A Day At School For The Young Guns
Jul 22nd, 2017 by 'holic
The Gunners lined up against a very strong looking Chelsea starting eleven in Beijing. Again our squad was utilised fully, with David Ospina between the posts, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles playing on the right-hand side of Per Mertesacker and Nacho Monreal in the back three. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cohen Bramall were selected as the wing backs outside a seemingly settled shielding midfield duo of Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey. A blend of youth and experience, Alex Iwobi and Mesut Ozil were selected to provide the ammunition for Alexandre Lacazette.
Chelsea started strongly, perhaps not surprisingly against a makeshift defence. They may have been without Hazard and the departing Costa, but they still had a very offensive looking unit. The first big chance fell to Willian, taking advantage of a Maitland-Niles error to sprint clear but he slid his effort wide of Ospina’s far post. Players on both sides found control difficult on a poor quality pitch complete with ruts and bumps.
On the quarter of an hour Batshuayi got a shot off from the edge of the box but it found Ospina perfectly placed to comfortably save. The Gunners started some promising moves without being able to break down the not so thin blue line in front of Courtois. In the 22nd minute we finally created an opportunity, with Iwobi and Ozil combining to feed the late-arriving Ramsey. Sadly he was just unable to clip his sliding effort on target at the near post.
A coming together between Pedro and Ospina on the edge of the box saw a generous free-kick awarded our way. Both players only had eyes for the ball, and if any offence was committed it was a handball just the wrong side of the 18 yard line by the goalkeeper. The former Barca man had to be substituted by Boga before another sensible drinks break after half an hour in temperature approaching 30 degrees again.
After another error by Maitland-Niles Willian, then Moses, were denied by Ospina. From the resulting corner Batshuayi was adjudged offside when he slid a cross across the face of the goal into the back of the net. It looked a wrong call, and not the first we have seen from the local officials on this tour. The same player dragged an effort wide minutes later as Chelsea looked to crank up the pressure.
That pressure paid off when Willian danced inside Monreal’s non-existent challenge on the edge of the box and powered an effort in off the inside of the far post. Moments later Batshuayi unleashed another goalbound effort beyond Ospina after Bramall surrendered possession. That two didn’t become three a minute later was down more to luck than defensive quality. In truth we were being unlocked at will.
Ramsey did bring a save out of Courtois, but there is no doubt which of these two sides would have been more relieved to hear the half-time whistle. It may only have been a pre-season friendly, but Arsene Wenger and Jens Lehmann would have wanted to encourage their charges to respond to a key rival.
There was a farcical start to the second-half when the Chinese officials initially refused to allow Olivier Giroud to come on as a substitute due to his name not appearing on the official team sheet. Thankfully common sense eventually prevailed. Indeed the Gunners made wholesale changes. The big French striker was teed up almost immediately by Ramsey but failed to connect with an acrobatic effort rather than what appeared to be a simpler headed opportunity.
We paid full penalty for that when Batshuayi smashed his second after the right-flank of the Gunners defence was opened up again. A new back three of Laurent Koscielny, Mohamed Elneny, and Sead Kolasinac were unable to close the striker down in time. The response was a Giroud free-kick into the wall followed by a Francis Coquelin drive from the edge of the box that shaved the crossbar.
A simple long ball from Luiz gave Willian the opportunity to force another save from Ospina. Although the Arsenal looked a lot more competitive with Coquelin and Giroud on it was a warning sign that the defensive vulnerability remained. That’s what pre-season matches are for in some respect. We know we have some issues to address before the competitive season returns in under three weeks.
Giroud got another couple of efforts away, one saved by substitute goalkeeper Caballero and the other dragged wide, before another series of substitutions by both sides. Joe Willock and Donyell Malen joined the fray and the latter struck a post as we searched in vain for a consolation.
The first defeat of pre-season may do more good than harm. Some young talent experienced playing against more experienced opposition and if they improve as a result then today will not have been wasted. Hers’s hoping they get another opportunity next weekend to show they have the ability to respond positively.
Safe home all.
Win Tickets For The Emirates Cup Next Sunday
The Arsenal are hosting their pre-season tournament, the Emirates Cup, on Saturday July 29th and Sunday July 30th.
We’ve already teamed up with the Gunners to offer one lucky reader a pair of VIP tickets to the first day of the tournament, in Club Level at Emirates Stadium. Now we can offer another lucky winner a chance to attend the second day of the tournament on the Sunday.
Taking part in this year’s competition alongside the Arsenal are Portuguese champions Benfica, 2016 Europa League winners Sevilla, and Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.
As with the previous Emirates Cup tournaments, fans will enjoy two matches each on both Saturday and Sunday, with one ticket giving access to both matches on a particular day.
For the opportunity to enjoy a day out in style at Emirates Stadium this pre-season, just answer the following question:
Those at the tournament will get an opportunity to see record signing, Alexandre Lacazette, in the flesh. From which French club did we sign him?
- A) Lyon
B) Monaco
C) PSG
Send your entry to competition@goonerholic.com to arrive by midnight, UK time, on Sunday 23rd July. Please include a contact email address and phone number so the Arsenal can contact you directly if you are the one drawn out of the hat.
Now for the important bit. If you missed out on the tickets for the Saturday, won by Pete Francis, tickets are still available for Day One and Day Two of Emirates Cup 2017, from £25 adults and £12 concessions.Visit Arsenal.com to buy.
55 Responses to “A Day At School For The Young Guns”
Bang! Fair report from what I saw Holic. We are about three players short of a top squad. Lots may alter before the end of the season but I’d like to see us being proactive on acquisitions and get rid of those who have no future at the club asap.
Young Reiss Nelson is a real player
Much as I saw it H. You sum the point of the fixture up well with:
“The first defeat of pre-season may do more good than harm.”
We are a work in progress and much work remains to be done, on and off the field.
Here’s hoping. *crosses fingers*
faraway kickabouts mean fuck all
it’s the nearabouts that matter
.
must hunt out the water margin
loved that show
I’ve been watching the gowf. Now it’s finished I am kind of at a loss. Bit past the heading out clubbing. 🙁
We are a work in progress for ten years but…
they who only stand and wait, also serve
gowf ?
.
my night time trips to the bar
are becoming less frequent
i get the overwhelming munchies
and instead of my once normal
hour long musically accompanied walk home
i scran a lift and eat till my ears pop
never used to be like that
weird ?
Thanks for the report, Guv’nor, of a game not seen.
A pair of makeshift back threes makes me wonder why Chambers is being sold.
But less concerned at this point of the season with three conceded than none scored.
City just revamped their back four… for those prices .. they could’ve gotten Neymar…
50 is the new 15…!
😀
Thanks for the report, Holic.
Been so busy i hadn’t even looked or noticed that the game was on ITV today and, as yet, I have seen nothing at all.
However, there will now be more free time as we head for the West Country early on Tuesday to see me old mate Holly Daze. Here’s hoping they’ve fired up the WiFi and plumped the cushions in the comfy chairs.
NOT THE COMFY CHAIRS …… Look it up Yoofs ?
Just had a big back drink and noticed with regret that the impressive Impressive Failage will not be joining us any more. Are we allowed to ask why ? I guess not, or he would have said so. Shame he’s gone.
Talking of antipodeans, are there any Financial Goo’Roos in here who can explain how Manche$ter $ity are about to take their spending SO FAR this summer to £200,000,000+ with the acquisition of a £51,000,000 Right Back !?
Should I assume that Financial Fair Play is now officially dead and buried ?
Evening H
Our boys looked very sluggish,showing the after effects of heavy training schedule/travel and virus that swept through the group midweek.
Given our starting line up,if i were Conte,i would have been very upset if the Blues hadn’t won comfortably.
Different game at this level for the youngsters,and given how many times we gave the ball away with gay abandon in the first half,we could have been 4 or 5 down.
2nd half was an improvement,but game was over by then.
Let’s not forget the 2 trips to OZ and China were primarily for Marketing/Brand exposure,and nothing to do with football.
Arsene would have much preferred his usual pre season in Europe,but it is a global game now,so round the world trips are now the norm.
Back to the comforts of home this week for rest and recuperation,a w/end of the Ems Cup,and then a very different game at Wembley to today’s kickabout against the Blues.
Evening Trev
FFP was never alive in the first place.!!
Creative accountancy rules the world.
Can’t believe what appears to be going on. Citeh are laying down £55m for a left back who may not be an automatic first choice. As a team who are allowed to have a naming rights deal on a Stadium they rent one assumes they have walked all over FFP.
I hope the links with Carvalho are accurate. He is a real beast in midfield and at £27m dirt cheap ?!
Evening Clive,
I hadn’t realised the squad had suffered a virus during the week – I’ve barely had time to look at a paper – for all the good that does ……
So, are you saying we didn’t have our proper left and right backteria ?
No – thought not ?
FFP? With PSG apparently offering about a third of the entire value of their club to secure one player we can safely say FFP is well dead and buried – assuming it ever had life anyway.
This article explains … http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40690701 … although it fails to detail the salary half of the theorised deal quoted elsewhere as £596k a week AFTER TAX. By my reckoning that’s around another £125m over 5 years plus whatever the tax take is in France. If the total doesn’t approach half a billion I’m no accountant, which I’m not of course.
No sign of Theo last night, has he died of the food poisoning? Apart from a brief appearance against Bayern he’s been noticeably absent in China. Transfer in the wind?
Nacho and Rambo aside I expect few of those who did turn out against the chavs to even make the bench in the Prem. A bit of a shambles frankly. Climate and stomach bugs notwithstanding.
AW’s face suggested the comfy chair will definitely not be a training option at Colney any time soon.
“and if any offence was committed it was a handball just the wrong side of the 18 yard line by the goalkeeper.”.
I thought it was for a deliberate push on the defender by Pedro who jumped into him while long way from the ball and then got cleaned out by the keeper. Don’t want to see any long term harm to the guy but it was the kind of sly foul which deserves being on the end of a pasting.
Also ITV’s commentary team wer so appalling I muted the volume after 60 mins. Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.
Hey Trev @ 9, here’s a Sunday morning fairy tale for yer, and like other fairy tales, it may or may not feature a load of old cobblers …
Ahem, so … once upon a thingy FFP was conceived by Euro Prince Micky Platini, to help put an end to a particular evil then running rampant in his soccah kingdom – UEFA : You see, Prince Micky was said to be hugely pissed-orf by the financially doped, often English clubs (especially one in particular) chucking unearned dosh around; more or less ruling the transfer roost and doing pretty well in Euro joust offs as a result.
BUT …
Plot Twist: Then the once evilly perceived (by our hero, Prince Micky, at least) financially dopey, oil-rich types, swept in from the East once more (Qatar), pulled up in Le France Football, started spraying their billions about the place like a mangy old mutt wot woz marking new territory and gave Prince Mickey’s son a high-powered, well-paid little number …
But, oh! Now any too stringent an enforcement of FFP rules was bound to inhibit Qatari spending power, which in turn was bound to make them mightily miffed and likely far less (ahem) generous all-round etc … so what was the prince to do???
Well, quite suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, our hero the prince did two things …
He somehow became, the noisiest, chirpiest wee pom pom waving (there are rumours of photos out there of him in the full gear, with a big “Q” on his back and everyfink) cheer-leader for that universally soccah world adored, and not at all absolutely double-bubble bat-shit mental, Qatari world cup bid.
AND he also, miraculously, and with an alarming speed – the like of which the olde ambler had never demonstrated on the field of play back in the day – allowed the rules of his signature FFP project to first be “relaxed”. then quietly put to bed; where to this day they dream prettily of what might have been, hoping that some time soon a handsome frog (oops, easy!) prince might kiss and awaken them so that world football might be made a happier, saner place once more.
EL FIN
Never a truer word, AL.
AL ????
Your French fairy tale wins a big ‘wee wee’ from me – or is that taking le piss ?
Oddly enough, AL, (yes, that’s what they call him !)
I posted a fairy tale of my own, which I am surprised to find was as far back as March 2014.
Here it is again – if anyone can be bothered – with one or two very minor adjustments, which make no material difference to the story ….
It was, and is, called Loop Holes …….
The Scene: UEFA Headquarters, Nyon, Switzerland.
The worried heads of Europe’s financially doped clubs are meeting to try to find ways of continuing to operate under the regulations of Financial Fair Play.
The meeting is chaired by Bendt Splatter, continuing in the family profession established by his uncle nearly 150 years ago, and newly elected to the UEFA Chair by a select(ed) committee of sheiks – namely Bahnahnah, Vaneella and Strohbeehri – from a number of Middle East states.
Splatter fondles an enormous jewel encrusted Rolex watch as he stares at the documents in front of him marked “FFP – What It Means To You”.
“I know exactly what it means to me”, he said, leaning back in his huge winged chair.to check on the sparkling Rolls Royce parked beneath his office window, ” but how are you gentlemen going to be able to carry on if all of this is ever imp–”
Splatter is interrupted by a rather unkempt, brown overalled man who barges into the room and addresses himself to Splatter –
“We’ve, er, got a bit of bother, sir”.
“And who exactly are you ?”.
“Jan, Sir. Jan Itter – I look after the bogs, and they’re all blocked up, Sir. Well, I was told there was likely to be a lot of unexplained shit around this weekend and, well, we can hardly carry on in such fine company if they’re all blocked up now, can we, sir ?”
Somewhat exasperated, Splatter mops his brow with a fine silk ‘kerchief embossed in one corner with a rather squiggly letter he doesn’t understand.
“Well what do you want ME to do about it ?” he shouts at Jan, “I’ve got enough trouble here already !” He slams a fist down onto the table and painfully pinches a bit of skin in a huge 24 carat gold, diamond ring sitting on his little finger.
“Loo Poles, Sir”, answers Jan, “Loo Poles. Clean ’em all out they will, sir, but I’m going to need a lot of ’em !”
“Aahh! Loo Poles”, considers Splatter, as he strokes his chin with a newly manicured hand,
“funny you should mention them ……….”
Morning All
Conte had no intention of loosing this one with his best available starting line-up which was well up for a fight. As has been said we looked tired and with our make shift defence we were out played for most of the game. Sadly our “kids” looked out of their depth in this company.
I too wonder why Chambers is being sold. The BFG is only likely to be a bit time player this coming season, Kos has recurring back and ankle problems, Gabby’s return is unknown and this leaves us with Mustafi, Holding and what looks more likely Nacho being the left sided 3rd centre back.
Taking a look at the new men next Sunday and Kev has organised 3 seats together so Malcolm and I can join him at the Community Shield.
Do we know when the late arrivals will be back on show?
COYRs
According to various reports, Mustafi, Sanchez, Bellerin and Holding will all return to training this week Delia.
Against a strong Chelsea line-up its no surprise we were outclassed. I begin to wonder if our pre-season is really to get our first team tuned up for the start of the season, or to give some of our fringe players a run -out, prior to sale or loan out at a later date. Lacazette needs time to adjust and should have played the full 90.
it’s not looking good is it. I stupidly believed that Wenger finally believed it was false economy not to pay the growing rate, but its now looking as if, having got Lacazette in, he has reverted to penny-pinching mode. Monaco are seemingly being stripped bare, yet only Arsenal have failed to come away with a deal. Like most of us, I daily scan the internet for some positive news, but all I get is stale rehashing of month old stories, or deals being done to sell Chambers, Wilshere or the Ox.
@19 AL and @@ Trev
Return to the halcyon days of top drawer drinks. 😀
AL and Trev, I sense a new series coming on! ?
Never mind the football.
What a cracking game of Women’s cricket at Lords today in the final of the 50 over World Cup.
In front of a full house of 26,000,England won a thriller at the death against India.
Fantastic advert for the Women’s game.
Clive
It was indeed a wonderful effort by our girls, tge Indian batting folded like a cerviette! Great discipline and solid fielding and some very accurate bowling.
With the Open on the other side it was a quick channel hop every minute or so.
Fantastic.
We might be getting a bit too pessimistic. I expect two more deals, hopefully Lemar and Carvalho. If we keep Sanchez we have a decent squad but we are needing to unload too and I hope it all speeds up ext week. I’m taking my youngest grandson to the Emirates Cup on Saturday- his first trip to see a game there. It would be nice to show him some new signings
if Gunn dropping that catch had cost us the game, she should have been fired.
Evening TTG
Mustn’t forget the England Women’s football team in the Euro’s,who beat Spain 2 nil today,despite having only 22% possession.
Great effort,and 2 wins from 2 in their group.
As for the Golf,Speith was Tiger Woods like over the closing holes with some magical shots.
Good to see you keeping up the tradition in taking your young Grandson to his indoctrination live game as a Gooner.
On the transfer front,still 5 wks of the window to go,so a lot can still happen.
Fingers crossed. !!
…the growing rate… Bbum #25
Isn’t it just!
Fingers crossed indeed, Clive, cos if Alexis leaves, which is looking very likely, Laca’s acquisition will just have us pretty much where we were.
We better had be seriously looking for quality additions or the Wengeraahters will be in full cry again from the Premship off.
Please not again.
I suspect an unsavory relationship between Antonio Conte and insects. Seen ’em flying around in his hair.
bt8
Lots of insects at the Chavs – cockroaches and bugs, snails
and slugs 🙂
Are we selling Chambers? I’ve only seen paper talk so far.
Every warm-up has seen makeshift defences so far and AW
seems to be trying out a few things, hopefully because he’s
fairly sure of his CBs for the new season. We’ve got 6 without
Nacho, Elneny and Maitland-Niles who’ve all played there in
the warm-ups.
Seems to be giving Xhaka / Rambo as much time together
as possible before the season starts – it seems odds on to me
that Rambo’s hammy will twang just before the Leicester game.
Hey there Matt. Glad to see you noticed it too. 🙂
There is nothing like deserved recognition, and Koscielny gave some to Wenger today:
“I have a big [loyalty] to this club and to the boss too. I am happy to be here with him and to fight for him because he is a great person.”
Perez sounds one unhappy bunny.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/10960070/lucas-perez-tells-arsenal-he-wants-out-after-ugly-gesture
The No 9 shirt seems to be a curse.
I was surprised AW bought Perez in the first place. Possibly making a point when under extreme pressure to buy someone, anyone … Perez was the best available but not good enough to play ahead of who we already had … sort of point. The lad got a raw deal however you look at it.
When we first got Chambers I thought he could possibly develop into a top class CB in the Tony Adams mould, maybe even end up as club captain. And I still think he has it in him to do just that. It would be a shame to see him go now.
Gabriel otoh…
So, we let go of a bonafide No.1, and now disrespect a decent No.9. Meanwhile, dallying a potential season-long headache who can’t articulate where his heart is.
Pre-season’s smooth sailing.
Yes, again, Pablo Fornals. Please.
Conte confirms that Pedro suffered multiple fractures in the collision with Ospina. All they know is that the fractures are multiple. They can’t count them all. 😉
…but Conte said he’d be back in training in 10 days. A quick healer apparently!
This is the age profile of our defenders:
First Team
32 Mertesacker
31 Koscielny, Monreal, Debuchy
27 Gibbs
26 Gabriel
25 Mustafi, Jenkinson
24 Kolasinac
22 Chambers, Bellerin
21 Holding
Academy
21 Bramall
20 Pleguezuelo, Moore
19 Bielik, Johnson
18 Bola, Osei-Tutu
Doesn’t seem to make much sense to be selling Chambers unless the club feels he won’t make it or Bielik will prove better.
I’d certainly be selling Debuchy, Gabriel and Jenkinson head of Chambers, and probably Gibbs too. No idea how good the academy players are, I’ve only seen Bielik.
*ahead of Chambers…
I agree 100% Chris, but you can only sell stuff that other people want to buy.
AFC Camden reporting that Ozil and Sanchez staying and will sign new deals before Christmas.
Meanwhile the Lemar deal appears to be near completion. Too much good news for my liking!
If Sanchez is staying the Lemar deal is not needed. Unless he is just staying so we can get rid of him for a proper fee in January, should we fail to be up there and challenging.
Meanwhile…
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFjR5nWUIAEmmLN.jpg
What Chris and Bath said @44 and 46 ??
Sanchez has to stay now ‘cos he will never get the mutts through quarantine before the end of summer.
Of course, he IS the mutts anyway ….. ?
Expect a very early re-homing type exit next summer if we don’t win the league – and the Europa League – and, of course, the Charity Shield ‘cos the smelly oik in Manchester says that is a really big trophy.
Part of his treble, innit ? ?
Hello, top, top folks.
Chambers is a fine player full of potential but is not ready to hold down a first team shirt in The Arsenal presently.
Chambers is neither a right wing back nor a right back. He is a centre back and we have better players than him for the three centre back positions.
When you consider that Monreal and Kos are most likely going to be starters in a back three, you then leave the likes of Mustaphi, Big Per, Kolasinac and Holding (who to me are ahead of Chambers in the centre back race) to fight it out for the last place. You can see why selling Chambers (with a buy back clause) makes sense. He wouldn’t be as content as a Holding, for instance, at this stage of his development to be on the fringes of the first team.
If we keep Sanchez and add Lemar (speculative), our only other serious worry would be midfield. Is what we have at present good enough? Xhaka and Rambo? That’s the best we have now but is it enough to take us back to the top three? What about competition and back up for them?
I pray we get it right this window. Taking a leaf from the spuds – need a bath – we have to be clever and creative in the transfer market.
Too much madness going on with the inflated fees and all that doesn’t mean there are no bargains out there.
We have done quote well thus far but can and should do better.
All in all, this is shaping up to be a very interesting summer and augurs well for the new season.
UTA
SG@51: Chambers keeps Holding out of the England U-21 starting line up, though that may say more about England management than either of the two players.
The Premier League stats for last season, for what they are worth, suggest Chambers is the better defender but Holding scores over him for possession and going forward.
If Holding is a 1, Monreal would be a 1.4, Chambers would be a 1.5, Gabriel a 1.6, Mustafi a 2.5 and Kos a 3.5 on the basis of last season’s Premier League stats.
NBN
I see what you mean. The thing here is that having seen Chambers as an Arsenal defender for a couple of seasons and away on loan at Boro last season, I still maintain that for me, Holding is a naturally more endowed player than Chambers. It’s not something any stat can elucidate.
I would rather have Holding and/or Monreal in that back three over Chambers.
Another thing is that all the lads you mention would have been player of the season in Boro last season. They were poor.
Chambers will come good eventually but he isn’t ready yet.
UTA
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I don’t disagree, at all, SG. I have seen Chambers play for us only (and then not in the flesh), and not for Boro. There was a player in there somewhere, but not fully formed. Holding, too, is a work in progress, but I think the intangible he has that Chambers doesn’t is not so much a natural endowment as a player as that presence that all top defenders have. I think both of them will become top-class players, but Holding may turn out the better of the pair.
You raise an interesting point about the development value of a loan to a team like Boro. Chambers got 25 Premiership starts, minutes he wouldn’t have had with Arsenal; Holding got nine starts. Games under the belt is obviously the purpose of sending a young player out on loan, but playing in a poor team like Boro’s last season, would Chambers have picked up more bad habits than good?
Woj’s two years on loan with a good Roma side appear to have benefited him greatly (shame Juve will reap most of the dividend from that). Hard to think of many others that could be said of.