Arsenal fell to a 2-0 pre-season friendly at the hands of Manchester City, yesterday evening at a flooded Bird's Nest Stadium. Quick, successive goals right before half time from Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure sealed the win for the defending Premier League champions, as the Gunners wrapped up the Chinese leg of their Asia Tour.
However, as Nigel Winterburn accurately pointed out - these pre-season friendlies' results do matter, but letting them go is easier than usual. The main purpose, as always, is to try out different line ups, and keep a check on who's in form and fitness, and doubly important, who's not.
1. Chamakh needs to be sold/loaned: Again, the first point is about the continuously deteriorating Moroccan. Another abysmal performance by the striker, andsurely hopefully now he's headed for the exit door.
2. Same old shaky defence: One quick move by City, and it resulted in a goal. Sounds familiar? The defence, in particular the wing-backs need to sort some things out in order to prevent relegation this season. There was not even a hint of co-ordination between Jenkinson and Walcott in the first half (after which the latter was withdrawn), and honestly, there hasn't ever been any of that for a year now. Get Yennaris in.
3. Santos could be deployed on the wing: The Brazilian looked impressive in an advanced role in front of Gibbs, roaming in midfield dangerously. But then comes the question, why would we need another winger?
4. Long shots is the tactic: It looks as though there was actually a formal tactic employed in the match for the first time. Oxlade-Chamberlain in particular, highlighted this through a few venomous strikes through the course of the second half - hitting both posts with one shot on one occasion. Chuks Aneke as well took an unexpected shot from long range, only to find the impressive Pantilimon. This could very well be the solution to the 'too much possession but no goals' a.k.a the 'Arsenal' problem. Remember how we beat City a few months ago? A 25-yarder from Mikel Arteta.
5. Gervinho has work to do: The Ivorian had several opportunities in the game, and agreed that it was Pantilimon who was the hero - but it was also Gervinho who was the zero. Poor finishing led to a couple of chances being wasted, and only a major improvement would put him in contention for a starting place this season, with Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Podolski, possibly even Giroud the challengers.
However, as Nigel Winterburn accurately pointed out - these pre-season friendlies' results do matter, but letting them go is easier than usual. The main purpose, as always, is to try out different line ups, and keep a check on who's in form and fitness, and doubly important, who's not.
1. Chamakh needs to be sold/loaned: Again, the first point is about the continuously deteriorating Moroccan. Another abysmal performance by the striker, and
2. Same old shaky defence: One quick move by City, and it resulted in a goal. Sounds familiar? The defence, in particular the wing-backs need to sort some things out in order to prevent relegation this season. There was not even a hint of co-ordination between Jenkinson and Walcott in the first half (after which the latter was withdrawn), and honestly, there hasn't ever been any of that for a year now. Get Yennaris in.
3. Santos could be deployed on the wing: The Brazilian looked impressive in an advanced role in front of Gibbs, roaming in midfield dangerously. But then comes the question, why would we need another winger?
4. Long shots is the tactic: It looks as though there was actually a formal tactic employed in the match for the first time. Oxlade-Chamberlain in particular, highlighted this through a few venomous strikes through the course of the second half - hitting both posts with one shot on one occasion. Chuks Aneke as well took an unexpected shot from long range, only to find the impressive Pantilimon. This could very well be the solution to the 'too much possession but no goals' a.k.a the 'Arsenal' problem. Remember how we beat City a few months ago? A 25-yarder from Mikel Arteta.
5. Gervinho has work to do: The Ivorian had several opportunities in the game, and agreed that it was Pantilimon who was the hero - but it was also Gervinho who was the zero. Poor finishing led to a couple of chances being wasted, and only a major improvement would put him in contention for a starting place this season, with Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Podolski, possibly even Giroud the challengers.
