Arsenal concluded pre-season warmups with a win over FC Köln in which the club managed to not only score four goals but also to feature three exciting new signings, show off some improved defensive work, and even put an exclamation mark on the summer transfer saga of Robin van Persie by playing him 20 minutes whilst wearing the captain’s armband. If last summer at this time the phrase “PR Own Goal” featured prominently when talking about Arsenal, then this summer the phrase “a credit to the management” must feature just as prominently. For the first time in a long while, many Gunners are looking forward to the new season.
As is our wont, half of the Arsenal supporters are giddy as kittens over yesterday’s display and the other half are either quietly sulking or loudly warning not to read too much into the game as it was just a pre-season match against an inferior opponent. True, Köln was hardly Barcelona in a Champions League final or Stoke on a cold night in February (which Arsenal conveniently don’t have to play this year) but that doesn’t mean we can’t take away some positives and see some patterns developing.
This first half started with I Veto Mannone in goal and Mertesacker and Vermaelen (captain) paired along with Yennaris and Gibbs in the back line. For Yennaris, it’s a dream come true to play for Arsenal and despite seeing himself more of a midfielder has filled in admirably at right back when he has had a chance to play for the first team. The back line, though had little to do in the first half, apart from one shot which hit Mannone in the hands and which he nearly let slip in.
Despite that minor gaffe, defensively I thought this group looked very organized. I thought I may even have caught a glimpse of two banks of four at one point but can’t be sure as Stuart Robson wasn’t commentating on the official broadcast. Another subtle difference that doesn’t show up in any stat books is that the defenders looked very strong in aerial duels, heading the ball away with distance whenever Köln plumped the ball in high. Of course, “it’s only a friendly” and we shall have to wait to see how we get on against Sunderland next week: the long ball is mother’s milk to Martin O’Neill and he will surely be looking to pump in big diagonals and crosses to his forwards.
If Arsenal are better defensively* the players have put the credit on work done by new assistant manager and Arsenal legend, Steve Bould.* Apparently he has them all working on shape and other details* which is a bit exciting*, for those of us who enjoy that part of the game.*
Defensive work aside, surely Arsenal’s first goal was one that Bouldy had a hand in. Arsenal won the corner and Cathorla floated the ball expertly to Mertesacker at the near post who flicked on to Vermaelen at the back post and the Belgian nodded home easily. I never saw Arsenal play in Bould’s era but from what I’ve read in interviews with Tony Adams, this was one of their many tricks for scoring off corners. Set pieces have been a bit of a sore subject for Arsenal lately, so it’s really nice to see them working on plays on the training ground.
And speaking of Cathorla, he started in a midfield trio with Chamberlain and Coquelin and looked absolutely imperious*: spreading the ball to either side with Podolski and Theo running down the wings, cutting through the Köln defense with excellent close control and taking the corners with an accuracy that Arsenal have sorely missed. It’s just one 45 minute display, but he really looks like a player that we can get excited about*.
The second goal was a penalty expertly taken by Podolski. Cathorla slipped Chamberlain in to the box and on the second foul the Arsenal man went down and the ref had no choice but to award the penalty. Podolski stepped up and cool as you like, wrong footed the keeper.
Podolski wasn’t finished there. A few minutes later Poldi played Gibbs in wide with a great ball from deep in midfield. As Gibbs controlled, he juked his man one time to get to the byline and when he pulled the ball back to the penalty spot it was none other than Podolski who was on hand to finish ruthlessly. After the match, Arsene praised Poldi for his finishing:
He is a great finisher, we see that in training. He’s lethal and doesn’t need many chances to score.
If Poldi was “lethal” yesterday, Giroud was perhaps a bit… erm, harmless. Either that or the Koln keeper, Horn, had the game of his life. The big Frenchman had several shots saved by Horn as everyone kept trying to tee him up so he could open his account. Giroud’s best bit of play came when Walcott played in a great ball from the right, Giroud created a little space between himself and the defender and gently nodded the ball down to Cathorla. The Spaniard blasted the ball but Horn made a great kick-save to deny the goal. That bit of play epitomized the Frenchman. More than just a pretty face he’s got great touch and will be winning Arsenal a lot of headers should we choose to play him up front.
The first half ended 3-0 to the Arsenal and left many with a buzz. How could you not be excited*? Arsenal had just unveiled three new signings, all of whom showed flashes of genius. And not only that, but Arsenal hadn’t even let in a single wonder-goal.
The second half, Arsene rung in the changes, replacing everyone except Poldi. Szczesny, Diaby, Koscielny, Santos, Song, Djourou, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Gervinho, and Gnabry all came on to start the second half. And if the first half was all rainbows and unicorns, the second half was a bit like poi.
The home side nearly scored that wonder goal that Arsenal supporters are used to seeing. Koln’s second half sub, the aptly named Lehmann, hit an unstoppable shot from some 40 yards that beat Szczesny with it’s wicked swerve before rocketing off the underside of the bar. It was just the wake-up call that the match needed and Arsenaal sprang to life.
Gervinho was lively all through the second half, galloping down the left and consistently beating his man with both pace and trickery. And right after Lehmann’s rocket missed, Arsenal set Gervinho free down that left again, he beat his man again, and with no real support and oceans of time, took a snap shot and beat the keeper on the short side.
Four-nil to the Arsenal and probably should have been five when a lively Arshavin burst through the Koln midfield, held off three defenders and played Gervinho in only to have the Ivorian take a touch on the ball that made it easy for the keeper to save.
In the 70th minute, Robin van Persie came on for Podolski and some media outlets are claiming that the Arsenal fans booed the Dutch striker. 101 Great Goals has fan footage that says otherwise so I would take that claim with a huge grain of salt. Robin played but really did very little. Hardly a surprise, but what raised my eyebrows was the fact that he wore the captain’s armband.
Many people wouldn’t have thought that Robin would even play yesterday, much less captain the team, after this summer. Yet there he was and there was the Boss after the match claiming that Arsenal want to keep him and that if they do keep him, he will probably remain captain. Wenger further explained that the plan all along was to keep “the best player in England” and to build around him with Podolski, Giroud, and Cathorla. Which, if true, is an incredible bit of business by the club. To think that Arsenal have managed to stave off inquiries from Juventus, Man U and Man City and if that was the plan all along, well, that’s just incredible.
At this point, no one can say what’s going to happen between now and the close of the transfer window. Even Arsene Wenger admits that in many ways it’s out of his hands. But if yesterday’s match was a delicious Cathorla and Podolski filled cake, then the prospect that Arsenal might, just might, have defended themselves against bulllies like the agents, the players, and the sheikhigarchy is certainly the icing on top.
There could be a move today or maybe the end of the week, but with the international matches on Wednesday there is little chance of a player making the move before Saturday. It’s not impossible, just difficult.
So, what if Arsenal start the season with Arshavin and van Persie? What if they play on Saturday against Sunderland? What if they stay with the club all season?
I can’t say for sure what will happen but I can say that I am excited for the new season and proud of the way the club has handled everything this summer Apparently, you can teach an old dog some new tricks.
*Yep, I know it’s a pre-season friendly against a second-tier German team.
van persie was defo given stick.i watched on telly it could clearly be heard.good enough for the prick if u ask me.if hes a gunner and loves the club like he says how could he even consider joining utd? wankpot.
Loyalty only works both ways. Robin (now every time I say the name, it sounds like I am talking about a girl) decided to treat the club as a stepping stone. Nothing should stop Arsenal from doing the same to him. No one can deny that he is talented. So we treat him as a valuable commodity, nothing more. The club is correct in saying they want him to stay. The captain’s band, as always stated by Arsene Wenger, is nothing more than an official title. Behind the scenes I believe Vermaelen can be as effective, if not more, a group leader if need be. If the band is an added, inexpensive way to keep a top player I see no harm in giving it to Robin. When he plays in an Arsenal shirt, don’t boo him but we can as easily decide not to sing his name either.
cazorla was awesome.check out all his touches from the match on utube.i know koln were shit but still.looks pure quality
There is video footage of Arsenal fans chanting his name, he came over to the fans after the match and gave them his shirt and armband. There was booing but mischievous journalists should have reported that it came from german fans, (a german/dutch thing) but why ruin a good story…..
Will Santi Cazorla be Saint Cazorla come may?
I’d just as soon we sell RvP… I detest the drama around our players leaving. Even if we hold onto to him past the end of the month, you know we’ll have to listen all fall to the talk about the January transfer window. Song at least has come out and said he’s happy, and happy to be at Arsenal. Done for me, drama is dialed down a factor of 100.
Besides, without RvP I can see us going to 4-4-2 with the mix of players we have (and bring in – if Sahin is coming true). Miyaichi going out on loan tells me that the need for wingers might not be very strong when Wenger looks into his crystal ball.
I don’t think we are going to 4-4-2 anytime soon.
The 3 man midfield plays to our strengths currently and allows for the forward midfielder (Santi) to switch freely with both wingers, say Poldy coming in field, santi out left or Walcott cutting in, Santi right or Walcott and Poldy switiching flanks (or Gervinho)
Special mention should also go to Diaby who (applause) completed 45 minutes without breaking both ankles. His distribution was excellent yesterday and he also covered Song very well defensively. Like a new signing and I think it speaks volumes that in the interview with Serge Gnabry (great to see him get 20 minutes), he mentions Diaby as the player he admires most for his awareness on the field + technique.
I thiink with Santi, Diaby, Arteta, Song (and young Coquelin being tutored well), we will have a very combative but technical midfield which we have lacked in recent seasons.
I agree we may benefit from one more technical magician (bearing in mind Jack is due for a return some time in the future). Hope the Sahin deal can be worked out. He looks very useful particularly as he has good defensive habits.
But with Chelsea buying Hazard, Marin, Oscar to add to Mata and City with Silva, (cough) Nasri, we need to restore our midfield technical edge.
I think we ahve bought well and the midfield looks especially promising.
Even notice the pic of Arsharvin on here motoring forward.:D
You have to remember that Arsenal does not play a traditional 4-3-3, instead, we have evolved into a 4-2-3-1 with the 3 playing in a V formation. This allows us to have a better midfield presence when defending.
Very similar to what City played as their standard last year utilizing Barry/De Jong/Toure.
spurs blogs reporting their on the verge of signing llorente and damaio…
gets me every time.
They’re also linking M’Vila with a move to Spurs, which is probably why Yann the Man himself made a public statement yesterday that he was happy at Rennes. Har har.
For the love of God Tim, stop saying Cathorla. It’s stuck in my head so deep, I feel like a Barthelona supporter.
yeaa tim….the fuuqqq
I was too busy being a giddy kitty to worry about the captain’s armband. And I think it’s going to be the same during matches. It won’t matter if RvP wears it or not, the players will look to Vermaelen or Arteta or Rosicky for leadership. The players can tell where the leadership truly lies by now
Yes FC Koln are a relegated side, cramming our fixture into their already busy league schedule, but leaving that aside, what we saw was pure class and quality from our New Boys.
Certainly a confidence-building and encouraging performance at the least and at long last. If he can sustain the kind of play we saw from him and he stays in form, I’ll say it right here, right now: Carzola will be an Arsenal god.
Now, 38 more just like that just like that please, and you’re all invited over to my house for a right proper celebration in May.
Certainly an improved performance than against say Kitchee the “Hong Kong champions” (no disrespect of course)
+ we looked comfortable in maybe 2nd gear and I think there was instruction to concentrate on our ‘shape’/defense from Bould.
Encouraging signs. Signing of the season could be Steve Bould if he can get the details ironed out for us at the back.
Mannone still does not fill me with much confidence. Fabianski is conspicuously low profile which may suggest a departure is imminent. I would think we should be seriously considering an (experienced) alternate for Szsc. Al Habsi looks a good buy (we did some business loaning Ryo recently their way)
Who is Cathorla? I thought we signed Cazorla? When did spelling as something is pronounced become the new thing?
Since text-speak emancipated phonetics from 400 years of custom’s rule?
l33t comment
bcuz 1 4m l33t
ghoti
ghoti? Don’t make me Google it, Tim. Don’t make me.
ghoti = fish…… enough,women, nation
Castillan inflection I believe caused though the emulation of one of their kings (Charles?) who had an unusually long tongue.
Spaniards.
Charles? Ah! So that was Colonel Angus’ first name.
detest l33t speak but love the Ghoti comment!
Hater. And then lover.
I think one of the qualities that the team should bring about in the league is one of ruthless domination…atleast in the home matches..
Sunderland would be a good opponent to start that…
Some places I felt the game yesterday had the mood of running about enjoying the game…without much concern of the outcome.
In PL there could come situations when opposition is not ready to let that happen..and you need to be more ruthless when it comes to posession and cutting moves ahead of time..
well ..may be I am getting ahead already into the season..
Never before in the last few years have we anticipated a game thinking..we are going to win this….i get that feeling is coming back..
But after last season..i think we need to be pragmatic a bit as well..and as clichy goes..take the game one at a time, till we get a trend..
Can’t agree more.
We need to be unforgiving at least till we have a 3 goal buffer.
That’s what I liked about Poldy, he seems quieter than Cazorla or Giroud on pitch but he is decisive like an exceutioner.
Interesting to see the gaffer try him out first out LW and then in the second half at point through the middle.
Very good lobbed ball to pick out Gibbs and an even more “ruthless” finish. This lad can break the net.
Every time I read about Nuri Sahin, I think of the doe-eyed, half-alien offspring of Katie Holmes and L. Ron Hubbard.
Look at this potential roster of MF:
Cazorla, Arteta, Song, Wilshere, Ox (looks comfy in midfield), Ramsey, Sahin, Rosicky, Coquelin, Diaby
Where do we put all these guys? I understand Sahin wants to play Champs League football, but would he be a lock for the starting 11? I do wonder, but then again, half the names on this list are quite injury prone. Do we sell Song? I think if 15-16MM is the price, I say yes, particularly if Sahin comes in if only for the year. And if they want to spend that particular money, spend it on someone more purely defensive than is Song.
Let me elaborate before I get too many “-1″s. I really like Song; I’m happy for him to remain with the club. He’s shown terrific improvement over the years, and has been a wonderful, hard-working player for the club. But given the club’s composition at the moment, particularly if Sahin arrives, I’d deem 15MM pounds to be a fair price, as I simply don’t see him as indispensable in the more attacking MF role he has seemed to assume recently. Sorry, but I think Sahin’s a better player overall; perhaps we can stash the Song cash away and flash it in front of Real Madrid for a permanent deal when RM finds itself putting all its money in one pile in an attempt to buy Neymar next year.
Embrace -1s. Think of them as lending irony to your comment, thereby making you the truest hipster of them all. Besides, don’t you hate seeing those comments sitting there with their fat double-digit +1s, smug, sagacious, all-knowing. Yeah, fuck them, man. Fuck. Them.
I gave you a +1 just to piss you off.
+1 is the only possible response to my comment, so I really don’t blame you.
+1s are the only thing that stop me from sliding into drink, drugs and self-harm.
That’s the spirit!
Uh oh.
The only problem if we lose Song is that we lose our only element of “STEEL” in the MF.
That would be a big problem because Sahin/Diaby/Ox/Arteta/Wilshere does not bring that attribute to the team.
A Few things:
- THIS is my favorite Arsenal Blog
- Cazorla (I think that has been hit home in other comments)
- Gervinho’s miss (off an Arshavin feed) was saved by a defender, not the keeper (seriously, can someone teach him to take a ‘first shot’?)
- Giroud was a monster and MUCH more present than RVP in and around the box… and yes, the Koln Keeper had a great game, plenty of awesome saves
- There was booing, but unless you were at the match, seemed hard to tell if it was from the Arsenal supporters or the Koln supporters behind them
- My personal opinion: aOK for RVP to stay and play, but you just cannot give the armband to a player that publicly denounced the club, board, and manager – no way, no chance, never. You state that THIS team has no desire for trophies and your telling your teammates that they are not good enough to be with you on the pitch – zero chance I give the armband to him. Just my opinion, but I am entitled to it.
Tim, you know how you’re always going on and on about how useless and stupid us Canadians are?
Yeah, well I don’t see any of you Americans knitting cozies for airplanes, so suck on this:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2012/08/12/hamilton-yarn-bomb-yukon.html
That’s what OUR grads are doing, baby.
Ugh… I can’t believe you linked to a yarn bombing project. Yarn Bombing is the breast stroke of art. That is to say, pointless and assholish.
Don’t make me come over there and yarn bomb your dick, Tim. Arrogant Americans. Making Canadians knit cozies for their cocks. Shit man. When does it end? WHEN?
This made me laugh and now my daughter wants to know what’s so funny. I can hardly tell her, “oh a Canadian threatened to ‘yarn bomb’ my penis.” Because then I’d have to explain yarn bombing.
I think usually pre season match is all about getting sharpness and match fitness, that’s why people said that don’t take too much on the scoreline. Either because both teams won’t be sharp on the box or their passing and understanding still not at the top level.
On this match, our opposition already match fit and although not the best level, but they’re still just a division away from the top. And on our side, it’s surprising that our passing and understanding is great and our proficiency in front of goal is also sharp. More surprising is three of the four goals come when the teamsheet comprise of players who only been focusly trained together for just a week. At least that’s a reason to be excited for the upcoming season..
Legend has it that Arsenal have “given in” over selling Robin van Persie to Manchester United, according to The Sun. Van Persie scored a lot of goals last season and that is eye-catching but frankly I am surprised that United want him. United narrowly lost the title to City and they were miles off in the Champions League. On paper, RvP and his goals should fix that problem. But football is not played on paper, solutions are not always that straightforward.
Was a key reason that United ‘failed’ last season that they did not have an effective partner for Rooney? Possibly so, but if they think that signing van Persie will solve that they may be barking in the wrong forest, nevermind up the wrong tree. Is United’s problem more that Wayne Rooney has become such an inflated football figure that he is unpartnerable? If United are after RvP to partner Rooney, they should consider a very basic question: how recently have either van Persie or Rooney shown – at club or international level – that they are an effective strike partner? Both are more effective as a lone ranger. This could be a forced, unhappy marriage.
United have often shunned their other strikers, to play Rooney in a lone role. Van Persie and Rooney have rarely shown that they can partner someone of an equal nature, just lesser players, happy to accept an assistant role. The season before last, Berbatov scored a bunch of goals, but where was he last season? After Rooney’s contract strop, Berbatov disappeared and Rooney has only partnered Chicharito or Danny Welbeck, both of whom rank lower and both of whom are grateful for the chance to play.
You can understand why van Persie may want to play for United – their history, a chance to play for their manager, a greater chance of success – but it’s a gamble for him. RvP would be throwing out his Arsenal history and burgeoning status to chase a United future that may never amount to much. He could become an Arsenal legend if he was to remain at the club, rising high up our all-time goalscorer’s list, but he will never be a legend at United. He would be just another striker that they had. I am convinced that van Persie would play less at United than he would at Arsenal. Is that what he wants? You can look back wistfully if a transfer does not turn out to be quite what you thought it might, but once you are gone you are gone, there is no way back to what you had, especially in a transfer of this nature.
Van Persie could, yet, if he wanted to, rescue this situation and rescue his Arsenal career. It would be hard for RvP to redeem himself in the eyes of the fans but it is not impossible, not with a carefully-worded statement and a demeanour where he holds his hands up and shoots from the heart on how he has balanced a tricky dilemma and made a decision to stay. “I put my hands up, it’s been a difficult summer, it’s been difficult to know what to do for my future and I’m sorry that I released a statement that was maybe a little bit impetuous, but I’m excited for our future and I want to stay, to become an Arsenal legend.” Such an apology, coupled with a clearly good attitude on the pitch, would smooth things back towards an acceptable normality.
Arsenal have made some excellent summer signings so far and more may yet come. There is a buzz. That is quite something to leave behind. Podolski and Giroud look to be getting on well and I fancy them to link nicely, dovetailing quite naturally. Both can be stunning successes for Arsenal. RvP could yet form part of a very exciting Arsenal strikeforce, which would allow for players to be rested, rejigged and kept fresh in a credible pursuit for honours. Isn’t that what van Persie wanted? Yes we could do with some further signings and they may yet happen. Or is the bottom line that he just wants to leave anyway? Is it enough that United would pay him more money? Has he dug himself such a hole that he feels too embarrassed now to climb back out of it?
As I’ve said before, don’t love the players, love the club. Enjoy what players you have between the transfer windows because they are fair game during them, even someone like Robin van Persie, your goalscoring badge-kissing Arsenal-supporting-since-a-kid captain.
Really? Just copy and paste an entire article from another site? That’s a banning.