Cesc and Bergkamp once did because you know he has the quality to find that pass. When writing those two names I feel that it is necessary to add the non comparison disclaimer. For once I think I can put the opposition to one side, regardless of who you are facing it takes an incredible amount of vision and the feel for the correct weight of pass to be able to pull it off. It is a skill that many first team players have not mastered and will probably never master. I love Tomas Rosicky to pieces and his threaded pass has never consistently matched the rest of his game. Jack Wilshere for all his talent has struggled with his final pass on many occasions. Away at Tottenham was a stand out game for me where his final ball let him down time and

14 goals in two games regardless of the level of opposition, it is an enjoyable way to the beginning of pre season for both players and fans alike. It was another mixed bag of a side that started against the Vietnamese. We started with less youth and more of the senior players even if those senior players included youngsters such as Jenkinson, Chamberlain, Szczesny and Gibbs. The one young reserve who did start was Serge Gnabry who replaced Theo Walcott wide on the right rather than his left sided position against the Indonesia Dream Team.

Oliver Giroud’s flying start

It almost feels as if the pressure has been lifted off the shoulders of Oliver Giroud for this new season. All the talk from supporter to media is of our chase for a ‘top class striker’ one that is very much needed at the very least for squad reasons but the speculation has allowed the Frenchman to go about his work almost pressure free. As I mentioned after the last friendly, it is very difficult to judge any potential improvement due to the opposition but in two games his finishing looks like it has never been a problem. 5 goals in less than 2 games, some of his goals were wonderfully taken as well. His spin and shot high in the net in the previous game was top class, in that position last season he would lay off a lot of those passes to team mates. Yesterday Giroud got off the mark in under five minutes, his left to right run was found by Tomas Rosicky’s chipped pass, Giroud’s first time hit should have been dealt with better by the home goalkeeper in truth but he could only help it on it’s way into the net.

I loved his second goal, a first time excellently weighted drive into the top corner. It wasn’t just a case of putting the foot through the ball but it was measured to perfection. It wasn’t the first time either, it reminded me of his goal against Brighton in the FA cup.

His third, seconds from half time was another diagonal run but this time he was spotted by Chamberlain who was driving through the centre yet again, a little dink over the out stretched keeper completed his hat-trick.

Regardless of whom comes in, most people have been expecting a new and improved Giroud for the new season. Fully integrated into the league, the RVP rope around his neck has been loosened and he can strive for improvement. Early days, poor opposition but this is a very good start and I hope he can go from strength to strength.

Chuba Akpom natural striker

The young man replaced Giroud at the break, still very young and very raw although raw might be the wrong word. It is often used to describe youngsters but I think that Akpom is anything but raw, young and inexperienced of course but he knows what he is doing, knows how to find space in the box and is a natural finisher. Scores headers, side footers, rebounds the works. His first a tap in and his second was a well worked turn past his man and place into the bottom corner. At 17 he has more composure than Gervinho has at present. However he is still a long way off the first team as he has plenty of growth physically and mentally to do. We also know how quickly things move in football. At 26 he could be playing Champions League football for Arsenal or floating around League Two football, so many factors involved in a players career. Whether he ends up I bet he will continue to score goals at whatever level he ends up.

Bacary Sagna at centre back

It was interesting to see Arsene give Bacary a run out at centre back, with the injury to Vermaelen perhaps Arsene is weighing up the need to buy a new centre back. He played alongside both Koscielny and Mertesacker which is telling. I am not tactical enough to tell you if Sagna altered his game for each partner but in truth this isn’t really the best type of game to test a central defensive partnership as our back four were under very little pressure as the 7-1 score line suggests.

Ryo Miyachi struggles

I feel sorry for Ryo. Injuries have robbed him of his development and he doesn’t look much different to his first pre season with us, at least not in yesterday’s game. He is having trouble beating his man, often running into tackles and misplacing passes. Another loan spell is paramount and this time he needs to stay clear of injury and play as often as possible. Like many, he has the tools, just needs the platform to develop.

Gedion Zelalem the runner lover

The idea of today was to write about players who I missed in the first friendly but it is difficult to ignore Gedion Zelalem.

I hold my hands up and admit that I have over hyped young players in the past, even in my earlier days supporting Arsenal. I was waiting for the speedy Mark Flatts to get his chance in the early 90s. David Bentley’s left footed chip against Middlesbrough was supposed to be the start of a wonderful Arsenal career. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was supposed to have the strength and guile to dominate succeed at Arsenal. As I said in regards to Akpom, you just do not know how the career of a young player will go. I just try and say it as I see it at the time and I know I am not the only one to think that this kid has something special about him.

At 16 years of age he rightly keeps it all very simple, making short passes, backwards and sideways. I think we are the only nation to see keeping the ball moving as a criticism. Not particularly skilful and certainly not powerful but when he drifts into the final third with the ball at his feet, his obvious talent shines through. We saw it against Indonesia, he spotted a through ball that many viewers at home failed to see and he showed that this was not a fluke. He is the type of player who makes the viewer look for runners rather than the ball just the way Cesc and Bergkamp once did because you know he has the quality to find that pass. When writing those two names I feel that it is necessary to add the non comparison disclaimer. For once I think I can put the opposition to one side, regardless of who you are facing it takes an incredible amount of vision and the feel for the correct weight of pass to be able to pull it off. It is a skill that many first team players have not mastered and will probably never master. I love Tomas Rosicky to pieces and his threaded pass has never consistently matched the rest of his game. Jack Wilshere for all his talent has struggled with his final pass on many occasions. Away at Tottenham was a stand out game for me where his final ball let him down time and time again. Not to say he won’t gain in time.

How many times have you seen Theo Walcott dart inside his full back to have to check back as the pass was not made? Too many times I’d say. Theo would have a field day alongside an older, more mature Zelalem. For a possession based team like Arsenal, having a player who can unlock the bus with a split second pass is a great asset, even if it is an asset that we won’t be seeing much of just yet.

Not many 16 year olds play Premier league football and it is highly unlikely that Zelalem will do so unless he does a Jack Wilshere and gets 5 minutes somewhere in a comfortable victory but the signs are good today. I am hoping they are Wilshere, Fabregas signs rather than Bentley, Pennant signs.

Through ball gif (9.20MB)

Arsene Quotes

I was going to turn my attention to Arsene Wenger’s quotes which has sent Gooners into panic but time has run away from me and the sun is whispering sweet nothings in my ear. I will say this though. Arsene Wenger has said we are not close to signing anybody a number of times before shortly buying someone. I am not saying this is the case but in these negotiation phases, it would be folly to pay much attention to what is being said. Unless you want to send yourself into meltdown that is. The time to head into meltdown is when reported targets of substance all move to other clubs and no more quality is left. As things stand, Fellaini, Cesc, Suarez, Rooney, Higuain etc etc are still at their clubs. Plenty more dancing to do, I hope you have your comfy’s on.

Right before you depart, check out @Omomo14‘s article from this morning called Transfer Window and Arsenal’s Basic Need

’till tomorrow.