Neale Ricotti opens up his Arsenal Blog with a look at the Emirates Cup performance and how Arsene Wenger’s new signings faired against Monaco on Sunday.
After a summer of Brazilian delights, for me it was first day back to school, I missed Saturdays training session with Benfica (we won 5-1), today was the day that starts my season.
And my word, what a line up Arsenal suddenly find themselves with…plus we are still waiting for the return of the World Cup winning Germans! I wonder if the rest of the lads will do something on their return?
It was all about Alexis Sanchez, I have subsequently learnt that he shall go by the name of Alexis. And not forgetting of course Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy. Plus a few regulars were wheeled out, Giroud, Koscielny, Arteta, Wilshere and Ramsey, the team had a more familiar look about it.
In the first 20 minutes, Monaco looked right up for game, Carrasco really caught the eye giving Monreal a torrid time on our left hand side who was exposed a few times. Their season starts next weekend I believe and you could see they looked much more closer to full fitness.
The first half, Rambo was all over the park, you could tell he has benefited from having a full summer off, literally just picking up where he left off last season. Giroud looks nowhere near ready, Arteta looks like he needs to find his football legs yet, Wilshire was playing deep, really doesn’t suit his game and Cazorla was full of running but to no effect in the final 3rd.
Must mention the amazing bit of skill by Cazorla when he was tight on the line deep in their half with nowhere to go, a quick ping from left to right foot and he was away, setting off Alexis, what a great pair of feet he has!
Inevitably, it had to be Falcao who put Monaco ahead, he was left alone 6 yards out, thank you very much, he doesn’t miss them.
The second half saw some changes, Alexis went up front(for Giroud), Wilshire pushed forward, The Ox came on and Miquel came on for new boy Chambers.
We pushed and harried, but the only real effort of note was when Wilshire was put through, I think by Zalalem but his shot was straight at the keeper when he should of equalised.
We should have had a penalty when Akpom was brought down late in the game after coming on for Alexis, but it was wrongly deemed just outside the box.
I am not going to say too much about the game to be honest as it felt exactly like it should have been, an exercise in getting match fit, minutes under the belt and all that.
New boys.
Alexis played out wide swapping flanks with Cazorla in the first half and up front as a lone striker in the second and even for a pre-season game, in his first start, he just looks like a pure Arsenal player already. He was a menace all day, I love the fact he will chase lost causes or tirelessly try to make amends when he loses the ball. He did look absolutely shattered when he came off in the second half.
I thought Debuchy had a really solid first start, he was up and down the pitch and made some great last minute interceptions when Monaco broke free through the middle. He is going to get a lot games this coming season and he looks the part already.
Chambers really does look like a steal for £16M in my eyes, he played 45 minutes yesterday and effortlessly slotted in next to Kos, his confidence on the ball and distribution were spot
on. He looks like he has been playing with this team for years already and I think he will do.
All in all a good run out for the players, it was a shame we lost(Emirates Cup) being a home pre-season tournament, but I am not overly fussed. What was really noticeable were the different stages of fitness of all the players who have returned to the club after their excursions at the World Cup, with only a couple of weeks to go until Crystal Palace.
A quick note on the subs, the OX who came on in the second half and really looked up for it, driving forward at every opportunity, he really looks like he has something to prove after all his recent injuries, great to see him back and wanting the ball. Zalalem who came on is a little tiny box of tricks, he had a couple of flicks and through balls that on another day should have been finished.
Plus I really like Bellerin who was full of running when he came on late and has a great cross on him and an eye for a pass, always looking to get forward and I thought Miquel wasn’t half as bad as people have been suggesting on Twitter at centre back.
Another week of training and the lads will look a lot sharper for the Community Shield. Minus our German contingent, I am hoping to see a strong starting 11, with Chambers and Debuchy in the back line again with Alexis on the flanks. Of course I want to see us lift the Community Shield as it would give a timely boost before the season opener, but again for me it’s about getting match fit for Crystal Palace.
I’ll be at Wembley next weekend, historically these games are quite tight, no-one wants to get injured a week before the season starts, but it will be interesting to see who has picked up their fitness levels.
I have seen a lot of fans fretting already because we lost yesterday, suddenly we need this and that player, sell him, he’s rubbish etc.. it really does need to be put into context, I’m in the season starts against Palace camp, worry then!
See you at Wembley! COYG @NealeCP