Does Ten Goal Salvo Tell Us Anything?
Jul 29th, 2008 by 'holic
The contest with a Burgenland XI will remain only in the statisticians’ memories. You may care to remember this in a decade or two when you are asked ‘against whom did Carlos Vela and Jack Wilshere score their first Arsenal goals?’
For the record Nicklas Bendtner was on target four times, Carlos Vela three, Jack Wilshere twice, and Theo Walcott once, before concentration levels dropped and the hosts grabbed a mildly embarrassing brace.
It has to be said that in the week when we will be seeing some of the internationals returning the more important fixture will be on Wednesday when we face Jens Lehmann and his new team-mates in Stuttgart.
Have these first three fixtures with a mixed squad taught us anything important? It would be easy to offer a bland answer. I’ll try to avoid that by looking at the potential problem areas in the upcoming season. It would be hugely unfair to assess the goalkeeping strength given the lack of minutes for Lukasz Fabianski. Almunia will start as number one, and I think most of us would have reservations about using Mannone given the glimpses we have had of him pre-season.
Have we discovered a central defender to challenge the missing quintet of Toure, Gallas, Senderos, Djourou, and Song? Probably not. That has been an area of weakness in the opening games, but making a great deal out of that would be as wrong as talking the side up for a ten goal showing against an Austrian pub team. I don’t think anybody would be surprised if a strong centre-back was high on Arsene’s wishlist.
Have we got options for the midfield areas, given the loss of Flamini, Gilberto, and Hleb? I think you would have to say there are some real possibilities developing. I have cautioned about getting carried away with the hype surrounding Jack Wilshere. That is difficult. I am sure Arsene Wenger originally called him into the squad just for these first three games so he could have a look at him and give the lad some experience alongside his peers. I think he has earned another opportunity or two in the bigger games to come.
Aaron Ramsey too has slotted in very quickly. When Stewart Robson talks in glowing terms about his ‘ball-manipulation’ you know this is another special young talent. I would like to see him get a couple of outings alongside Fabregas with instruction to sit deep when we don’t have the ball. He is without doubt a better passer of the ball than Flamini, but has not yet shown the discipline and energy required for the role. At seventeen it would be a massive ask, but clearly he has huge potential. Diaby and Song will get opportunities.
Denilson started slowly at Barnet, but has improved in each of the last two outings, and he will be given more chances in the next couple of weeks. With Walcott, Vela, and Nasri capable of operating out wide I think we may not be as exposed as some would have you believe. Obviously another experienced midfield signing would be highly desirable. We have all the promise in the world, but someone to ‘ride shotgun’ for Cesc would be top of my shopping list. Oh, and could someone glue Rosicky back together please?
With reported potential suitors for Adebayor failing to meet the player’s estimation of his own worth it looks as though we will have real competition in attack. That does depend on Van Persie staying fit, and it will be interesting to see if the Dutchman is paired with either Walcott or Vela (or of course Bendtner) in the next couple of weeks. If the boss is thinking about teaching Adebayor a lesson we will get an idea pretty soon. It’s a shame Eduardo is not yet in the reckoning.
So to Wednesday and a reunion with that crazy German. The late arriving international players are being lined up for at least a half. Gallas, Senderos, Nasri, and Van Persie amongst them. This is where the season starts to take shape. The performance may be more important than the result in these pre-season games, but now is the time to start building that ‘them against us’ mentality as the strength of the opposition improves.
All of a sudden the expectation levels are building. We’re nearly there.
169 Responses to “Does Ten Goal Salvo Tell Us Anything?”
Hmm..
What does it tell us…
10-2???
Oh yeh thats write no shit we played well.
nd if you even watched the game the opposition were about as good as my school team..maybe a bit better…my school team are shit.
It tells us that AW hand picked these chumps for a bit of shooting practise!! But Vela, Wilshire and Ramsey look fucking good!!!!!!
I’d like to see Arsene buy a strong midfielder AND a tough Keown like player.
Wednesday we start the double winning season I predict.
I already printed my banner and auto tags!
Up the Arsenal
Wilshire has impressed me no end. I was not prepared for the type of performances he has strung together at the tender age of 16. He will have to sit and wait behind Nasri, Vela, Walcott and Rosicky for the time being and so will probably feature in the Reserves and get a few shot in the CC.
Ramsey has looked good but will need this year to round himself out and should be a mainstay in the CC, but will have competition from Diaby, Merida and Denilson for selection. Although he he has played both DM and AM he seems to be a Fab type and should fit better at AM.
Vela has played up to my expectations after watching him quite a few times in the last year playing at Osasuna and at the international level for Mexico. He will slot effortlessly into the team and in my mind is ahead of Walcott and Nasri at this stage.
We played fine. But if you see how weak the opposition were in closing down the attack. Arsenal had massive amounts of time to shoot the ball. Stuttgart will be the first real test. I bet you Almunia is shit scared. A win would be a huge confidence booster for him as i think he is afraid of jens.
I really dont think asene wenger is going to sign another central back. He wld use the money on other areas.
Our central back partnership might not be as good as we wanted but i feel priority should still be a classy DM.
On top of that if arsene wenger said that he doesnt want to sign established star in front of walcott and bentner then i dont think he will sign another defender and put him in front of song, senderos and Djourou.
And wenger certainly rate them, if not i guess he would have sell them.
If Wenger is to spend money this is the season. Because next season-2009/2010 he’ll have TOP loanees returning.
Merida
Barazite
Boletho
Gibbs
Randall
Simpson
Gilbert
Lansbury
Even if we only keep 3 (imo Merida, Boletho & Barazite) we could make a small fortune off the other 5. Almost 10 mill?
Its a win win situation, strenghten the squad for free and make a few quid on the way.
Oh yeah we could have Wilshire & Coquilen pushing for a place in the squad next year too.
Two quickfire blogs and still no trace of Jackster?
Burgenland X1
I don’t think they went through the sound barrier.
XI would do it for me.
And oh, I can excuse the many erroneous spellings of Wilshere in another special place, but not here, sir ‘holic!
Nicklas also….Who wrote this for you today? 😉
to meet the players estimation of his own worth
player’s ?
Tsk, have a good rest, ‘holic.
And finally: players are being lined up for at least a half
No mistake here, but mine will be a full pint.
Here’s to Jackster getting first drink soon! 😀
How can Mannone be blamed? It was 2 blunders by the defence, leaving him prone, that allowed Burgenland in for their 2 goals. Write articles yet no idea of football!
Ollie, you little scamp. You will have people believing I made these mistakes whilst under the influence of tired and emotional. 🙂
Good work, sub-editor extraordinaire.
I see that sogaysogay have broken Arseblog again.
I think I shall raise a glass to ‘holic instead, he’s far funnier than Nesbitt anyway.
It tells us we’re the bestest team evah!
Beware of Us man ov
Good Post ‘holic. Blogs in serious danger of looking the cunt, again.
Morning Tone. They’ll be back soon enough, I hope.
No anonymous posting here for those in work situations.
Enjoy a game of super fucking kick-ups while you’re waiting!
Yeah, right.
Blogs says the whole site is fucked, much to everybody’s surprise.
Oh bugger. He hasn’t had much luck with them, has he?
Anybody who wants to pull up a chair here is welcome, but make sure you go back there when it’s fixed.
I will be 😉
I heard this place did free Guinness on tap?
It does Pip, but not virtually. You have to be at the top-secret nerve centre of my media empire to enjoy the staff benefits…
Virtual Guinness is rubbish anyway.
Morning all. Your comments arent as obvious as the “regular” Arses, though ‘holic.
It might have been a stroll in the park yesterday and not to be taken too seriously, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Morning all. Time for a pint?
The bacon and black pudding butties taste better in real life too.
Up the ‘Olic! Not literally of course, but good blog. See we are in for Inler @ £5m. Rather have Senna for 3 years tho. Thought he was awesome in E2008.
Here you all are, are far more civilised environmnent.
Morning all.
Anyone got any links to the goals?
FFS, make sure no one tells WB where we are.
oh.
Hello mate, how’s things?
33. GunnerPete – July 28, 2008
Sam you are so right. I thought I was going nutty as all the talk in the press has been more forwards, more midfielders etc. even another old goalie?
I have been saying for three years now that we will NOT win a bloody thing again unless we can shut teams out after taking the lead. Everyone forgets how games are won very soon after the season finishes. So all our great football amounts to sod all IF we never learn our lessons, and Arsene appears very complacent about our soft centre.
Gallas and Toure are very good defending midfielders and nothing more. They are not stoppers like Vidic & Ferdi, or Terry & Carvalleo .
Arsene was gifted remnents of the greatest back 6 in the history of UK football and look at the early trophies….the look at the count after the last of the greats retired. This will tell you why I am so pro defence.
As Rebel said above we have the answer to Defensive Midfield sitting there in Kolo or even Gallas, but I would prefer the sale of the latter and the purchase of a world class center back or two. Zapata is class and so is Cheolllini……….get then and AFC will win the lot
Did (Arse)blogger do the right thing by joining Oily Oily?
Morning Tone, Ollie et al
Try on Arsenalist.com (I think, google it if that doesn’t work) GG
Heh, you cunt nelly.
I’m good mate, enjoyed the first 4 goals I saw at work yesterday. It was abit of a daft game, but you can only play what’s in front of you etc.
How’s it going – I like the football talk in here?
GG,
Some
spammerkind soul left this on yesterday’s commentsvideo highlights available at http://www.arsenalspot.webs.com
Not bad mate.
Fun game to watch, Some of the new/ young lads look pretty handy.
certainly played at a good tempo anyway. I’d like to see how they hold up against a team of shitkicking lumps like sunderland though.
Cheers Nellie. Was a bit one sided, wasn’t it!
“OleOle – Where the fans kick off”
If only they knew…
Nice blog ‘holic, and morning to the you know who’s…..
Can you buy ‘Super Kick Ups’ for the PS3?
We’re going to win the league!
This is where you all are.
Kir Royale please, ‘holic
Morning,
Mr Wimpy, Hamburgler, freaky plastic faced BurgerKing fella, Ronald McDonald, Can you hear me, your boys took one hell of a beating!
Oh, Burgen-land?
Ah, err…
Heh HRH,
Morning latecomers
Being in ‘Holic’s gaff makes me want a pint. It’s like being in a nice, quiet pub with comfy chairs and the tv on but turned down so it’s not too distracting.
*resists cherry gag*
Any other exotic cocktails required before I have to lift a finger for the poor buggers that employ me?
Hahaha, HRH.
I’ll have a Kir Royale too, please’ holic.
*makes self comfy*
SuperKockups surely?
Can I have an Old Fashioned please ‘H?
Right, self-service for a wee while now. Leave the money in the till 🙂
Oooh is it broken?
Ah… Nelly’s telling lies;-) I shall have to deal with him later.
I think the extra traffic may be causing problems.
I blame Silva.
*looks scared*
Should do!
And theres me thinking that the price of oil had reduced traffic
…and now you’re gonna beleive us and now you’re gonna beleive us!
Heinz
Fuck me, I may have to do some work…this won’t do.
Allgay Allgay need to sort their shit out.
Don’t do that to me Nelly. I should have a hundred gig of bandwidth, which should be enough to deal with Blogs level of traffic, let alone the three men, a dog and an escaped mental patient I normally get on here.
Sorry ‘holic, it was a momentary blip when it said the the website was encountering problems. must have just been at my end then.
Ahoy Arsem8s!
How is the escaped mental patient though?
Morning all.
This day isn’t getting any better.
Do you mind if I come in, ‘holic?
woof
Oil of Ulay don’t realise that ‘out of hours’ maintenance in LA is ‘peak Arsing time’ in the real world of football.
Grrrrr
Blogger should break his contract with the incompetent shitkickers and then sell himself to the highest bidder. Those short, tight hotpants that he used to wear down the Barcelona Docks of a Saturday night should see him right.
And if it’s ‘scheduled’, shouldn’t that mean advance warning?
All are welcome Chippy. It’s a bit musty but it will do for a while 🙂
You sure you wouldn’t find it easier coming out, Chips?
Morning Dubs.
That Kir Royale was delicious. I think I’ll have another.
Are you allowed to post links here ‘holic?
only something for people to waste time playing around on.
Feel free Nelly, treat it like home, until home is open again.
Manners, Woodbine.
You’re not at home now.
I must say, ‘holic, these sofas are extremely comfy.
*plumps cushions*
http://www.fingertime.com/trackheads/88791130
Addictive game.
Gah, couldn’t resist.
Sorry Chips. How are you today?
My firm’s firewall has blocked it, Nelly. Miserable bar stewards:-(
*jumps onto sofa*
*puddens*
*settles down*
*purrs*
What does “puddens” mean?
It’s that kneading type action, nelly
Not very good, WB.
Day started at 4.30am with Chipette II embarking on a vomiting session right the way through to 7am. Mrs Chippy, together with Chippette III upped and left for Dublin at 8am for a Doctor’s appointment, leaving me to feed, wash, dress two Chipettes who work their way through at least four different outfits before settling on the one for the day.
Just when I think all is sorted and we’re heading out the door, I notice that the bastard dog has shat on two rugs in separate rooms.
I diudn’t get in until 9.30am, forgetting that I had a client in for an appointment at 9.15am.
So all things considered, I could be better.
Its a most annoying trait actually, Ivan. Especially when the person on the receiving end is only wearing something made of thin material.
Oh dear, Chippy. Vomit, shit and a pissed off client, all in the space of one morning. The only way is up from here;-)
My cat does exactly the same, just to further soften the area he is about to lie on, normally me.
Not great, especially just after dinner.
That’s not really a good way to start the day. I was going to moan about how the excessive heat and wonderful yet noisy thunderstorms kept me awake last night.
But I didn’t have vomit or shit to deal with, so I won’t.
Nelly, that’s a good little game, that one.
Ah ha…. so this is where you all are!
Make space on that sofa will ya???
*shifts up*
I heard one enoooooooormous clap of thunder that went on for about 15 seconds at around 1am this morning. I vaguely heard heavy rain and then went back to sleep.
Cunt off, Hazza. That’s my place on the sofa. You can sit on the floor
Just in case anyone cares…
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The usual location seems to be back, if rather shakily
Thanks for the hospitality, ‘holic
Nice one ‘Holic. I’ll settle my tab now, many thanks.
*does a quick once over with the Dyson before departing*
Cheers for now, ‘holic.
*claims sqatters rights*
I ain’t going no where.
Oh, ok then.
Cheers ‘holic
*Drinks the rest of Redder’s drink*
Cheers, ‘holic.
*Grabs fistful of peanuts*
First drink?
oh.
Gone again?
Bloody layabouts. *Heads over to the other place then….*
*grabs a few more peanuts*
Only me.
Phew, what a morning. I’m starving. Think I’ll have some pean…
Oh, that’s strange.
They’ll be back…
Like a bad penny.
Hang on a minute Mark. Ivan left a half-mutilated rat here somwhere…
Hello.
So this is where everyone is
I’m in both places.
Being omnipotent is great.
Temporary shelter Jacks, temporary shelter.
Afternoon lads.
Has anyone seen my rat? It was running round the arses a while back.
It’s broken again isn’t it?
Aah, I kind of like it here. Less Gallas talk.
Game of pool, anyone?
Shall we talk about Eboue then?
Is that a Bar Billiards table in the corner?
So Is it just Woodie and me for beers tomorrow?
Have I mentioned I’m on my 2 week holiday at the meoment?
-e
Oh Mark, do we have to?
Why I think it is, Nelly. Set the skittles up, I’m just having a quick go on the quiz machine.
What total fucking cunts they are. They need a bloody good nuking.
Shove ha’penny in the corner somewhere. I knew all of this old stuff would come in handy.
Who are Redders?
*lines up shots of Sambuca*
who’s first?
Cheers Nelly!
AllcuntinggayAllcuntinggay, of course Jackster.
Seems to be working again.
‘Holic’s pub is ace, though.
See you all back here at 4pm?
*stumbles out the door*
Not working.
Prefer it here, to be honest…..
test
Ooooh, macros work here.
Cool.
testes
Do they??
testicles
True text doesn’t.
does strikethough?
Dubs!
It might well be just thee and me tomorrow – is KT not about?
Nope.
And wordpress just told me to stop post comments so quickly.
No, I have to go and play tags in the background when I want to do it. This is very old-fashioned. I’m not too technical, I’m afraid.
It’s very nice in here ‘holic, you won’t hear me complaining.
Nelly’s been ordering alco-pops and fancy RedBull mixers at the bar, ‘Holic.
You don’t do that crap in here, I assume? Mines a pint of Summer Lightening, a refreshing ale if ever there was one.
Has Blogs checked his OhGayOhGay contract for these “Unscheduled Maintenance”???
I’ll just pee in the glass, he’ll never know the difference…
plums
Keep the door open ‘holic. We’ll be back soon.
Oh, I see that’s where all the action happened!
Afternoon Ollie.
Do you want a proper beer, or is the merkin stuff alright for you?
Back you go. The main stadium is open again. I hope you enjoyed your trip to Underhill 🙂
Its back…
(For how long….?)
I like your emoticons, ‘Holic. Looks like they’ve been stuck on with blue-tac.
OhGayOhGay doesn’t even HAVE emoticons!!
Haha, Woodbine. Harsh. But fair 😉
‘holic, you scamp!
I only put the space in you forgot:)
*snoozes in peace*
*Shouts loudly at Ivan*
Wake you lazy ginger feline!
+up
*Prods Ivan*
Excuse me civil servants, we are back home now…
Are you kicking us out ‘holic??
No lock-ins??
But…… but… but this is our second home!
*wails*
Heh, I’m not pinching customers when the restaurant is open…
Ah, nice and quiet.
*Orders pint, sits down with paper*.
As loyal customer, ‘holic, I think I deserve a Kir Royale on the house.
Oh, alright then. Just this once mind.
*Spies WB*
Can I have a pint of the usual please?
Better up the order on the brewery if the weather is going to stay like this.
Hello there Hazza – pint?
Actually, while I’m here – Mark, you want one? KT?
One for yourself also, guv’norholic.
It’s Happy Hour, with a trust bar. I’m out of here. Help yourself, and don’t let that rat back in…
Laters.
Don’t mind if I do WB. Cheers!
Cheers indeed, Haz!
*swipes till*
*realises it’s empty as we’ve all bought our drinks ‘on tick’*
Woody, have you emptied the NSPCC tin?
Nope. ‘Holic took that with him, said it was the ‘Horses money’, or something?
Must be a charity for horses. Must be.
I love this space.