I find it very difficult to join the Carlos Vela is useless bandwagon that has been increasing in the last year. He certainly hasn’t lived up to his potential thus far and it is even more damning when you do not break through at a club like West Brom, but there is so much more to come from Vela. His finish was typical Vela and I am sure most Gooners knew exactly what was coming when he wriggled through on goal from Rosicky’s pass, a cool dink over the keeper and safely into the back of the net

It was great to see the Gooners back on the pitch today. It is very early in the pre season so it is difficult to make any proper judgements on the players on show today but there was still some interesting talking points.

Firstly the new boys showed plenty of promise as they try and adjust to playing alongside better players than in their previous clubs. Jenkinson looked composed and pushed forward whenever possible, he was caught out with space behind him at times but it is still very early in pre season. My mind is pretty rigid so the idea of a tall full back doesn’t quite sit well with me, it is difficult to justify that but in my head, full backs are closer to the ground with a good engine. Perhaps his extra height will benefit the team in the longer term.

Ryo Miyaichi started out on the left and didn’t really surprise. He looked as if he was playing for Feyenoord. Very comfortable, full of ability and worked very hard when not in possession which is just my type of player.

I imagine that we will see Ryo dribble around his full back and drive into the box from wide areas, something we haven’t had for quite a while now. His end product is not yet there but that is expected. He is only 18 years old and that is amazing. Ryo has plenty of gears to go up in both his physical and technical development.

Remember the skinny step over kid who turned up at Manchester United. He developed into a powerful beast who dominated the Premier League. Even if Ryo develops half as much as Ronaldo did then we will have a superstar on our hands in the future.

I love the idea of Vermaelen and Koscielny for the most part. They compliment each other superbly in open play. Both very determined, both very comfortable on the ball, both tigerish in the tackle. The obvious issue comes when they face a team very strong in the air but having said that, set pieces is not just about two central defenders, it is about the whole team. Will organisation and extra determination to win headers cancel out the lack of a 6ft+ defender? I don’t know the answer to that because I am yet to see Vermaelen play a full season alongside the ever improving Koscielny but I certainly wouldn’t rule out that being Wenger’s first choice partnership and I certainly wouldn’t rule them out as becoming a top duo.

With Clichy gone, plenty of eyes were on Kieran Gibbs and the Englishman was steady if not spectacular but his second half replacement Armand Traore looked physically very impressive. Even as a 16 year old in Dennis Bergkamp’s testimonial he looked very strong but today he looks very powerful and dangerous going forward. It is one thing flying past players on a lower level than Arsenal but another thing altogether against a strong attacking team. I certainly wouldn’t be upset to see Traore start at left back at home to Blackburn Rovers though. A card that I hope Wenger pulls out from time to time in games where we need to score first to open out the match.

Aaron Ramsey’s pass was very reminiscent of a number 4 we already have at Arsenal. He seems to like the pass to Theo Walcott. I remember a remarkable outside of the foot pass to Walcott in the Champions League a few years ago. Ramsey has the ability to play the cutting pass but is yet to do it consistently. He certainly reminded everyone that he was very capable of making that pass. Theo Walcott finished as Theo Walcott does. One of the best finishers at the club.

Emmanuel Frimpong came on in the second half and picked up from where he left off last pre season. He looks physically immense and has a great on pitch attitude. I cannot help but be excited about that, yet a little weary of his ball possession. Frimpong is the type of player you want in a battle away at Stoke but perhaps isn’t the player you turn to when playing against a team that allows you plenty of possession and presses you intensely like Everton. His plus points totally outweigh the negatives though so far in my eyes.

I find it very difficult to join the Carlos Vela is useless bandwagon that has been increasing in the last year. He certainly hasn’t lived up to his potential thus far and it is even more damning when you do not break through at a club like West Brom, but there is so much more to come from Vela. His finish was typical Vela and I am sure most Gooners knew exactly what was coming when he wriggled through on goal from Rosicky’s pass, a cool dink over the keeper and safely into the back of the net. He played a cushioned lay off to Ramsey who fired over the bar that only the best players at Arsenal would have been able to play.

He was the second fastest player at Arsenal last season and is a fantastic finisher. Whether he has the mentality and desire to become an Arsenal regular is another story but he has everything else in his locker to not only be a good player but a very good player. Natural physical growth along with a run of games and he would be slotting away chances left, right and center.

This is not to say that he should be thrown into the Arsenal team, obviously there are currently better players ahead of him but if got the chance then he could actually be quite a surprise. I will stand by that opinion and see what happens to the grinny Mexican.

Samir Nasri came on late with Robin Van Persie and Andrey Arshavin and he made me think back to the game against Fulham at the Emirates. During that game I felt the same way I did about Thierry Henry as he was transforming from a prospect into a world class player. With Henry I could see the change happening in front of my eyes, every season he was visually taking a step up, his aura and presence just seemed to grow in front of us. During last season’s pre season and the first half of the season I felt that about Samir Nasri.

When he came off the bench today, I felt the same as I did against Fulham. He looks hungry and determined and I really believe we will see another climb of level for Nasri. His contract situation feels a little like pouring a bucket of salt over a tasty dinner though, so I find it difficult to get excited about what Nasri could become.

When I saw the trio come on as late substitutes I thought to myself that perhaps Wenger is already preparing for the Champions League qualifier. Samir Nasri and Robin Van Persie are both suspended because of the farce in Barcelona. With the players we had available it looked like something close to our strongest team with the players we had available.

Szczesny

Jenkinson (Sagna) Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs

Song Wilshere

Ramsey (Cesc)

Walcott Chamakh Miyaichi (Gervinho/Arshavin)

This is the team that started the first half and the players in brackets would come in to the side if fit, available and hopefully at the club.

That qualifier is so important that perhaps Wenger is trying to get as much preparation in as possible before the date flies around. It will be interesting to see if a similar side play together during the next pre season match. Wenger did say that he had an idea of a team that would start the season so we will see.

Anyway, I refuse to think or talk about Xavi’s comments and Cesc’s future. Like I have said recently, I am sick and bored of it all now. Wake me up when a decision has been made.

Back t
omorrow.