by Bulldog Drummond
Interviewed by the national media about Alexis being ill and being allowed to stay a little longer in Chile Arsène Wenger had a very clear message for the media. “Your job is built on mistrust and my job is built on trust. That’s why I prefer my side.” Some of the media said this was aimed at “doubters” (ie anti-Wengerians), some said that it was a “quip”. But the easiest thing to do is see it as it was. A straightforward put down of the media. And a most welcome one it was at that.
And he added as usual, “There is no development, always the same, he is staying of course.”
But at least most of the media had the ability to say that Sead Kolasinac’s performance was superb, noting his involvement in three of the goals. Of course the fact that he came on a free transfer means we haven’t spent enough – and what is worse for the people who advocate spend spend spend Reiss Nelson didn’t cost us either. The world is looking bleak for those who see the road to success being measured in cost.
Of his adaption to the Premier League Arsène Wenger said “He has gone in pre-season from strength to strength. He started a bit nervous, but every single week he moved his level up. Today he was influential, the first two goals came from him. He looks powerful and the timing of his availability going forward is very good.”
And indeed there were even occasional thoughts about what this mean for the season ahead: Kolasinac marauding on one side with Héctor Bellerín or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the other. But as for other signings Mr Wenger was his normal composed self: “At the moment nothing special to say on this case. We are active on the market in general.”
As for the game the team we started with (via the graphic from Arsenal.com – thanks guys)…
Our subs used yesterday were the Ox, Lacazette, Ramsey, Ozil, Monreal, Elneny
And the general consensus in the media was that Arsenal found some pre-season form. “Great performances from some of the youngsters, stand-outs from Walcott, Giroud and Kolasinac,” was the mood of the moment.
So to go back to yesterday, and our list of possible players we can take out all those who started, and possibly Elneny who played much of the game in place of the unfortunate Coquelin who got a knock, and that leaves us with these possible starters
This will of course be completely wrong – but at least has the advantage of being based on some kind of logic.
What is looking interesting about the way things are panning out is the situation of Ospina, one of the first names to be on the list of those leaving: self-evidently he is still here. Also it appears we have enough players to set out two teams, and that is without Alexis and Mustafi who played late into the summer, without Gabriel and Santi Cazorla, both injured, without Chambers, plus without the highly promising Bramall, Bielik and Le Jeff who played on Thursday, and without the up and coming Nketiah, Mavididi, and Akpom.
Now of course highly promising doesn’t mean suitable for the first team. Akpom was superb one year ago in the pre-season games, but an injury cut him out of the squad, and his return via a loan spell at Brighton was not a success. There were signs he was on the way back however.
Anyway putting this together we have the two squads played in these Emirates Cup games – 22 plus three late returnees, plus Martinez who looks like not getting a game, two long term injured and six highly promising youngsters who have not been seen in the Ems Cup but could certainly make a contribution later in the season. I made that 34, but I was up late last night so the adding up could be wrong.
I call that rather encouraging and rather good cover for injuries – even if they all come in the same department. Even if we don’t make any more signings.
I do indeed feel rather encouraged.
- Arsenal v Benfica: this is exactly how football on TV should work. And how Arsenal should work
- Bayern describe transfer market as madness and say they don’t want to join in.
- Ridiculing one, praising another. How the media treat Arsenal and Tottenham over building a stadium.
The Index of Indexes
- The In Index: All the players tipped to be joining Arsenal this summer
- The Out Index: All the players tipped to be leaving Arsenal this summer
- The Purchase Index: All this summer’s player buying by the top 10 clubs of last season
- The Loan Index: The top clubs compared in terms of players loaned out
Bulldog,
You seem to have a bit of a blind spot for Chambers, he was a second half substitute for Holding yesterday. I would think that he may start today with Mustafi coming on as a second half substitute.. I also wonder if The Ox might get a CM run out rather than wing back. Joe Willock is another possibility in midfield but I suspect more likely as left wing back.
I’m sure that we will be given some surprises this afternoon though and I just hope for another enjoyable game.
COYG
nobody mentioned about coquelin’s great performance yesterday. great to see him buckling up fighting for his place.
Bulldog,
you missed Chambers who came in at the beginning of the second half.
And I felt he had a great game and showed he can be up there in first team.
I think Chambers and Holding, together with the emerging Bielik could be the backbone of our central defence for many years if they continue to improve and develop.
Yeah, CC is a great potential. We need to hold onto him. The back five for the years to come might look like
Bellerin Holding Chambers Mustafi Kolašinac
Not bad at all. Pace – check. Height – check. Strength – check. Ability to help the attack – check.
Speaking of Mustafi, I think he’s due to return to training today which means he is not supposed to play today. I could be wrong though.
Good morning to the Arsenal board members, manager Wenger, all the Gunners and all the Gooners. And happy Sunday too all and sundry of us.
Yes, Mr Drummond, your starts for our today’s Ems Cup game against Sevilla look good and tempting for acceptance. But just as Mr Andrew Crawshaw has observed and opined, there could be some changes done to your starts by Le Prof in the order of my envisaged below starts.
Martinez
Mustafi Elneny Monreal
Bellerin Chamberlain
Ramsey Ozil
welbeck Lacazette Malen.
Bench:
Cech Koscielny Chambers Willock Adelaide Nketiah ???
I’m looking forward to JOE WILLOCK. I’ve been impressed by his performances.
And we still have Jack Willsher. I’m sure Koscielny will start today, maybe alongside Holding and Chambers, with Monreal and either Bellerin or the Ox at wing back. Ramsey and Elneny at centre mid, with Ozil, Danny and Lacazette up front. Probably hopelessly wrong.
Regardless of who starts and who is on the bench, I hope Arsenal do well today.
—
Tony has talked a bit before about illegal streams of games. Apparently not too many Canadians “steal” EPL content, what apparently happens more here is “stealing” Game of Thrones episodes. The CBC is running an article on this.
But, in Canada the TV rights to this HBO product are owned by Bell. And Bell only offers HBO as part of a package of high end content. In the USA, you can (at least in some jurisdictions) get just HBO for about $15 per month. The number being bandied in the CBC article is $150 for this package which includes HBO. But the article does not say if this $150 is per month.
Bell is “almost a monopolist” in Canada. Canada sort of has 2 or 3 TV networks, Bell owns the largest one. Bell has newspapers. Bell is one of the larger cell phone/mobile providers. Actually, most of the big mobile operators also have subsidiaries that are also mobile operators. What this does is give the illusion that there is competition in the market.
—
In corruption news, we have more “big names” in Spanish football speaking out for Villar. Does this mean that all these big names are themselves corrupt? Or are they being “blackmailed” into speaking out?
HITC is claiming this is today’s confirmed lineup:
Arsenal starting XI: Cech, Koscielny, Elneny, Monreal, Ramsey, Willock, Bellerin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Welbeck, Lacazette
Arsenal subs: Martinez, Mertesacker, Holding, Kolasinac, Brammell, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Nelson, Iwobi, Walcott, Giroud
COYG!
Wenger will alwayz be da best
Gord – in Hindi the word for the aiders & abettors of the leading figure is called a ‘chumcha’ which means teaspoon. The teaspoon stirs the sugar (dredges to sweeten the tea – or makes the figurehead look sweet). It is customary for ‘stars’ to be accompanied by their ‘teaspoons’.
One of the most impressive performances Arsenal gave last season was the 5-0 demolition of Southampton in the FA cup.
The two midfield players who ran the game and set the platform for the whole teams performance on that day were Maitland Niles and
Jeff Raine Adelaide. Yet for some strange reason the manager has not paired them together in a senior game since. Is it possible he
wasn’t even there and did not watch the game ? because if he had then surely, surely he would have witnessed the same combination
of power skill pace and control combined with defensive awareness and incisive tackling as I and many others who commented at the time did and would have been impressed enough to play them again and again and again. If my memory serves right after that game he went back to his favourites and we went on a losing run and ultimately dropped out of the top four places in the table.
For some odd purpose, unclear to anyone he has now started playing Niles as a central defender and Adalaide cannot hardly get a game (strange man) what peculiar behaviour. Reckon they’ll be moving on from the club in the not too distant future.
Thanks Menace.
Bellerin creating opportunities but his touch has let him down.
So far Elneny has been great on the back line…very positive yet solid on defence.
very attractive football being played
Daily Mail has lost interest in covering the game.
I would like to see a goal, of three by Arsenal.
COYG!
—
Oh, GGG. You’ve been talking about camping with the family. I hope you haven’t run across bear 148.
Gord Not going to Banff. Usually go to SE BC, Central AB, or the Cypress Hills.
Interesting watching on Quest. As mentioned by Tony and others, nothing but adverts between halves but very little OPINION from the commentators during the play. Since much opinion about Arsenal is negative, the silence is golden. Also because there is little inane talk about made for TV controversies, the camera angles chosen are focused on the play itself, not the signs in the park, or AW’s anorak.
Heh, the wrong team scored. Let’s put a couple (or more) past the Sevilla goaltender guys!
COYG!
Another Danny mis-que in the box sets up a goal. A happy knack.
Congratulations Lacazette on your 1st Gunners goal.
Heck, Sevilla score again. Come on Lacazette, two more please!
COYG!
There is just too much typing for Guardian and Daily Mail today. Three word sentences as a comment, whaich provides almost no detail as it what happened.
Let’s tie it up Gunners!
COYG!
Nitram – Lacazette has scored 2 Arsenal goals. This one is his first in the Ems. He scored one in China.