Arsenal lost 2-1 to Chelsea in a preseason game that was fun to watch, but for all the wrong reasons.
Arsenal were messy. Chelsea were poor. Both sides have plenty of concerns heading into the new season.
There were quite a few worries for Arsenal fans. The biggest being that the same faces that weren’t good enough last year are mostly still in the side.
Mo Elneny started and was given far too many minutes. He was his usual self. Unambitious, with a few mistakes in the mixer. Why is he so close to the first team?
Granit Xhaka scored and made some lovely passes, but his lack of pace nearly broke an ankle and there were a few flashes of ‘why?’ that he brought to the table. He needs to move to Italy, we need an upgrade, we can’t continue to talk about top 4 if we don’t move on players that aren’t at that level.
Our entire right side of defence isn’t up to snuff. I really like Cal Chambers, but he’s not a first-team right back next season. Hector Bellerin came on and assisted Tammy with his first touch. It was poor, but par the course, he needs to be exited. We need a new right-back as a matter of urgency.
Bernd Leno seems to be regressing with his passing. He looks panicked and totally lacking in confidence on the ball. If your keeper can’t move the ball in this Arsenal system, you need to find a new keeper. It’s painful viewing that such a good keeper in his twenties is so bad with his feet.
The biggest worry – and I do hate to say it – was Auba. He missed a one vs one and a header from 6 yards out. Two seasons ago, those are goals. Is he keeping his powder dry for the new season? We have to hope so. It is very worrying that our best striker at the moment looks like Eddie. He came on and put a show on again. He ran with intensity, livened up the front line, and looked dangerous with every touch.
There were some good bits about the game. We certainly played with more attacking intent than we did in the Premier League last run out. We broke into their box plenty of times, Willock scored a goal that the lino missed, we created enough high-quality chances to come away with more than 1 goal. The big shift is that we’re playing a higher line. That’s giving us more in the opposite third, though it exposed us time and time again yesterday.
Ben White looked decent when he came on, he made a couple of goal-line clearances. He looks assured on the ball, he’s fast, and you can see his range of passing is good. I don’t think anyone can deny the need for him after watching a high line with Bob and Pablo in the first half.
Willock is a messy player, but he causes chaos. His rangy runs and attacking mindset caused issues for Chelsea and it livened up our game. I expect him to leave, but it’s worrying a player we’re sending to Newcastle had more zest than nearly all our attackers.
The star of the match was once again Sambi Lokonga. He came on and the game opened up. He’s fast, he moves the ball with vertical purpose, and reads the game really well. We don’t need to experiment with Mo Elneny, Sambi should be getting first-team minutes from the start next season.
The major disappointment was that Thomas Partey was crunched and hobbled off injured. He was absolutely brilliant in the first half. He carried the ball, he opened the game up with his passing, he pressed hard… such a shame his day was cut short, but hopefully it’s not too serious.
So, in short, a bit of a worrying day out. There’s two weeks to go before the start of the season, we still need about 4 players, and the coach needs to fix a lot of issues on the training ground.
Spurs next week…
1st
Top three since Christmas
Didn’t see the game.
Tr4phy
No fluke
So what has the coach been doing all Summer?
Top 8 but Leno?
No Europe is the blessing in disguise
I can see us taking six points from our first two matches against Norwich and Wolves but can’t currently see us getting anything from Man City or Spurs.
Pedro
We’re doing the age old Arsenal thing this transfer window and reacting to the market vs being proactive. It’s very difficult to sit and be content with the lack of movement whether the order of transfers is meaningful or not.
We haven’t exited anyone of note, that’s not good enough.
Any news n Partey’s injury.?
Ooof……the latest on .com, Arteta saying ‘it doesn’t look good’
CC, I think what makes it worse is we are being proactive… and we still can’t sell anyone.
Thomas Partey out long-term is so fucking depressing.
Hopefully Partey will be back in time for AFCON…..
Thomas Partey’s people telling the press they don’t think it’s that bad
Arteta confirms that Xhaka will be staying for next season ! Lets write off the season before it start ?!
Pedro We are? I’m not seeing too many signs of that. Takes strong decision making to move the number of players that was suggested. I get we want top value, but for guys that don’t offer us any on the pitch you have to take something of a hit. How AMN, Bellerin, Eddie, and Willock are still here I just don’t know. We’re not going to rinse Newcastle, and the rest can combine to land 1 prominent player to the first XI. Playing will he, won’t he with Odegaard doesn’t sit well with me either. Conviction and execution is important,… Read more »
Almunia So what do you do when you realise the team you’ve followed for near on 50 years is run by a shower of cretins and some of your highly paid so-called stars belong in a pub team? Yes, that’s right, you pen a song about it to try and fine some crumbs of solace! Try this to ‘September’ by Earth, Wind and Fire… Oh please remember, we’ve been 3rd in the league since De-cember Arteta said we’d be CL pre-tenders This club has totally lost its way…. Our hearts are breaking The opposition with laughter is shaking Another season… Read more »
CC, it reads to me like most clubs just want loan deals. Not sure how you get around that. Think it’ll be a busy two weeks.
Please no to Ode and Madisson, Barnes is the player that makes Leicester tick and whatever you say about Willock he’s a threat off the bench. We just generally look a mess and especially without Partey
Davi, Yeah, what you say it’s exactly correct. I just wished that the people with power were actually passionate about bringing success to our club. Which would have meant selling a 50m striker that hasn’t really proved that he can become top class. Laca should have been moved years ago same as Xhaka and Mustafi – expensive and not good enough. Our reserves should be either cheap and reliable like Chelsea did with Giroud, or talented young players that can climb the ranks to starters or we can sell them for good money like Nketiah. Our starters should be better… Read more »
Hard to say but PARTEY looks like another Diaby.
He plays with an intensity that nurtures injuries like he
gets .
Not good going forward.?
If Xhaka signs the new deal I’m taking an Arsenal break.
Never has there been such a not fit for person player given so many chances and minutes.
We will not progress with him in the midfield.
“If your keeper can’t move the ball in this Arsenal system, you need to find a new keeper.”
Quality managers change their system to accommodate the players they actually have. Claiming we have good system but players are problem is just making excuses for incompetent manager.
At the moment Xhaka is our best option in midfield.?
.??
.?
.?.
…
We’ve had lots of opportunities to find better options James.
Dragged our feet over Buendia because we wanted Odegaard. Odegaard told us he wants Madrid. Madrid have now said they don’t want Odegaard but now Odegaard isn’t our first option?
Bissouma has been there all transfer window, so had Anguissa. Sabitzer was available for 15m and is a steal but no.
Xhaka being our best midfielder is not the compliment you think it is…
He still needs to leave.
Pedro dare to comment on the latest news?
on Granit Xhaka…
Granit is going to stay with us. He’s a player that we rate and value so much, he’s a key member of our squad. He’s trained two days. He wanted to play today and I think it’s very clear commitment from his side that he wants to be here.
Kaz, Thomas Partey is our best midfielder
DD
Barnes had played a large part of the season with a loose bone fragment that needed to be removed, and the pain was what forced him to have the seasons ending operation 12 games out.
He was the biggest miss for Leicester and a major factor in their dropping down the league table.
In fewer minutes and games he had more goals for them than Maddison.
If Arteta wa shall as good as Pedro loves to write then he would find a place for Willock.
There are many intangibles in football , one of such is Willocks knack for getting in the penalty box with a chance to score.
He will score goals from the midfield, he showed that today
If we are close to extending Xhaka with all his 1000 flaws then surely Willock has to be incorporated into the squad.
Raptora, I wrote yesterday that he would stay if Roma didn’t pay us enough. If you can’t get enough cash to replace him, you can’t sell him.
Pedro, I was commenting on someone else calling Xhaka our best midfielder.
Regardless, I’m taking a break if he signs. Good luck to the rest of you.
*If Arteta is half as good
Pedro
Until the end of august isn’t it? Think we’re looking at some outs in the next two weeks followed by a flurry of deals.
How smart they are remains to be seen.
He’s (Xhaka) 29 in September Pedro and on stupid wages.
You take what you can get for Xhaka and run. Absolute nonsense to suggest that another 5 odd million would have made the slightest bit of difference to our budget and justifies scuppering the move and offering him a spanking new deal.
We’re going to double his wages too so he isn’t being sold for a looooong time.
Our club is full of stupid people.
Following the defeat to chelsea Mikel Arteta gave an interview to talksport . Having been asked to comment on the future of Granit Xhaka, Arteta made the unusual request to have his reply put to music. The result was as follows: ‘Just the way you are ‘ by Bruno Mars The lies,the lies, Made the Roma boys think he was signing His hair, his hair, Looks better now he’s finished dying He’s so wonderful and I tell him every day Yeah I know, I know When I extend him you won’t believe me And it’s so,it’s so, Sad to think… Read more »
CC, right back and CAM vital… seems like they want a striker as well.
Certain that players will push for moves as well. Hector pass today was a sure sign he wants out.
All serious clubs have done their transfers, whats remaining is mediocre transfers i.e loans and bargain basement
Im telling you for free!
Absolutely shambolic decision to persist with Xhaka for not getting a couple of millions more from Roma. Good managers have a clear view of what kind of football they want to play and who are the players who can perform in their system. If Xhaka was expendable until a week ago then how has he become integral to our side once again so much so that we are extending his contract again on higher wages. The man has 9 lives, somehow always manages to escape the chop.
WE, if the club thought the money was enough to get a better replacement, they’d have done it.
“If your keeper can’t move the ball in this Arsenal system, you need to find a new keeper.”
That’s why the Emi/Leno conversation is likely to continue endlessly.
Selling Emi in that context would be like selling a monster header of the ball CF over a 5 foot 5 inches poacher, when your entire offensive strategy is to pump crosses into the box.
I thought that the message was we don’t have to sell to buy? Hence why spending £50m on a defender wasn’t a problem?
‘ Raptora, I wrote yesterday that he would stay if Roma didn’t pay us enough. If you can’t get enough cash to replace him, you can’t sell him’ But you have no problem with Arsenal going back to Brighton again and again to get mugged for a player we don’t desperately need. If the standard was to make sure we got paid enough to get a replacement , then why overspend so much on less critical needs? Why didn’t that same principle count when they want to get transfers that Arteta really wants. It just puts all the rabble you… Read more »
“If you can’t get enough cash to replace him, you can’t sell h”
Thought we had money flowing….and we were going to be “ruthless”
How about this then….
Sell Xhaka for whatever u can get regardless
Don’t buy a 50m cb
Keep up 27m CB and play him instead
Buy a very good CM
Big brained, I know
Pedro I personally don’t read too much into these type of games. Players, particularly Chelsea ones hadn’t been back training prior to this week many hadn’t played a pre season minute prior to today. Add to that nearly half of them 22 players that featured for them almost certainly will be replaced by top players who featured in International tournaments What really is a concern is that bar Saka and possibly Martinelli what your saw today is it and many of the squad had a long break and a decent number of minutes pre season. It wasn’t just messy it… Read more »
Pedro
His replacement was always going to cost far more money due to his age (29) and limitations.
Ruben Neves for example wouldn’t cost south of 40m so what difference does taking in 17m for Xhaka as opposed to 12m make? Minimal difference.
This kind of just confirms that you will back every Tets decision to the hilt no matter what.
Oh, so it turns out we are cash-strapped, good to know. Pedro, you were so loud there was money?
And that the order doesn’t matter right?
All serious clubs have done their transfers
Have Man City signed Grealish?
Dissenter
Lol
”thought that the message was we don’t have to sell to buy? Hence why spending £50m on a defender wasn’t a problem”
Exactly, well we know that is nonsense now at least by haggling over some loose change for Xhaka.
Andy
Exactly. Money is not a problem so stop bitching about spending £50m on a centre back we have been told time and time again. Now we are not selling Xhaka because the money wasn’t enough to get a replacement.
So much spin I’m getting dizzy!
It seems to many of us that all these lofty financial prudence principles are discarded when Arteta’s pet projects are pursued.
It seems the midfield fix was placed at a lower level of priority than say getting Arteta’s pet project defender or an expensive back-up for Leno.
I’m peeved at Roma’s conduct in the Xhaka transfer but the onus is on Arsenal to move him on because a midfield rebuild is predicated on his exit. If we can overlap so much fir White surely we can swallow a 3-5 million loss on Xhaka for the greater good.
“””“If your keeper can’t move the ball in this Arsenal system, you need to find a new keeper.”””””
Diet Pep does Not have a plan, he will stumble on something that works once in a while
If we need Xhaka for this season while Lokonga gets settled then sell Xhaka next summer. We surely can’t get much less for him than is now being offered. That’s at least preferable to signing him until 2025.
If we are able to pay off ozil, mustafi then we should be able to take a hit with Xhaka. No two ways about it.
Finally you have admitted player poverty eh Pedders.
Karsa
“All serious clubs have done their transfersHave Man City signed Grealish?”
It’s only a matter of time. Besides even without Grealish City go in to the season as the favorites to win the league. So I think they can take their sweet time to wrap up the Grealish and Kane deals. Arsenal on the other hand…..
What is the likely hood of Brentford having a real go at us next week and beating us?
Not sure how Chelsea can be concerned. They beat us with players from their second and third string and that was their 1st pre season game apparently while we have played 3.
Pedro
I’d argue AM and CF are more important, in the nicest way possible some of the general play in the final third is schoolboy. But even the movement is criminally bad.
Here we are back to square one desperate to see Saka and Martinelli back in the mix because they’re hungry and dynamic. Pain.
Weagle
Pedro has been spouting BS since Arteta arrived
He twists and turns every which way to support that bland manager
Arteta is playing with fire if he doesn’t let Xhaka leave.
There’s a lot of resentment for Xhaka, many fans never forgave that infamous incident against Palace.
He’s the gunpowder keg that will send Arteta packing.
What do you make of this Xhaka news Charlie? Not alarming to you too?
Puts an end to any residual hope of a Neves upgrade.
“”””””Have Man City signed Grealish?”””””
Grealish is a man c player,
You can take this to the bank!
And as long as Thomas Partey plays for this club how can Xhaka be our best midfielder? If he renews terms it will be hard to watch another 4-5 years of this knowing how the story ends.
TR7
I think the majority of teams have still to complete their transfer business for this window. I suspect most of them will not finish until the final week of the window.
How do you fix a problem like The Arsenal ! The narrative that a club should be judged at the end of a window is fast approaching and the verdict is looking damning. There is no problem bringing players in according to priority order, people need to realise it isn’t a video game – many parts moving and changing. But what does matter is that come close of business the club and squad should have progressed. That is not happening, far too many players earning a cushty wage with nobody interested in matching it. Partly because of that they are… Read more »
Lokonga next to Xhakalson means the boy will go through irreparable damage
What point is trying to be made when asking if city have signed Grealish? They finished 25 points above us last season. Our need for signings is way higher than theirs.
What point is trying to be made when asking if city have signed Grealish
It was in response to Sid saying all serious teams had already completed their transfers. It had nothing to do with where anyone finished last season.
Kroenkephobe, Only saw your post now, I was busy, great minds…… Had to check out that song, remembered only when I heard it, nice job. I was very close to penning my thoughts on Arteta and Arsenal in general but I held back, the window isn’t closed and these are only friendlies. But just so I’m not accused of sitting on the fence I’m more convinced than ever that we will only regress under this management team. Too many mistakes to even begin to recall. More frustrating is the arguments being used to defend them. A few are valid but… Read more »
The expectation that Ben White will face will be crazy because his so called ball playing skills won’t make up for a shoddy midfield
That meagre one year premier league experience willl come handy playing for the club that’s rooted to the league basement.
If Mari or Leno passes the ball to White in panicked fashion, the outcome will be the same.
Karsa
You’re right about the transfers that are left undone
The problem is that it’s not only Arsenal that have bloated squads. Too many teams have to shed players in the dying hours of the window so it’s the buying clubs [like Roma] that will profit.
I’m not one to put much value on or draw conclusions from friendly games, Pedro, but your report set a lot warning bells a-ringing. The squad is still cluttered with the unwanted, a suitable GK yet to be signed. Fortunately the window continues beyond the start of the season to the end of the month. There is still plenty of time. Arteta’s thinking may be abstruse, but clearly he believes in the young and vigorous. Willian and Luiz were hiccups.My hope is that he uses the layers he has – including Willock, AMN, Eddie -and adds a GK. Most importantly… Read more »
Same old same old… Pedro is going to be working overtime next season with the spin and absolutely free PR work he’s doing for Arteta.
You can take that to the bank!
I was at the game and there was a lot to like about it, not mentioned above was how well Nuno did when he came on too.
Massive problem is there are too many players here who need to be gone! Kola was abysmal, Bellerin shocking, Elneny made too many mistakes, and why is Eddie still getting minutes ahead of Flo.
Still so much to change but only 2 weeks to go.
……..and the ref was an absolute joke
It’s alarming how the preseason feels like a continuation of last season. One thing is clear, our attack is not living up to the potentials/investment and that will be our undoing this coming season no matter what Ben White and the likes do at the back
Karsa Our squad needs a complete overhaul. 1 CM 1 CAM 1 RB 1 back up GK 1 CF City on the other hand already have a great squad. Grealish deal looks like is close to getting done. Kane is such a high profile player that his transfer was always going to drag a bit. City have Jesus to take the responsibility of the main CF until Kane joins. United have got in Sancho and Varane. They are looking for only one more signing in central midfield. Chelsea already have a complete squad. I mean they may try to get… Read more »
I am not putting too much stock in a preseason game,but alarmingly I really don tsee much progression from the dross that was served up last season. Arteta will have no excuses and with the crowd in,it will become very uncomfortable for him and his backroom staff if there is no discernable pattern of play. Some encouraging signs from today,Lokonga and Tavares looked good,Eddie looked much improved from last year as well. Leno must learn to kick the ball long or anywhere but our hapless defenders. The lack of pace in our defence is worrying as well. The knives will… Read more »
Dissenter
There’s a lot of resentment for Xhaka, many fans never forgave that infamous incident against Palace.
I’m one of them. Telling the ticket paying fans to fuck off is one thing. Another is the fact that he never really apologized.
Keeping him the season after that is already a pisstake but here we are. Absolute joke of a club.
WE, if the club thought the money was enough to get a better replacement, they’d have done it.
Yeah that’s all well and good but it doesn’t explain why we’re offering him a new contract
Some take-aways
Eddie has upped his game this summer. Looked really sharp this pre-season.
Auba still missing sitters
Sambi is the real deal
Leno needs an upgrade if we are to play this style of football. Apparently Onana ( one of the best itw at playing out from the back and just keeping overall) is available for 6-8 mil. But we are looking at a 30 million Ramsdale.
KAZ
Xhaka is our best option as we stand at the moment.
Partey for all his work rate is hardly creative.
2 assists in 24 games is pants
It amazes me the club has got to this position
Of no midfielders incoming.
I would take MC GINN OR Ward prowse if
Xhaka goes and he should go no doubt but
We are so weakened in that position the club
are clutching at straws.?
TR7
Not sure where I compared ourselves with City. City are in a different league to us.
All I’m saying is that most teams have yet to complete their transfer business.
Lokonga is a real baller..he’s an upgrade on Cebalos by a mile! He’s strong, sturdy on tackles, was always playing with his head up and opening the game from deep. I really don’t understand why Bellerin and Kola are still part of the team. El neny can stay just for rotation purposes but I expect Lokonga, Xhaka and Partey playing most of the games. I don’t feel like our defenders and the coach are helping Leno out of those playing from the back situations. Our LB&RB are always stationary in such moments waiting to get the ball yet Leno always… Read more »
Marko
It’s obvious Arteta love Xhaka as Pedro has stated. We all know that Tets isn’t really a good judge of talent so it’s gonna be interesting how the season unfolds. One thing is clear, he’s got absolutely no excuse this time around
Yea the whole we have enough money so don’t need to spend was always wishful thinking to justify spending 50 odd million on a position we didn’t desperately need.
Now we’re not letting Xhaka go because of a few million quid we desperately need to geta better CM berore even a CAM or RB or GK.
Absolutely amateur hour but what do you expect.
I really hope we somehow pull something off with 2 weeks to go but im not holding my breath or basically expecting anything from this season.
Karsa
Not comparing Arsenal to City. Merely pointing out that we have much more to do in 2 weeks than our rivals. We can not take solace from the fact that others also have some work to do.
It’s looking more likely that Auba isn’t gonna be hitting those scoring heights of previous seasons. He doesn’t even look like the same guy that got 22 league goals consecutively, more like diet welbeck at the moment and that’s me being nice
Weagle
Doesn’t alarm me no, but disappointing because I felt it was a good time to change the profile in CM.
Before the summer started my concern was more a matter of depth when looking at Partey, Xhaka…….then Ceballos and Elneny. It’s still my main concern with pyramid pirlo getting games. I’d prefer Neves to Xhaka, but I’d really love Neves over Elneny.
Arteta on the signing of Ben White: “I’m really pleased. I think the club has shown the ambition and the direction that we want to take.”
Absolutely clueless. I said it yesterday they’ll point to spending 52 million as a sign of progress and ambition with very little thought actually to it.
We’re not going to get anything of note done in two weeks. What benefit is there in waiting if we want Maddison? They’re under no pressure to sell and they also need enough time to source a replacement.
You could see a move for Ramsdale materialising and thats it. If Ode has stated that he wants to stay at Madrid and they have stated that they want to keep him then you draw a line and move onto the next target.
We have 2 weeks to fill 4 positions or it’s the same old same old and Mikel will be gone
Like tr7 said
Rb
Gk
Cm
Cam
The majority of the “surplus” players will still be here come the end of the window.
Bati
The Xhaka episode has proven made it clear we lack the ruthlessness needed to move forward. I believe the whole point of the summer was to trim the squad, move out underperforming players and bring in young fresh players ready to take us forward. Selling Xhaka wasn’t really about the Profit as he’s almost 29 and having his deal run out soon… Sell him and upgrade. Now we’re back to square one with 2 squadies and an overpriced prospect at CB
Honestly don’t know how anyone could watch the first half today and continue to say we didn’t need to sign Ben White.
The saddest thing will be seeing Ramsdale for 30 million as our next signing, while claiming poverty to not sign a CAM and CM.
Pedro we definitely needed white that’s a given we now need an Aaron’s and a bisouma
I am really worried about Auba though
And a cam