Who really cares? It is a pre season match against below average opposition, I wouldn't read much into any performance.
Even though I don't usually agree with Kyle he's right here. That being said its just a pre-season fitness match.
I am sure he will play on Friday, pointless to make him fly out otherwise. Urawa Red Diamonds are decent, they will give us a bigger test than the other 3 combined.
@batman - I dont particularly care about the performance level - my point was more about the quickness of the put downs aimed at Walcott and then when he turned it around and played well not a single of those puttign him down bothered to even mentioned the positives.
How many of you have got Sky? Go and rewind the game and just watch Theo and then come back and if you have the same opinion i'll be quiet! I'm going to turn my 50inch HD TV onto rewind and go back and rewatch and see if i am being blinkered (which is possible as when others are being completely negative i do have a tendency to stand up for our players - take the positive and negative together). You go and look at that grainy slow link on the internet and see what you think
Or we could just watch it "as live" on Arsenal Player. Theo did some good stuff bu he had a crap first half but improved in the second half.
He had like two bad moments which people picked up on and decided that meant he had a crap half - but i agree he wasnt fantastic in the first half - very good in the second though.
Do you have to pay to be able to watch these games on the Arsenal Player? And can you rewind, pause etc like watching on the TV? And which games does Arsenal Player cover - i always thought it was just youth and reserve stuff mainly? Might be worth looking into!
Positives; Fitness Great Passing BFG + Sagna looked solid Miquel made some good tackles Theo got a nice finish Giroud good form continues Rosicky and Rambo looked good Zel Jack got 45 minutes Flappy made some decent saves Akpom and Gnarb had their oments Ryo scored Negatives: Some sloppy passes (not much) Some sloppy finishes and final third stuff Jenks and Gibbs had that scare Flappy and BFG mis-communication Overall decent win for the Arsenal as we gear up for the Emirates Cup
Digital Membership is free and we get full game replays and some live games but as of now there is a free preview where EVERY video is free and accessible without signing up. After the "as live" match play is over you can re-watch it rewind, pause whatever I believe that all Emirates Cup Games will be shown live on time on AP
45:53 - his movement opens space in backline. 47:40 - good defesnive positioning, nothing special but where he needs to be 49:30 - defense splitting run, the pass to him isnt good enough 51:00 - Walcott plays a brilliant one two, fantastic turn and run straight through the defense - He then doesnt lookup and plays the crap pass 51:30 - Walcott breaks through the backline onto a wilshere through ball, good movement, good touch (notice by commentator) and then shot is saved 54:00 - Gnabry has a shot - up until this point everything offensive is through Walcott 54:48 - Walcott makes a brilliant little run round the back of the last defender to meet the Zelalem pass - good first touch and then an even better chip with his left foot. 55:45 - Walcotts closing almost forces an error but we dont manage to grab posession. 57:05 - decent one two and then good movement to open space up for jenkinson to cross 57:37 Walcott in space on the edge of the bopx - Ramsey doesnt pick him out 58:00 - Walcott runs the entire length of the pitch, gets onto a wilshere pass and plays a brilliant cross over to Gibbs - great great ball. 60:02 - Walcott breaks with the ball and then plays a beautiful through ball for Wilshere who has his shot saved 61:00 - decent corner but the defender deals with it 63-65:00 - good positioning and movement causing the japanese defense to sit back and be stretch open space for others 65:30 - brilliant run in behind the defence - commentator comments on how easy Walcott is finding it to get in behind. Good first touch and shot but the keeper puts it wide for a corner - from a tight angle walcott did well 66:30 - Walcott keeps good defensive shape with players around him 67:50 - Walcott comes off 71:11 - Nagoya score From when Walcott went off we didnt look as good overall. He was involved in almost all of our attacking play in that second half - he was much better than podolski or Giroud and upon watching it again i still stand by what i said - he was one of our best players today.
I doubt very much if The Emirates Cup is shown live on AP.In the past it has been shown live on Sky and I wouldn't mind betting the same will happen again.Personally I don't care who shows The Emirates Cup on TV as I shall be going to the games.
