This does worry me a bit. I do think... ---Odegaard----Partey---Xhaka--- is a stronger midfield than... ---Odegaard---Rice---Haverts--- I think it would be MUCH more sensible just to have Rice learn Xhakas role and slot in as an 8.
Pointless game. Too many risky challenges for pre-season. No reason to play league rivals in a friendly when purposeful injury inducing challenges will go unpunished and offer up a free opportunity to weaken rivals by taking our their best players. But still a poor performance which means 2 out of 3 preseason games have been naff now. Bit worrying. Last season we smashed pre-season and hit the league running. This is all a bit meh. Penalty shootout also very odd. Neither team clearly gave a **** about that bit in the slightest. Can't have added to the spectacle for the fans surely. Fabio Vieira is also a pointless footballer.
Really poor game Ramsdale with an uncharacteristic howler for the 1st and then woeful closing down to give Utd space for the 2nd We didn't threaten them at all, and looked badly lacking in ideas and creativity One to forget.
Yeah, not a good showing tonight. Very low intensity and some really weird mistakes. Arteta tried something different tactically (and tbf, pre-season is the time to try that out), but didn't seem to work. Will be interesting to see if he persists with it or whether he'll go back to what was working for us for most of last season. I hope he doesn't incorporate too many changes because there's no need to deviate entirely from what was working for the majority of last season.
Declan Rice's interview with Sky: He comes across so well. It's like he's been at the club for years. He's formed a brilliant relationship with the staff, management and players already, he's very eloquent, his energy is infectious and he exudes confidence. I think he has potential to be a really top player for us.
Arsenal beat La Liga Champions Barcelona 5-3 in an eight goal thriller last night in Los Angeles. Kai Haverts, Leandro Trossard, Saka and Viera all on the scoresheet.
Some very beautiful goals and nice interplay. Hopefully we can do this in the actual Champions League too when it starts I was obviously asleep when the game was on, but seems like it was a thriller. And based off Twitter, appears that a lot of people stayed up to watch it too.
I have to say. Xavi’s comments after the game were very bizarre. The season starts soon and we are preparing for it. Which is what you should be doing to. Also, it’s a game against a big opponent in front of lots of fans, of course the players are going to *checks notes* try. Maybe your players should be doing the same?
The thing is though - this should have really been 7-3. Saka missing a penalty and basically an open goal.
Not much to read into pre season games TBH. Even the Community Shield lacks the intensity/ pressure we will see when we play Forest on opening day.
I 100% agree, however, I do want us to beat City cos we lose to them all the time these days. Haven’t beaten them in the league since 2015, 2 wins (in the FA cup) since then. Sick of them doing us over.
Sure. Never want to lose to a league rival. Hated that we lost to Utd. No doubt would be good to beat City to make a statement. Quite interested in seeing what effect the players City have lost will have. Pre season is very quickly forgotten when the season starts though.
