Nasri double cuts Graz & JET Soars

Sturm Graz 0 Arsenal 3 - Pre Season Friendly

Another pre season game finished with, another step closer to Premier League fitness for the players. I managed to miss the first 15 minutes of the game due to a disappearing train at Euston that was supposed to turn up on time so I could get back with plenty of time to spare but that train didn't turn up, then I had to deal with traffic on a bus, so thank you to all those who kept me updated via Twitter

The players were mixed up from the Barnet game but the template was exactly the same. The same shape and system as we used last season so I do not see Arsene starting the season with two forwards alongside each other as surely we would have seen a glimpse of this so far.

Wenger started with Vermaelen alongside Djourou instead of Koscielny. Clearly the manager wants to test out his partnerships during the pre season. Johan Djourou played the second half with Laurent Koscielny.

There was little doubt about which player stole the first half. Samir Nasri looks bright, sharp and direct. He got on the scoresheet early following up miscontrol from Chamakh to dance around a challenge and fire in a snapshot past the sprawling goalkeeper. Nasri has drilled in shots into the bottom corner on a few occasions for Arsenal and is certainly capable of doing it on a more regular basis.

For a player of Nasri's technical qualities he does not produce enough in the final third. His goals and assists last season fell well short of what he can potentially achieve. If I was a betting man then I would put my money on Arsene having told Nasri to work on that side of his game this summer. If he wants to move up from a very good player to a great then he needs to score more and created goals for others. So far so good.

Theo Walcott looked dangerous without finding the right pass or shot. Hopefully an injury free pre season will see him get his form back before the start of the season. His off the ball running from the right look very dangerous already this pre season. He showed it at Barnet and again yesterday evening. He was wrongly flagged offside at one point but the way he bent his run to stay onside was great, reminded me of Ian Wright back in his pomp. But it will be what Theo does with the ball that will matter most.

Defensively the team did not look perfect in the slightest and given the fact that the opposition did not have much of the ball I could start worrying and pulling out my hair but this is only the second game of pre season. These games are primarily about gaining fitness and testing new partnerships out. When most of the regular faces come in and we play what is closer to our first team then I will start looking closer at any weaknesses.

As soon as Wilshere got up from being fouled on the edge of the penalty area I had a feeling that Nasri would score. On first glance I must admit that I didn't think it was a free kick and I would rather save those dodgy decisions for the season but what to do?

Nasri whipped the ball up and down the wall and past the diving keeper who perhaps could have done better with it had he covered that side of his goal a little better. Three goals in two games for super Samir Nasri.

It wasn't quite all change for the second half. Surprisingly Wilshere stayed on even though he picked up a yellow for a rash tackle on a Graz player, something that Wilshere could well have picked up from his former Bolton team mates. I wonder if we will hear the chuckles from pundits excusing that Wilshere has never been able to tackle just as they have done for Paul Scholes all these years.

Wilshere went to the left of the attack in the second half, a position that I don't think suits him as well. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas replaced Chamakh in attack, whilst Nordtveit, Walcott and Djourou stayed on.

JET had a fantastic second half, involved in much of the attacking play. Emmanuel-Thomas is a big lump but he is not just a big lump. He is a very talented footballer with quick feet and an eye for a pass. I expected Tomas to cut in and shoot on his left midway through the second half but he had the vision and presence of mind to slot the ball to Henri Lansbury who made a run into the box, his finish was cool and very Arsenal like.

You can see the understanding between Tomas, Wilshere and Lansbury. Years of playing together through different levels at Arsenal will put them in very good stead.

Emmanuel-Thomas pulled to the right and toyed with his markers like a larger, left footed Thierry Henry. To think that he is only 19 years of age is quite frightening. A player like Emile Heskey could only dream of having the ability of JET.

I was very impressed with the distribution of Havard Nordtveit. A center half who played mostly as a defensive midfielder during his loan spell last season at Nurnberg in the Bundesliga. He has slotted into the right back spot without any fuss, his ability to slide passes into between the opposition and float cross field passes was inch perfect. I would have loved to have seen him swing in a few crosses to either Chamakh or JET but he didn't venture quite as far up the pitch as that.

Clearly there are many more gears to go up and this will happen as the pre season progresses. The world cup players will take part in the next outing on Tuesday against SC Neusiedl 1919.

As many Gooners have done, I would like to say thank you and good luck to Eduardo who completed his move away from Arsenal. Had circumstances been different then he could have been a true Arsenal legend. I will never forget my reaction to his miss against Burnley away in the FA Cup. I was already celebrating before he struck the ball and was totally shocked that he had missed. That is how good he was as a finisher before his awful injury.

He should have racked up hundreds of goals for Arsenal but it is not to be. Good luck to Eddie, the player and the person.

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Comments

#1 - angelic beardy Says:

I hope we sign Schwarzer, Wenger hasn't actually ruled out buying him, i feel we need a bit of experience in the defence. I would defo buy anouther defender or try to keep Sol.

#2 - Bala Says:

I cant wait to see players like JET,Lansbury ,wilshere, Ramsey and eastmond play together in a couple of seasons time.It would be frightening for the opposition.Good luck to DUDU.

#3 - Mean Lean Says:

Oh its Nordtveit not Nordtviet. Sorry all but I am not changing that now

Next time.

#4 - TrueGooner Says:

By the way Mean Lean, does anybody thinks Theo should have played with the reserves for two seasons before coming on the bench for the first team? He was very clueless yesterday. I think it would have done him some good. I feel he will come good when the season starts, but he was some how lost yesterday. Maybe they need to lock him up with tapes of Henry, Denise and a striker coach to walk him through it for the rest of the preseason

#5 - Man United Killa Says:

ML
Good display by the boys.I was particularly impressed with Thomas.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves.We still need to work very hard like the manager said.And the manager said that...

#6 - DJ Dragonfly Says:

Eduardo was the best penalty box striker I'd seen at our beloved club since Ian Wright (pre injury). That's how much I rated the guy.

I have no doubt that he would've gone to become one of the true Arsenal greats, if it weren't for his horrific injury, which was caused by an outrageous tackle from Martin Taylor.

Although he scored two goals on his return against Cardiff (and who can forget his wonder goal against Burnley in the FA Cup), he was never the same. He was never the quickest of players, but he lost a yard of pace and he jumped out of most challenges, which came his way, which I don't fault him for one second, due to the injury he previously suffered.

I will miss him immensely. Eduardo, I hope you get your career back on track with Shakhtar Donetsk.

"Eduardo Da Silva, Arsenal's number 9."

#7 - podge Says:

All the youngsters have looked fantastic so far but it is only 2 pre-season games against poor opposition, the emirates cup is an important part of pre season 3 quality teams Lyon AC Milan and Celtic will be in town. Wenger usually plays his first choice in that tourney hopefully he will throw in the likes of Frimpong JET Lansbury Sczcesny regularly in those games so we can see how they handle playing top class pros who play champions league football every season.
Its a sad farewell to Eduardo feels kinda like retirment because of injury we wish him all the best at shaktar. No room for sentiment in football though, his departure leaves a space in the squad will a new signing take the spot or will Simpson or JET get a promotion.
I havent got to watch either game so far im wondering about Nasri's physical strength as if he is strong enough for a central role id like to see him behind the striker while Cesc drops deeper, Cesc being isolated in big games was a contributing factor to our losses to manu and chelsea last season i think the positional change would suit both players

#8 - Vuja De Says:

I really don't know why so many fans in the Arsenal blogosphere are apparently obsessed with JET's size...what's that all about?

And I think it's an insult that JET keeps being compared - wrongly, inaccurately & unfairly - to Emile Heskey. They are completely different players with very different skill sets and I fail to see where the need for the comparison comes from.

#9 - Mean Lean Says:

I agree that Heskey and JET are totally different players but JET is quite clearly physically very impressive, it is difficult to ignore the fact that he is so strong at only 19 years old.

It is the same way people compare Cesc and Ramsey. Physically quite similar but both have different playing styles.

Younger players will always be compared with more established, similar build players. It's normal.

#10 - Kipmonster Says:

I am proposing that Arsenal fans World wide post letters once a week for the next four weeks to UEFA & FIFA complaining about Barcelona FC's persistent public 'tapping up' of Cesc Fabregas.
Also post a letter just once to Arsenal FC requesting that they formally complain to UEFA & FIFA about Barcelona FC's rule breaking disrespectful behaviour.
I have drawn up 3 template letters that I will email to willing participants. All that you will need to do is type in your own Name & Address before printing off & posting.
A momentum is needed in this regard & can be boosted by you forwarding the email I send you to every single one of your Arsenal FC supporting family & friends and encouraging them to post letters off once every week for four weeks to UEFA & FIFA and just once to Arsenal FC.
The aim of repetitive letters would be to create an Administrative headache for UEFA & FIFA with hopefully thousands of letters received from all over the world. It would be a great way to display the strength of feeling from Arsenal FC fans.
The purpose of the single letter to Arsenal FC is again to display the strength of feeling from Arsenal FC fans.
The Arsenal FC hierarchy seem to exist in an 'Ivory Tower' immune or just simply ignorant to the feelings & wishes of their fans.

My email address for this campaign from where I will email you the letter templates is ……..

ArsenalFansHateBarcelonaFC@gmail.com


COME ON !! …… Lets DO this & be taking substantive action for a change instead of simply bleating on web blogs which achieves nothing as it goes unnoticed by those who should hear the complaints the most.

I will post this on the anti Barca facebook group ………….

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=116042895106146

& also on as many Arsenal blogs as possible via ……………

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Premier+League/Arsenal/All+Sources

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