Continuing their pre-season tour of Asia, Arsenal lost 2-0 to reigning Premier League champions Man City yesterday at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium. The scoreline flattered the champs as Arsenal’s Oxlade-Chamberlain’s long range shot caromed off two posts, denying the youngster, while City seemed to struggle at times with fluidity and in the end needed a clearly offside goal by Yaya Toure to get their second.
The rain came down in buckets but the local Arsenal support was in good voice for the full 90 minutes. Every Arsenal attack drew cheers from the largely local crowd and every shot saved drew loud groans. From where I sat, admittedly my couch, it felt like there were far more Arsenal supporters than Man City. You can buy the Premier League title, but you can’t buy history.
Arsenal’s starting lineup featured a nearly all-Brit back line of Gibbs, Bartley, Vermaelen (c), and Jenkinson. Behind them, Fabianski got the start in goal. Arsenal’s midfield three of Diaby, Song, and Arteta struggled extensively in the first half keeping possession and when going forward Song tried to over-elaborate and seemed intent on proving that every pass should be a chip for an assist. Up front, Santos and Walcott flanked Gervinho who seemed to be playing a more central role. The pairing of Santos with Gibbs is on the left is something I thought Arsene would try as Santos is naturally more forward inclined but also able to play defense, adding grit to the Arsenal midfield. In the end it was an effective starting triumverate and generated ample chances for the Gunners, albeit all from distance.
Shots from distance seemed to be the order of the day for the Arsenal as the Man City midfield gave the Gunners space while the City back line stopped nearly every forage into their area. City’s keeper, Pantsoflemon, was tested often and but for a few inches difference one of Jenkinson, Theo, or Oxlade-Chamberlain would almost certainly have scored.
Jenkinson played in a very advanced role on the right and, in fact, apart from his one long-rage shot which actually came from the left side of the field, I forgot that Theo Walcott was on the field for Arsenal.
Jenkinson’s forays forward produced decidedly mixed result. His shot on goal (pictured above) was an absolute rocket and seemed to be headed to the bottom corner but for the boot of Savic (I think). But defensively, Jenkinson showed positional naivete and often scrambled back to close down an opponent who had gotten free, or as happened for both goals, was pulled well out of position by trying to mark a runner too deep in the midfield, exposing Arsenal’s right flank entirely.
At half-time Nigel Winterburn pointed this out but also cautioned against being too harsh on Jenkinson because this is exactly what pre-season is all about: finding out which things players need to work on ahead of the season. I tend to agree with Nigel on almost everything and especially on this issue of Jenkinson. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt at least until the fist game of the new season, then start calling him the new Denilson-Ramsey-Senderos-Stepanovs. The one thing you can’t question is Jenkinson’s heart and graft. He busted a gut to get back and made a crucial block after Arsenal were caught out of position during a City counter. If he shows that same kind of hard work and determination in training, he will no doubt get better.
Arsenal made four changes at half-time, removing Diaby, Bartley, Arteta , and Walcott and putting on all their 10-point tiles: Miquel, Coquelin, Ox, and Chamakh. Ox played in the central midfield role and created one of the best chances of the game when his powerful long range shot left Pantieslemon flat footed as it caromed off first the near post, crossed the goal mouth and off the second post to deny the precocious Arsenal youngster a deserved goal.
It was an odd game for Arsenal as possession seemed to be at a premium until the second half and rather than trying to walk the ball in, Arsenal seemed happy to test the keeper from distance time and again. This is something that Arsenal supporters have been begging the team to do for a few years now, though I’m not sure we all meant that the club should take (nearly) every shot from outside the box.
Still, while it’s fun to watch the game and look for trends, it’s dangerous to read too much into this match. Arsenal were playing a 4-3-3 without Podolski and Giroud (against a mostly first team Man City) and Wenger has already intimated that he sees Poldi playing in a central role. Whether that means a change to a 4-5-1 or a 4-4-2 is something tht Gooners will hotly debate until the first game of the season when we are all formally introduced to Arsene Wenger’s 2-6-2 “midfield swarm”.
Arsenal’s defense also conceded from what looked like mental errors but as Nigel would say, those are the easiest to fix. Bould and Wenger have only had a few weeks to work on defense with this group so I am not too concerned.
Next up is FC Kitchee which is not actually a football team but rather a dish of rice, fish, and curry that is a hugely popular breakfast in some parts of England. I’m sure that the Ox will score a dozen and Arsenal will only concede one — an own goal when Jenkinson forgets the curry.
Oh come on fella!
My glases are as parochially tinted as the next guy but it doesn’t do anyone favours to paper over the shortcoming of our team to this degree. A few things I’d take issue with
1. A clearly offside goal from Yaya Toure? Be-ave will you!
2. ‘A mostly First team Man CIty’? Come on, even I could see that City were without Hart, Clichy, Lescott, Richards, Silva, Nasri, Balotelli, Dzeko DeJong, Barry and Milner and at least 8 of them would start most matches.
This was a pre-season friendly and although played with purpose by both sides and entertaining in the main, there was only one side that defended like champions and took its chances and anyone with even a modicum of footballing knowledge could see which side that was.
Still, it’s good to know that Americans like you and all of those dedicated Chinese Gooners are supporting us because of our history because we haven’t had anything else to offer for a long time and I don’t see that changing any time soon.
Idiot!
“Our team”? Haha. You’re silly.
By the way, the dig about American and Chinese newcomer fans is a bit rich coming from a City fan! None of you were around before the oil money.
” None of you were around before the oil money.”
That’s why we sing –
“WE’RE NOT REALLY HERE”
Just figments of your deranged imagination I suppose.
You can’t buy history, but you can buy Alex Oxlaide Chaimberlain from Southampton for in excess of ten million pounds, and it turns out he is now your best player.
Funny how whenever your players reach the last year of their contracts they are money grabbing mercenaries, but they weren’t in the years previous to that?
Sorry to be pedantic, but City were missing all their players who were involved in the Euros – David Silva, Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott, Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri, Nigel De Jong, Mario Balotelli, those involved in the Olympics – Micah Richards, and those injured – Gareth Barry. Oh, and those players yet to be signed, such as Javi Martinez, Danielle De Rossi and Robin Van Persie.
Apologies if I’ve forgotten anyone
Good luck for the coming season Gooners xx
Hm. An arrogant City fan giving it large on an Arsenal blog? They do come out of the woodwork suddenly, don’t they?
Where were you two years ago?
Oh yeah. Supporting Chelsea!
You’re a joke.
Cheers!
This blog tagged Man City on Newsnow, so I read the article, found it to be rather biased and insulting to City, so I responded in kind – if it was fair, accurate and respectful, then I would have probably not even bothered.
As for you, Bunburyist, where were you two years ago, supporting Chelsea?
Hmmm sound really lame doesn’t it on reflection.
I would suggest you are in fact the Joker, your banter is pathetic, and you responded to precisely none of my points.
Come back with something logical, true and vaguely interesting and maybe you won’t look like such a sap.
you are in fact the Joker, your banter is pathetic
===
Soooo…your reply to “you’re a joke” is “you are the joker”? Err… Yeah. You showed me!
Looks like I hit a nerve. Cheers for all those pixels, Oop!
Insulting? Really? Either you’re definition of insulting must be different or my English must be really bad.
Metalhead,
I think your English comprehension must be really bad.
And I’m still waiting for something sensible from you Bunburyist.
Of the people who moved out recently Samir Nasri, Adebayor, Cesc…were not in their last years of contract…The two of them went for money and both of them were really mercenaries who used arsenal as a place to get them upto fame…and lo…both went to ManCity.
Clearly they have under performed in both places..and still got paid millions more…
Money grabbing mercenaries…
Oh good, the season is bang off to a start: doesn’t matter what team you support, everyone loves to hate Arsenal.
Why do you think that Tim? I think it was the blinkered match report that was disagreed with.
If by blinkered you mean “opinion” then yes, I wrote an opinion piece on a blog about Arsenal.
A lot of Gooners jizzed themselves when they heard Arsene mention 4-4-2 but I am not convinced it will happen. I just don’t understand romanticism that surrounds it. We continue to score a lot of goals with ‘one striker.’ Would we defend better? I just don’t know.
What I do know is that we’ve played two pre-season games in Asia and at no point was a 4-4-2 fielded. We even played Gervinho down the middle even though we had Chamakh, Afobe and Walcott. Is this a change we can expect the manager to implement in the middle of the season? I doubt it. Either way, I can’t wait to see how Arsene accommodates our new strikers.
a loss still sucks :S but no doom and gloom here, 0-2 when the team is mainly comprised of touring kids still has many silver linings
I think the curried fish breakfast dish you mentioned is kedgeree.
Tim, you forgot to mention that ManCity have played more games this session than The Arsenal.
Tim, oh, Tim, please keep out of the finances! DB10.
Salaries are NOT depreciated because the salaries are treated as an annual expense.
What is depreciated is the transfer fee, over the life of the contract!
Kedgeree is certainly NOT curried, unless the fish is OFF?
remember Arsenal was missing RVP the EPL top scoler, Rosicky the man himself driving the team, Sczeny the shot stopper, Girroud and Podolsky who came as catalysts. Go! go! Gunners
Good game considering it`s pre season. Both teams fielding 4 or 5 youth players with an eye on developing so i don`t know why anyone is bagging either team. City with our quality up front took advantage of our chances, thats all. See you in the EPL good luck Gooners stop the hate. Been a city fan since april 89 city away at villa when Peter Reid scored the winner so no trophy fan here.
Is everyone aware that “blog”, “Arsenal blog” and “from an American perspective” are not shorthand for “objective journalism”?
Tim,
are you comfortable in your red-tinted myopic opinions?
I realise reality is often harsh and unforgiving, but this is only about football, you may find it cathartic to touch base with the truth now and then.
Then, when the season pans out the way we all know it will, your world won’t be turned upside down.
Final piece of advice from a City fan who went several decades without a sniff of silverware, develop a wry sense of humour and self deprecation, makes the years fly by
I absolutely love it when someone who has never read my work and who knows nothing about me presumes to give me advice on how to fix my frailties. It’s the ultimate in hubris.
Here, let me demonstrate: based on your two comments, you sound constipated. Mix a little prune juice into your diet. It works wonders. Also, stop beating puppies. What is wrong with you?
Thanks Tim,
that prune juice tip works really well, I’ve been backed up for days, then minutes after drinking your magic potion, Whoosh! Had to flush twice to clear the pan.
Also, you’re right, I do feel much more in tune with my Chakra since ceasing that canine discipline routine.
God Bless.
Any time.
We welcome all types here. Come back and see us some time.
We need to work on the defensive side of the game. Big time. Sick to death of soft goals going in. I hope we can become hard to beat again then we might have a chance of winning something…
-23 and still climbing!
That must be the first time ever than 23 people have read something I’ve written.
Alphie, don’t be the type to revel in the fact that your statements provoke opprobrium. there are plenty of reactionaries on talk radio who say ridiculous things to provoke a reaction, and they do nothing but muddy the waters and drag all discourse into the dirt. you have to believe you’re better than that.
If Arsenal had won 2-0,Wenger would have said the new Arsenal would not miss RVP. The bookies have put the gunners as 4 th favourite for the epl. I agree with the assessment.
Football is an unpredictable game. When Henry left,they said the gunners would have struggled. Until the injury to Eduardo,they could have won the title.
Hopefully with the new players maybe the gunners can surprise the cynics,me included.
City fan got a point though..it wasn’t their 1st team either.
But their team did have more first team players who played a longer duration than we did