applaud the away fans, even when he doesn't play? Eboue. And I'm sure during the low parts of our season, especially during our poor run of form, Eboue was there in the dressing room, almost acting as an assistant manager of sorts, trying to pump up the squad, getting them optimistic for the upcoming task. 

     And while I (obviously) support everything I just said, there is another problem with Eboue. Perhaps his personality isn't what the club needs during a time like this. 

     Eboue seems to have an extremely laid back, relaxed, personality. He's always laughing, even when he conceded that penalty against Liverpool that made me want to strangle him!

     What I'm getting at is, perhaps his personality played against us in the latter stages of the season. When Arsenal needed to be focused, it seemed they weren't. 

     Eboue may have instilled a relaxed mood into the club, if you know what I mean. 

     Also, from the financial side of things, it would be good to let Eboue go now; he'll be worth more this season than next. And in terms of chances, Jenkinson looks promising, and Eboue would either stop Jenkinson from getting action, or Jenkinson would play and Eboue would constantly sit the bench. I personally think the latter is the most likely scenario, with Wenger's philosophy.

     Emmanuel has had a good career with Arsenal, and this is a club that I think he loves. However he is past his prime, and perhaps a new challenge in Turkey would spark his form back into life. 

     I'd hate to see Eboue go, but I think Arsenal will sell him if they have the chance. Unlike other clubs, our squad is young, so there aren't many players retiring or leaving for a lesser league to "settle down" in. Therefore, it's harder for Arsenal to bring in more players when we already have a handful to deal with!

     On top of that, we sent out 15 players on loan last season, which is a little too much to handle. That must also be cut down on. 

     If Eboue leaves, it will be a sad day for Arsenal indeed. So,

Dear Eboue,

     Good luck, and never forget us, because we will never forget you. 

Love, 

   Chris

Why Theo Walcott Shouldn't Play Up Top

"This isn't the 100 meters, but 90 minutes"

     Over the years, Arsene Wenger has played Theo out on the wing, and it's safe to say that Walcott has done well, but perhaps hasn't reached his full potential. You could blame his injury problems for that, but some say it's because he hasn't been played up top.

     Arsene Wenger made Henry into a striker, after being a winger for the majority of his career. Theo started as a striker at Southampton, but Arsene forced him into learning his trade on the wing. Now, many are waiting for Wenger to change Theo back.

     Theo recently said this regarding his desire to play through the middle:

     "I was signed as a striker - I want to play up front. I think I have done my trade out on the wing.

     I think a lot of people forget I'm not a winger. I see myself as a striker, but if I get played up front it will take me a few games to get used to playing there again because I haven't played there for about five years.

     I think I have done a fairly good job on the wing for Arsenal. For this team I will play anywhere, but hopefully the fans will start seeing me up front a bit more. 

     I've been practicing my finishing after training. This season, 15-20 is my target.

     I know I'm not going to play every single game. I always work at a high intensity so I'm not going to be able to do every single game.

     The boss will know that as well. Hopefully I will be given a bit more of a free role as well. I'm intrigued to see what happens."

     As I listen to the reasons why fans want Theo to play up top, I notice they're all the same. His pace, and his finishing. It seems the majority want Theo to sit on the defender's shoulder, and wait for Cesc/Ramsey/Nasri/Jack to play a little ball through or over the top for Theo to run onto and finish.
   
     The truth is, the opposing managers aren't dumb. They'll know about Theo's pace, and won't play a high line, or even a "medium" line. Instead, they'll sit back, and put men behind the ball.

     Now do me a favor and think back to the times that a side did this against us. Bolton away, Blackburn at home, Sunderland at home, City at home. You look at these matches and notice that they all have two things in common: the sides played deep in their own half, put men behind the ball, and we didn't get the result we wanted against them.

     Now look at those matches in contrast to others, such as United at home, Chelsea at home, Barcelona at home. These sides are far better than the ones in the previous paragraph, and we beat them. These matches have things in common as well: we got the result we wanted, and the sides we played didn't sit back in their half. We were able to score in those matches, and played better overall in those matches in contrast to the ones in the previous paragraph.

     So all I'm trying to say is, by playing Walcott up top, it will force teams back into their own half, which is when we look two-dimensional and have trouble scoring, and play poorly. PERHAPS, playing Theo up top could work against us!

     But that isn't the only reason why I'd rather Theo not play centrally.

The fastest footballer in the world?

     When Theo starts, he tends to start very strongly. If not right from the first whistle, then usually after ten or fifteen minutes he will bombard the opposing defense with pressure. After his little raid, he will almost disappear from the game. You don't see him dribbling straight at the defenders, or having shots.
As a striker, you can't disappear from a match. It's okay to do so for around ten minutes, I suppose, but no more than that. A striker is the player that has to be on his game and on his toes all the time, in order to make the run that he either finishes, or one that creates space for a teammate to have a shot and score.
     That is part of the reason why Barcelona and Messi are so good. If you watch them, the amount of runs the players make around the man with the ball is astounding. They take the defender away, and this is part of the reason why Messi is so good. Villa will make a diagonal run past Messi, which will make the defender take a slight step towards Villa. That's all Messi needs though, and unless watched closely, it simply looks like Messi worked his magic!

     I just don't think Theo is capable of those types of runs just yet. Theo hasn't sufficiently developed in his awareness and tactical knowledge of the game to do so. But, he has improved. Theo has often been criticized with the cliche: "This is 90 minutes, not the 100 meters". It was a fair point years ago, but this past season he has shown how much he has developed in those areas.

     And while Theo played up top for Southampton, he hasn't done so for us on a consistent basis, which would stop Theo from maturing in that position. When you play in a squad like Arsenal, with the off the ball movement of Wenger's philosophy, and sometimes "total football" approach, it's an entire different position to your standard 4-4-2 at Southampton. It would take Theo a fair bit of time to learn how to play there, and based on what I have seen of him, I'm not sure he could learn the position well enough.

     On top of the reasons listed above, Theo isn't exactly built to play in the middle. He isn't the biggest bloke; not tall, nor is he as strong as RvP, who can deal with the likes of Samba and Vidic effectively. I fear that Theo would get pushed around a little too much. A bit of aggressiveness and physicality is needed up top, especially in the system we play. Theo would be alone in the center, and would have to hold the ball up, as well as distribute it well enough. He's just not big enough yet for me, his passing isn't good enough as of now for the center, and he isn't aggressive enough. His physical stature suits the wing more so than the center.

Darren Bent: The type of striker necessary for Theo to play up top.

     Lastly, like I previously said in a post regarding center backs playing as defensive midfielders, it isn't easy going from the wide areas to playing in the center. Instead of having a panoramic view of the match like Theo does now, he would have to worry about pressure coming in from all sides. I don't think he is ready to deal with this yet, either.

     Let it also be understood that this is all being said if Arsene Wenger continues with his 4-2-3-1 formation. If Wenger switches to the standard 4-4-2 which many fans are yearning for, I do think Theo could play up top, because he would have a partner. Of course, his partner would have to be more physical and bigger than Theo, and Theo would sit behind the main striker, feeding of him, playing one-two's to set him free.

     But I doubt the day of a 4-4-2 under Arsene Wenger with this squad will come any time soon. We know Wenger is a stubborn man, but perhaps in those crunch games against lesser sides, we will switch to a 4-4-2, and Theo can get his chance.

     That's all for me on the matter. Theo is a good winger, but isn't suited for the center, at least not yet. He should continue with his work on the wing, and make it his own.

      Let me know what you all think, I'd love to hear differing opinions. I also love an argument, but an argument with some dignity and respect of course!
     Drop your thoughts below with a comment, and to those unaware, you can simply choose the "Anonymous" option if you don't already have a Google account to comment.
     Ta.

Arsenal Sign Costa Rican Striker

     There is news that Arsenal have signed Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell from Saprissa, a Costa Rican football club. He has signed a five year contract for a 930,000 pound move.
     It may be difficult for Campbell to get a work permit, as he hasn't played the required 70% of international matches. Henceforth, a "special talent" visa would be necessary.
     Gunnerblog has been following the story for a while now, and was the first to come out with the news. Credit to him for staying up late at night to do so!

Mid-summer Transfer Round-up - Traore to Wilshere, Two Bundles of Joy

     Today is July 15th, and the summer is about halfway over. Due to Arsenal's poor season, Arsene Wenger has been stressed to make new signings, but it's also important to let go of some players who give little to the side, and keep the players that are our prized assets.

     I'll be addressing all of our own player's transfer situations in alphabetical order. There are exactly 31 players in our first team, so I'll do five players per post. Today will be the last post of the series, and I start with Traore. 

26. Armand Traore - 

     Traore was sent on loan last season to Italian giants Juventus, or "used to be" giants. From what I have seen of him, he didn't have the best season there. His defending wasn't brilliant, but it was acceptable, while his crosses were shameful. 

     I don't know if there are any rumors linking Traore away from the club, and I don't care. Arsene Wenger spoke after Gael Clichy's departure, brushing off rumors of interest in Jose Enrique:

     "The reasoning is that Kieran Gibbs at some stage has to get a chance to play. And Gael had only one year to go. I rate Gael very highly but I rate highly as well Kieran Gibbs, and he is now at an age where he has to play. And that’s the main reason behind that, to give Gibbs a chance"

     So, with Gibbs looking to be Arsene's first choice left back for the upcoming season, I highly doubt he would make a bid for Enrique, a player that would seemingly sit on the bench behind Gibbs. 

     Henceforth, with this news, it is safe to assume that Traore will be the second string left back, the same position Gibbs was in last year to Clichy. And while the last memory many Arsenal fans have of Traore is a disappointing one, Traore has improved. Traore easily outplayed Gibbs in the friendly against the Malaysia XI, and now looks the favorite to get the starting position, unless Gibbs can produce on Friday in Hangzhou. Traore didn't look as good going forward as Gibbs did, but Traore looked better defensively, which is more 
important.

27. Robin Van Persie - 
     Robin has had an "interesting" season. He participated in a few matches early in the season, but after picking up another injury at Ewood Park, he was out for months. RvP finally returned from injury on New Years Day, and from that point forward, he had a fantastic season. 18 goals in just 19 League appearances - that's quite a season for a striker of any caliber. He also broke a Premier League record for scoring in consecutive away games, with 11 straight. He's something else. Imagine if Robin had fit the entire season - he could easily be regarded as one of the best strikers in Europe. He just needs to get rid of his glass ankles!
     There were rumors of unrest in the van Persie camp during the growing speculation of Nasri and Cesc's future. This talk has now been dismissed, after Robin stated that he believes the upcoming season with Arsenal could be his best yet. Just don't get injured, Robin. 

28. Carlos Vela - 
     Ah, the tricky little goal-scoring Mexican starlet! Well, perhaps starlet is a slight overstatement. His role at Arsenal would be "the knock around after thrashing poor opponents at the Emirates chip-shot starlet!". Too long? Alright. How about what West Brom called him: "Carlos Vela". Odd, I know, but it seems the West Brom fans weren't huge fans of Carlos, and neither was Roy Hodgson. Despite scoring crucial, last minute goals for West Brom in two matches, he didn't see much time at the Hawthornes. He didn't get much time at Arsenal before his loan move either; like I said, he only came on in games such as a Bolton at home to score. (<- A rare occasion, a goal where didn't chip the 'keeper).
     Regarding transfer news, Vela's agent came out and said that Carlos would not be leaving the Emirates this summer. I don't mind that, Vela's a good lad and seems patient as well. However, I don't see any future for him at Arsenal. Miyaichi, Walcott, Gervinho, van Persie, and Rhys Murphy are just too much competition for him, and competition that will stay for at least another two years. For Carlos's career's sake, I think a move next season to a Spanish side would be best. Until then, he's an Arsenal player, and stays out of the limelight. Therefore, we should treat him with respect. He may not be the best, but when he does play he tends to score. Of course, that's not to say he should start, but based on what Arsene Wenger expects of him, he goes beyond expectation.

29. Thomas Vermaelen -
     This past season has exactly been one to remember for the Belgian captain. He only managed three league matches before he was injured for half a century. Arsenal didn't help us fans out either, at one point saying Vermaelen's return would be in "two weeks". Two weeks would pass by with Thomas still in the physio's room. He finally returned in May to play against Aston Villa in a forgetful match. Looking back at all our defensive problems, we really missed the Verminator last season.
     No rumors of a departure. He's currently on the Asia tour getting some much needed fitness. I hate to say it (even though Wenger loves too), but having Vermaelen back is like a new signing. 

30. Theo Walcott - 
     The past season has undoubtedly been Theo's best, despite his injury problems. He still has work to do, but it is obvious that his finishing has improved, and his tactical awareness has improved since last season - a side of his game that was often criticized. His goal scoring was fantastic - a hat trick against Blackpool, and fantastic finishes against Chelsea, Blackburn, and Shaktar. 
     Again, no transfer speculation. Next season should be a good one for Theo - a real battle for places with Gervinho, and if Wenger finally turns to a 4-4-2, Theo could finally get his wish fulfilled. 

31. Jack Wilshere - 
     Do I really have to go over it all? No, I don't. Should I? Maybe. But I won't. It would be too much to write! Jack has had an amazing season, easily our best player. Day in and day out Jack has coped with the pressure and delivered brilliant performances. In fact, on the biggest night of the season, Jack out played Messi, Xavi, David Villa, Iniesta, Pedro, and Dani Alves. 
     No news of Jack leaving either, as if he would if there was news! Our most dedicated player by far, and many peoples pick to be our next captain. His partnership with Ramsey looks promising, so next season looks good in the midfield aspect. 


    That's that for today, and the Mid-summer Transfer Round-up series. I hope you liked the posts, and encourage you to comment and leave your thoughts.


   
     In other news, I've got two bundles of good news. Firstly, it seems like Denilson is finally leaving! Apparently he is on the verge of signing for a loan deal to Sao Paolo. For how long I'm not sure. Ten years would be nice, but may be a little optimistic.


     The second bundle of fun: Fabregas's hometown mayor, Estanislau Fors said this: 

     "We all want Cesc to come home to Barcelona because at the moment he is living in a kidnapping.

     If Arsenal are truly English gentlemen they should start behaving as such. They need to stop clowning around, it is disorienting everyone"

      HAH! Arsenal is the club lacking class is it? And if Barca wants Cesc, just pay the fee and take him! For Christ's sake. I want to say the man is complacent, but that's just too nice. This guy is just a fucking idiot. 


     And on that positive note, I bid you goodbye.

Arsenal 4 Malaysia XI 0 - Let's Not Get Carried Away!

     

     Alright, a fairly quick post - I just want to recap the goals and the player's performances - it was only a preseason friendly!


     While Arsenal has been in Malaysia, they have attracted loads of attention and I can't imagine the amount of revenue Arsenal has gotten since the tour has started; the number of Arsenal jerseys (especially new ones) is unimaginable. The Bukit Jalil National Stadium was nearly packed to capacity, and the atmosphere was spectacular. Arsene Wenger chose a strong starting side, to add some excitement to the crowd: 
                               
                           Szczesny 


Jenkinson    Koscielny    Vermaelen    Gibbs


                  Song            Wilshere


                            Ramsey


     Walcott                                 Miyaichi 


                          Chamakh


     I don't want to be too critical of the players since it was the first match of our preseason, but Chamakh didn't look to great, and Jenkinson looked nervous, which is completely understandable, but he was caught out of position quite a few times. 


     The first goal came in the fifth minute. After some Arsenal pressure, Gibbs played a ball through for 
Wilshere, and he was taken down in the penalty area. Ramsey stepped up to take the penalty and buried it. 
   
     In the 37th minute after some patient passing, Ramsey played a 40 yard cross field ball to set Walcott through, and Theo finished the bouncing pass with a nice little lob over the 'keeper. A sublime ball by Ramsey; hopefully we'll see more of the form he showed on the day during the upcoming season.


     Then halftime came, and Arsenal looked comfortable. Arsene Wenger made changes to the squad, and the new XI looked like this:


                          Mannone


Jenkinson     Djourou     Squillaci     Traore 


                 Denilson       Frimpong 


                           Ramsey


     Rosicky                              Miyaichi 


                             Vela 


     In the 59th minute Rosicky was in the middle and fed Vela through the middle, and of course, Vela chipped the 'keeper. But it wasn't any old chip. It was a very good one. The 'keeper never went to ground, and the chip was well measured. Three nil to The Arsenal. 


     Then an "interesting" decision. Van Persie, Arshavin, Nasri, and Sagna came on, so the XI now looked SOMETHING like this:
                          
                        Mannone 


Sagna      Djourou      Squillaci      Traore                         


                        Frimpong


             van Persie          Nasri


    Rosicky                             Arshavin


                            Vela


     I stress the word something. The players moved so much and simply floated to different positions, so this is the best guess I've got.
     But back to what I was saying - an interesting decision. No, the inclusion of Nasri was not interesting. The fact that Denilson was substituted after 20 minutes was. Apparently after he was substituted, Denilson stormed straight to the dressing room looking unhappy. 


     What does this mean? It means Arsene Wenger doesn't have Denilson included in next season's plans, and rightly so. Not only is Denilson shit, but the absurd comments he made means he doesn't deserve a place at Arsenal. If he were to make those comments followed by clubs scrambling for him, okay. But it didn't happen, and he now looks like a fool. Jog on Denilson. 


     Anyway, onto the football! 

Full match highlights.

     In the 90th minute, Arshavin used his tiny little magical feet and got to the goal line. His chip into the box was deflected, and it found Rosicky, who's header from four yards out found the back of the net. The match ended Malaysia XI nil, Arsenal four, and overall a good performance. Player performance reviews right this way...

• Szczesny: He didn't really have to do anything. 

• Mannone: He didn't have to do anything either! 

• Jenkinson: At first he looked nervous, which is completely understandable. He was caught up field, out of position numerous times, but he was able to recover well. Perhaps this is because he finished first in fitness tests at London Colney, according to Vermaelen. Though as time went by, Jenkinson slowly relaxed and looked very good. He blended right into the set up. Overall, a good performance. 

• Sagna: He had a good match. Nothing special, but wasn't afraid to go forward, which he did well.

• Koscielny: Shut down danger efficiently. Good game.

• Vermaelen: Your typical Verminator performance. "Is that a striker barreling towards my goal?" *Zap*

• Squillaci: Did well, but again, didn't have much to do.

• Djourou: ^What he said.

• Gibbs: Didn't have a terrible game, but didn't do the best. Went forward well though. No surprises there. 

• Traore: Looked superior to Gibbs. He defended much better. I am now a fan of Traore to get the starting spot, but can he do it again in China on Friday?

• Song: Another average Song match. Nothing special, nothing horrid.

• Frimpong: Looked very good. He shut down Malaysia's play well, and his passing was well executed as well. I'm looking forward to seeing him on Friday.

• Wilshere: Young Jack had a very good match. Committed a few fouls, but that's him. He linked up very well with Ramsey - 2011/2012 is looking bright in that respect.

• Denilson: In no regard did he have a poor game, he only played twenty minutes for the reasons I listed above. 

• Ramsey: He looked like a new player yesterday. While we thought Jack was good (which he is), we've completely forgotten how good Ramsey is. His passing was fantastic, and I'm very optimistic of the upcoming season for him. Life after Cesc doesn't seem too bad.

• Nasri: Malaysian's, so I guess you could call him an arse for that if you wanted. Nasri looked like his "first half of last season" self, but it's only one preseason friendly, so we can't make too many assumptions. 

• Rosicky: He seemed to play better than he has in a while. A resurgence of form for him would be fantastic, but like I said, no early assumptions!

• Miyaichi: Exciting to watch. The Japanese youngster put in a good performance, but looked very raw. I'm slightly disappointed that Ryo won't be playing with us next season, but a loan move for him would be best. Still needs to develop. He'd need to bulk up a little bit too. 

• Walcott: Besides his goal, Theo wasn't involved much at all. Wasn't the best game for him.

• Chamakh: I was disappointed with him. He looked very tired, which is understandable, but more so than the others. Also, he lacked awareness when on the ball, and didn't get involved much.

• Vela: I was impressed with Carlos. He had a good game and you could tell he was having fun. At one point he was either showboating or being a complete idiot, and his chipped goal was delightful.

• van Persie: Came on and did his thing. Good passing, good movement, great touches. He even helped create a chance for Rosicky.

     Once again, it was overall a good match. Big questions that reside over the next match are: 

• Will Traore outplay Gibbs again?
• How will Jenkinson do?
• How will Miyaichi do?
• Can Frimpong force his way into the side for next season?
• Will Denilson play? 

     The next match will be played against Hangzhou Greentown on Saturday, July 16th in China. The squad landed in China today, and were greeted like celebrities. I'll be tweeting live updates for the game on Twitter, and will provide a link for a live stream, for those that aren't subscribed to Arsenal Player. I will be tweeting all this at 12:30 GMT. 

     That's all for today. Check back for another post, they're always coming up!

Cheers.