Western Sydney Wanderers vs Arsenal |15.7.17 |11.00 BST

[Mrs Bergkamp]

I'm glad Özil was played with the second string. He surely has to work harder mentally to find players he barely knows. This will hopefully sharpen him up and make linking easier with Laca. It's a pity Cohen-Brammall didn't get on but we are strong on the left which is great. I'm pretty pleased with pre season so far.

 

[Erlis]

Nacho and Özil stars of the match.

I would add Iwobi too. He appears to be in great form. Hope he retains it throughout the season.

One more thing, I never saw Giroud having a better game than he had today.

 

[Rimaal]

I'm glad Özil was played with the second string. He surely has to work harder mentally to find players he barely knows. This will hopefully sharpen him up and make linking easier with Laca. It's a pity Cohen-Brammall didn't get on but we are strong on the left which is great. I'm pretty pleased with pre season so far.

How when he's not playing with him?

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

People going a bit ott in the negativity about pre-season game.

 

[UpTheGunnerz]

I'm glad Özil was played with the second string. He surely has to work harder mentally to find players he barely knows. This will hopefully sharpen him up and make linking easier with Laca. It's a pity Cohen-Brammall didn't get on but we are strong on the left which is great. I'm pretty pleased with pre season so far.

Excellent point.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

How when he's not playing with him?

Özil playing with relatively unknown youth players means he will have to be sharper mentally than he normally is. That can only help WHEN he eventually plays with Laca.

 

[Linson]

Damit completely forgot and missed the entire thing...

Player ratings please!!!!

 

[MutableEarth]

Watched at work. Game was annoying me quite a bit. Giroud starting with Lacazette behind him was annoying so at least he scored. He didn't look good otherwise. Lacazette was OK but I want to see him upfront, not playing 2nd striker to the guy we are trying to replace in the starting lineup.

More positively, Nketiah looked good in his cameo but he's a striker playing games wing back. Willock was the best youngster today. Looks great at CM. Nelson not quite as effective today but he's not a wing back either.

Will watch the game again at home later.

 

[Rimaal]

Özil playing with relatively unknown youth players means he will have to be sharper mentally than he normally is. That can only help WHEN he eventually plays with Laca.

Not as much as it would help him actually playing with Laca.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

Not as much as it would help him actually playing with Laca.

Obviously not. We know what Özil can do and we should see both him and Laca vs Chelsea next week.FYI, when Bergkamp played with a relative unknown or junior player,he told them to play their natural game and let him do the work of finding them. Özil has this job now. He was on point today.

 

[Ashybashy86]

Theo's hair is worse than his touch

Not really. His hair is slick. His touch most definitely is not.

 

[Sniper Mik]

What happened to Zelalem btw?

 

[Rimaal]

Obviously not. We know what Özil can do and we should see both him and Laca vs Chelsea next week.FYI, when Bergkamp played with a relative unknown or junior player,he told them to play their natural game and let him do the work of finding them. Özil has this job now. He was on point today.

Yes, Özil was on point, but that doesn;t mean he doesn't need to familiarise himself with a new player before the serious games start. He's not all knowing.

At any rate, can't wait for next week, that's when we'll see what we've got.

 

[Rimaal]

What happened to Zelalem btw?

He was massively over-rated by AM fans.

 

[Preacher]

What happened to Zelalem btw?

Injured. 6-9 months out.

 

[Sniper Mik]

Injured. 6-9 months out.

Oh. Must have missed it somehow.

 

[Rimaal]

We can all breath.

 

[squizo]

Damit completely forgot and missed the entire thing...

Player ratings please!!!!

Ospina 7/10
Martinez 5/10
Kos 8/10
Elneny 8/10
Monreal 7,5/10
Ramsey 7/10
Xhaka 7/10
Ox 6/10
Iwobi 8/10
Maitland-Niles 7,5/10
Lacazette 7,5/10
Giroud 7/10
Welbeck 5/10
Walcott 4/10
Özil 8,5/10
Mertesacker 8/10
Bielik 8/10
Coquelin 7,5/10
Kolasinac 7/10
Willock 8,5/10
Nketiah 8/10
Nelson 7/10

 

[Sniper Mik]

He was massively over-rated by AM fans.

Haven't really followed up on his progress. But when I saw him play in preseason games he seemed like he didn't have the physical attributes like the likes of Nelson or Willock have now. He had great vision though.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

Yes, Özil was on point, but that doesn;t mean he doesn't need to familiarise himself with a new player before the serious games start. He's not all knowing.

At any rate, can't wait for next week, that's when we'll see what we've got.

We have plenty of games including the Charity Shield. Lots of time to train and watch dvd's of team mates too. I kind of trust Özil tbh. If he wants to fully conquer his doubters, this quiet efficiency and taking charge as he did today is a good start. Roll on next week. The squad depth, apart from CM is good when you look at the players yet to return.