Lukas Podolski looked a little different in terms of physique, I want to see him play again to see if it my eyes that are playing tricks or not. He looked quicker, more mobile and sharper. Too many times last season he looked too bulky and lacked dynamism. I will be keeping my eyes open for him and hope my observations are correct. His finish was quality, the ball moved in a flash and the keeper didn’t even get the chance to dive. I have assumed that Cazorla will start the season wide left and Lukas on the bench but maybe Arsene and Poldi have other ideas. Going back to Zelalem for a moment, the reserve team is quite interesting for the new season especially after seeing so many youngsters depart. Most of the young guys beat Sutton a few days earlier. New number 10 Dan Crowley

You know that feeling when you are heading home and you need the toilet, but the desire to go at first isn’t so great but the longer you leave it and the closer you get to home the more desperate you get, until you finally get there and the relief and the joy, the sheer joy. Well that is how I felt about watching Arsenal yesterday afternoon. I quite welcomed a break to football after our 1-0 victory at Newcastle (or was that 1-1?) although I cannot remember welcoming a break from going toilet, I’m getting confused now. The stress of the run in was pretty intense for myself and I would imagine a few other fellow Gooners but you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. I even stupidly welcomed a bit of transfer gossip seeing as the fruits of our labor was about to pay off. If I could go back in time back to the future style then I’d give myself a slap for even thinking that.

Transfer gossip is repulsive, it really is tiring unless you reach the end and the result is said player wearing the red and white of Arsenal. I could find a suitable analogy but like transfer rumours, they have become boring rather quickly. Anyway there is a happy ending or beginning of the end or whatever. The mighty Arsenal were back on the pitch and isn’t this why we like the game so much? Given how much transfer stories dominate, you wouldn’t think so would you?

A mixed squad began the Asia tour against the unfortunately named Indonesia Dream Team. A little like calling my pet budgie Rex but that might be unfair because well, they were playing against by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen.

The first half side had a nice blend of first team experience and reserve youth.

Fabianski
Jenkinson Mertesacker Miquel Gibbs
Arteta
Ramsey Chamberlain
Walcott Akpom Gnabry

It is a little early to make any true observations, you need a run of these games before you can do that, and also against better opposition but still, I like to keep an eye out for any changes. Whether that be individual development, position changes, set piece routines or whatever. You can often get a few hints before the season starts and hopefully we shall all be aware of these as the pre season progresses.

Aaron Ramsey had that little extra glow about him in the first half I thought, he had a confidence about him that wasn’t there at the start of the last pre season. To reiterate once more, the opposition were weak but his presence seemed different. It reminded me a little of Samir Nasri during the 2010/2011. You could see very early on that something had changed in Nasri, he had risen a level and that was evident as the real season kicked into gear. Ok well at least for six months until he decided that the big bucks elsewhere were too shiny to turn down. It is perhaps a little silly to say for certain that Ramsey looks different after one pre season game but looking at Ramsey’s upwards trajectory at the end of last season I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Rambo improve further still if given a chance. A chance that may not happen from the off if a big signing comes in so we will see.

It was quite difficult for the young players during that first half because we played at a pretty slow tempo and didn’t assert ourselves as we may have done. I am sure the heat had played it’s part, not only that but the dream team were not too keen on coming out. Gnabry had a mixed game, showing glimpses of his power but he was also a little sloppy at times. Chamberlain looked bright, he did so this time last year also. Our first goal was all down to him, he burst through the middle at electric pace, jinked his way past a bamboozled defender and set up Theo with his trademark cooly slotted finish. It is probably still too early for Chamberlain to be an automatic starter but when he is ready he will be different class.

After the break a number of changes were made, plenty of experience entered the fray, along with the youngest member of the party, creative midfielder Gedion Zelalem who is still only 16. Arsene Wenger does not bring along 16 year old kids unless he thinks they have a good chance of becoming special. I do not agree with saying player x is the new y, I mean calling your son x or y is just poor and I couldn’t agree with doing that but there is something about Zelalem that reminds me of Francesc Fabregas’ debut in the League cup all those years ago. Kept everything very simple, made the right choices, had an obvious vision around the pitch.

That pass he played to Eisfeld, you know the one.

THAT pass was quite sexy wasn’t it? Theo would love a bit of that wouldn’t he? I watched his debut for the under 21s against Liverpool at Anfield and you could see that he had quality. Still rough around the edges. Some early passes was thundered too hard into players feet, he must have been training too much with Dennis Bergkamp. But it is clear what the coaches think of him, firstly he was thrusted straight into the u21s at 16 and now has gone on pre season. While every other 16 year old remain in London.

With the big guns on we turned the screw and the dream team deflated. Akpom, Giroud (2), Podolski, Olsson and Eisfeld all struck.

Lukas Podolski looked a little different in terms of physique, I want to see him play again to see if it my eyes that are playing tricks or not. He looked quicker, more mobile and sharper. Too many times last season he looked too bulky and lacked dynamism. I will be keeping my eyes open for him and hope my observations are correct. His finish was quality, the ball moved in a flash and the keeper didn’t even get the chance to dive. I have assumed that Cazorla will start the season wide left and Lukas on the bench but maybe Arsene and Poldi have other ideas.

Going back to Zelalem for a moment, the reserve team is quite interesting for the new season especially after seeing so many youngsters depart. Most of the young guys beat Sutton a few days earlier. New number 10 Dan Crowley was the star of the show by all accounts. A similar player to Zelalem perhaps, both like to operate centrally in the final third so it will be interesting to see how they are both accommodated.

Yesterday may have been a walk in the park and we still missed faces such as Cazorla (I love him), Szczesny, Monreal, Vermaelen and Wilshere who will be ready for our next friendly but I don’t really care, it has been a long wait and I am most grateful to have had a little Arsenal fix.