A thread for the pre-season games that we want to commentate on or if we notice anything during those games. We had a behind closed doors friendly where we drew 1-1 with Watford. Marquinhos with the equaliser for us after we went 1-0 down. These are the remaining fixtures: Thursday, July 13: Nurnberg vs Arsenal (Max-Morlock-Stadion, Nuremburg, 6pm BST) Thursday, July 20: MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal (Audi Field, Washington, 1.30am BST) Saturday, July 22: Arsenal vs Manchester United (MetLife Stadium, New York, 10pm BST) Thursday, July 27 Arsenal vs Barcelona (SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, 3.30am BST) Wednesday, August 2 Arsenal vs Monaco (Emirates Stadium, 6pm BST)
Not sure whether these games will be found somewhere on YouTube as they were last year or whether Arsenal.com will be the only place to watch them live... Will hold off on ordering the games on Arsenal.com for now.
Looking forward to the US tour. Three decent games there and should give us a good competitive test before the season starts.
If you have a VPN, switch to one in Germany because FC Nurnberg are streaming the game for free on their official YouTube channel:
1-0. Saka. Typical Saka finish. Cuts inside, drops the fullbacks shoulder and bends a low shot into the corner. Nice.
FT. 1-1. Good for a lot of players to get minutes, was a bit of a drab game and very disjointed. A bizarre own goal we conceded. Some nice link up play and attacking moves on occasion, but you can tell the players were playing at about 50% (if that). Lewis Skelly and Nwaneri were impressive when they came on, everyone else was a bit meh.
Also, no idea why we’re giving Cedric minutes in 2023? He’s not part of our plans and will not get any minutes next season if he’s still at the club. If we’re doing this to attract potential suitors, my advice is to keep him off the pitch. The more he plays, the more people will be deterred from signing him. Just so one-dimensional and average at everything.
Only two things concerning from today. Cedric getting minutes and managing to twice give the ball away cheaply almost costing goals. He should be nowhere near our squad. The second was Balogun. Awful. It’s one thing scoring goals in the 7th tier of European football, but when the pressure to perform was on to win a place in a PL squad he looked anything but a top striker. Needs to be 100% better if and when he gets other chances this preseason. Other than that a good workout to gain fitness.
Only saw the second half but thought Cedric looked quite composed on the ball to be fair. But with Timber coming in and options at RB with White, Tomiyasu and Timber...Cedric is surely on his way out. Balogun missed a couple of sitters, but I thought his movement and positioning was good and I like his directness. All players can be a bit rusty in pre season and it shows when a striker misses an easy chance. Even Jesus fluffed a fairly straight forward chance. I'd like to see what Balogun can do with a run in this team because I think he'll offer more than Nketiah Other than that, it was a fairly drab game and the young keeper had a mare, which is a shame for him because it's probably made Arteta really wary of starting him, although I hope he gets another chance Stand outs were Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly. Both of those lads look like really top natural talents who have already got bags of confidence and ability. Really looking forward to seeing them getting games this season. I'm hoping we might be able to field a team of young players like Wenger did in the league cup and give them a long run in a decent comp Also thought Trusty and Walters did well in defence and Tierney looked sharp, hoping we keep him, because there will be plenty of games this season for all of our best defenders to play.
Cedric did what he usually does.. looks ok for long periods and then inexplicably gives the ball away cheaply in a very dangerous area that leads to a good chance for the opposition. He did that twice again last Thursday. These kind of players can not be trusted. Balogun needs to do better. We already have two 9's who are excellent at running, movement , positioning. He needs to put his chances away. Missing two open goals shows a lack of real belief - despite the bravado in the media about being a starter. I agree Tierney looked sharp. Probably one of the few stand outs.
I agree that Cedric isn't up to the standard we need. He's okay, but like you say he has mistakes in him that will cost us. With Balogun, I just think he was probably a bit rusty. Jesus missed a sitter too, but nobody is that bothered because we know what he can do. Balogun showed what he's got last season (albeit on loan in a lower league) But even missing those chances I think he showed that he's sharp and could play a role in the team this season That said, if we can get north of £40m for him, then he should be sold. BUT .... I'd like to see an upgrade on Nketiah.
My main issue with Cedric is just how risk averse he is. He's super uncomfortable receiving the ball with his back to goal and never wants to use his left foot. He always opens his body up when he's passing backwards too which makes him susceptible to being intercepted. He gets the ball to feet and never looks assured about what he wants to do next. He seems panicked far too much. Signing him on a 4 year deal back in 2020 and giving him £100k a week was an utterly bizarre move from us. Was unnecessary and pointless. Were there seriously no other players we could have gotten that were better or had the potential to be better back in 2020? As for the strikers, I am convinced one of Balogun or Nketiah will be gone. There's not enough game time to have both of them, so one will have to be sacrificed. I still feel like we need a 'battering' ram type of striker. Jesus and Nketiah's profiles are very similar in that they like to press from the front, run the channels, connect play and progress up the pitch. However, sometimes we need a physical presence who is strong in the air, can hold defenders off and can provide a different option if Jesus/Eddie are ineffective. Having more varied options in attack makes it harder to prepare for what we're going to do. It won't happen, but it should IMO.
As a back up I am fine with Nketiah and I don't think we need the battering ram forward - as Brunel says. Just don't think we're geared up to play that way. Nketiah has only really had two decent runs in the first team. The end of the 21-22 season and the period after the WC last year. He scored 9 PL goals in those 17 matches. Just don't think he's ever really been given much more of a chance than that. In terms of PL back ups, I would place him quite highly against his peers. Balogun is more of a risk on two fronts. Can he score goals under more pressure at a top club? The French League is 7th tier in Europe based on the latest rankings. Scoring 20 in that league does not impress me at all. The other thing I have concerns about with Balo is this attitude. Nothing concrete, but the noises reported about demanding a first team place don't sit well with me. Might just be media talk. If we could get 40-50m for him, I would be inclined to take it.
Havertz is 6'4, but he's quite weak in the air and doesn't score a lot of headed goals. I also don't see him as someone who can occupy centre halves to free up space for others. He's not as combative as he should be for a tall fella. I'm still very unsure why we've spent £65m on him, as I don't see what he can offer us. But I have to trust Arteta and the club on this if he was someone they really wanted.
My guess is it's a straight out gamble that we can revive the player from Leverkusen - a superb attacking midfielder (albeit in a weaker league). I am really hoping we don't see him as a 9.
