Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

The Emirates Cup is no doubt a commercial success – fill the stadium for a couple of days and even get a few quid off ESPN.  I’m glad; Arsenal have to try and compete with fabulously rich oil sheiks these days.

But the trouble with selling a couple of pre-season friendlies as a tounament and sticking them on the telly is that some people are going to start taking them very seriously.  Or at least start taking the piss!  Or even booing.  When I was a teenager, I’m not sure I even knew that pre-season friendlies existed.

Yesterday was a half-hearted affair with some touches of style and some gaffes. It told everyone what they know already.  Arsenal could do with another class act in central defence, an experienced leftback and, if Nasri and Fabregas are departing, some more midfield fire-power.

So what are the club trying to do about it?  Apparently they are trying to sign another class act in central defence, some more midfield fire-power and, it’s rumoured, a leftback.

Will they succeed in landing everyone they want?  I really hope so, but I’m realistic enough to know they won’t always get their first choices and that things can go wrong.  This isn’t Football Manager where you just put in higher amounts until the fixed parameter buried in the software gives in and grants you your wish.

Arsenal undoubtedly face a tough season.  Manchester City have had a massive cash injection and Liverpool have got their act together.  Two classy players and two very unclassy clubs have combined to make the transfer window even more difficult than usual.

The point of this post is not to say that Arsenal have necessarily handled things brilliantly or that Arsene always Knows Best.  They clearly haven’t and he doesn’t always.  But that (a) each individual club (with the exception of Manchester City) has a lot less control over their situation than they would like; and (b), even if a pre-season friendly comes dressed in bows, ribbons and a trophy, it’s still a pre-season friendly.

What should we Gooners make of the world today?  Yesterday Arsenal showed some promise, but some familiar frailties too.

The papers have dutifully filled their pages, but not with anything new.  Some bloke called Fabregas wants to go and may be replaced by some bloke called Mata.  But some other club may hijack the deal.  Meanwhile Arsenal are poised to sign Phil Jagielka, Gary Cahill, Chris Samba and Scott Dann.  But not today.

The Sundays get the best football material during the season but lose out on breaking anything new on transfer gossip.  Some have wrestled a highly non-committal Harry Redknapp quote into a North London blood feud, but Harry’s more likely to be wondering what time to light the barbie.

Presumably today we will see Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen and Gibbs at the back and they will show us a bit more nous and composure.  Which doesn’t mean that the likes of Jagielka and Enrique wouldn’t be welcome additions.

Most impressive pre-season displays so far have been Frimpong and Gervinho.  Frimpong looks like he’s going to make up for his lost season.  But he’s still young and there is every chance of him and Song disappearing to play for their African national sides at the same time.  What happened to that Biglia rumour that flashed around the web last week?

Gervinho seems to have great pace and passing ability.  I like the way that he and Arshavin keep swapping sides.  His assist for Van Persie yesterday was inch perfect.  More of the same please!

Apparently Arsene Wenger has told Paul Lambert that Henri Lansbury is staying at Arsenal this season.  It would be good to see him on the pitch today.

Enough already, time to make sure lunch appears before the Grand Prix starts and plan when to reveal the existence of the second Arsenal game of the weekend.  ‘But it’s not even August yet!’

OK, maybe that’s a bit harsh, pre-season friendly and all that, but there goes a two goal lead.

There were some good signs too. The first goal saw a perfectly timed cross from Gervinho to reward Van Persie’s dart to the near post. One – nil. There was good stuff again from Wilshere who looks more than ready for the new season. He was replaced at half time by Ramsey who promptly scored. Two – nil.

So far so good. Another promising game from Frimpong who breaks up attacks and holds the ball well. Carl Jenkinson put his own goal behind him and did okay.

But if Arsene Wenger was having any doubts about keeping up the pursuit of Jagielka, Cahill or whoever, the last twenty minutes should keep him fixed on the task! Squillaci was dispossessed for Boca Junior’s first and Djourou, having initially looked to have recovered this situation gifted them the equaliser. Two – all!

Mid-way through the second half, on comes Emmanuel Eboue. Aren’t you supposed to be in Turkey by now?

Just a friendly, nothing to see here folks, but but but just two weeks to go now and still things to fix.

First-half Team -

Szczesny
Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen (C), Gibbs
Song, Ramsey, Wilshere
Walcott, Chamakh, Gervinho (sub Miyaichi)

Good performance going forward, great dribbling and passing from Jack Wilshere.  Great debut from Gervinho getting two goals with cool finishes.  A bit shaky at the the back though, mainly when Gibbs was slow coming back from getting forward, leaving the defence out-numbered at the back.  Carl Jenkinson was a bit unfortunate to score an own goal.  Should probably just of hoofed it with his other foot, but ended up with trying to control it with the outside of his boot and looped it over Szczesny.

Second-half Team -

Mannone (sub Fabianski)
Sagna, Squillaci, Djourou, Gibbs (sub Henderson (sub Afobe))
Frimpong, Rosicky, Nasri
Vela, Van Persie (C), Arshavin

Gibbs is the only one to survive the changes with the other ten all swapped round.  Squillaci and Podolski got nose to nose over some tight marking and shirt pulling by the Arsenal player.  Good snap shot from Rosicky.  Some nice flips from Van Persie.  Some good hustling runs from Arshavin. Frimpong is good at breaking up attacks, even if his passing is a bit wayward.  Nasri was completely anonymous. Henderson was stretchered off near the end after twisting his knee.

No point in over-analysing a pre-season friendly, but the first half team definately put on the best display.