Arsenal Pre-Season 2024

[Badger_Revenge]

Havertz in midfield didn't have a bad game, but was not that dynamic and the same issues with buildup resulted. Jesus, Nelson, and Zinchenko were all disappointing in the first half and that added to the problems. Gabriel and Kiwior were not always on the same page.

Zinny was a much better influence when he moved into midfield in the second half but still made some mistakes in bad areas trying to dribble through people. He looks slower. Nketiah was not an improvement on Jesus when he came on. He's getting into good positions but not doing anything with them. Viera was trying to take on players in the second, and really didn't get much purchase, although his movement was great and got him into some excellent crossing positions.

I thought Martinelli was good, as was Trossard. MLS looked great as did Nwaneri. It looked like some heavy legs out there, especially at the end. Didn't surprise me that a bunch of energetic young kids coming on proved a challenge the last 15 minutes. Timber not included in the squad for some reason. Felt like a test for Zinchenko.

 

[SA Gunner]

This was the typical mid block we struggle so bad against ( Fulham, Porto, Bayern ) Even with all the important players missing its conserning Arteta still hasn't found a way. We created almost no chances.
Other than than the game showed what we already know. Zinchenko should be a 5th choice LB. Nketiah,reiss , vieira not good enough to play for Arsenal. Partey is washed.

Didn’t get a chance to see the game, but this gives me a good indication of what happened tonight, thanks.

It comes back to that needed X factor between the lines, being able to combine quickly to move the ball forward through blocks, or drag play one side creating space on the other. I assume that there wasn’t enough of this happening over the 90.

This to the obvious in game adaptations we need to continue working on, as we saw against United.

I’m still hopeful that we address this by adding to midfield and upfront after Merino.

 

[Artisan]

Didn’t get a chance to see the game, but this gives me a good indication of what happened tonight, thanks.

It comes back to that needed X factor between the lines, being able to combine quickly to move the ball forward through blocks, or drag play one side creating space on the other. I assume that there wasn’t enough of this happening over the 90.

I’m still hopeful that we address this by adding to midfield and upfront after Merino.

Doubt we are adding any starters after Merino. No player with X-factor is going to come to play second fiddle to the space invader or Saka.

 

[Rasmi]

This was the typical mid block we struggle so bad against ( Fulham, Porto, Bayern ) Even with all the important players missing its conserning Arteta still hasn't found a way. We created almost no chances.
Other than than the game showed what we already know. Zinchenko should be a 5th choice LB. Nketiah,reiss , vieira not good enough to play for Arsenal. Partey is washed.

Yeah the result don’t really matter. But this highlighted the one big weakness with artery system. If good teams defend deep we really struggle.

I really think we will waste a whole season by counting on Jesus. This team really lacks presence in the box. We had so much of the ball second half and both our be 1 & 2 strikers were on the pitch and couldn’t do anything against 4 backup Liverpool defenders

Just move jesus to the right and bring osimhen

 

[Xln]

Some posters here calling our own players names over a friendly

 

[SA Gunner]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1818824386817700347

Saw the goals now.

Liverpool’s first is exploiting our high line and targeting those 1v1 situations at the back with direct balls. It has less success against Gabriel and Saliba, but we can’t rely on the others to give us the same security at the moment id say.

Can’t say much about their second goal, we seem disorganized in our defensive shape there, with a moment of magic. I’d need to see more of that.

From these clips Liverpool also look more patient with their possession and attack. Should be interesting to see them get on.

 

[MartiSaka]

Loss to Liverpool in a friendly, conceding two goals. Season is over IMO.

 

[SA Gunner]

Yeah the result don’t really matter. But this highlighted the one big weakness with artery system. If good teams defend deep we really struggle.

I really think we will waste a whole season by counting on Jesus. This team really lacks presence in the box. We had so much of the ball second half and both our be 1 & 2 strikers were on the pitch and couldn’t do anything against 4 backup Liverpool defenders

Just move jesus to the right and bring osimhen

I’ve seen others talk about Osimhen and how he brings chaos into the box. Something different to our attacking routines and movements to pull players out of their defensive shape. Something beyond our structured approach to attacking play.

It would give us a different dimension, particularly later on in games when players will do anything to preserve the advantage, and not think as clearly.

 

[MikeVinna]

Havertz gonna start the season in midfield isn’t he? We gonna waste another 3 months on that experiment?

 

[berric]

He has Nwaneri, Vieira, Salah and MLS on the bench and still plays Havertz in midfield and Ødegaard for 100 mins in pre-season?

Happy I slept through this one.

 

[Mitch]

Please no Havertz at midfield again.

Please no Zinny at LB again.

Please no Shartey at Arsenal.

 

[OnlyOneTrophy]

Why no Timber or Calafiori?

 

[Heavy Duty Rom]

Liverpools two goals were class. Slot ball looks fun.

 

[blrgooner]

Don`t understand the complaints about playing Ødegaard and Havertz etc. The whole point behind pre season is to ensure that players get some match fitness. Just because we get to see some youngsters in pre season ( Which is mainly due to the fact that senior players are not available) doesnt mean that the point of pre season is to see younsgters. 32 year old Salah played for 72min FGS.
Also, just looking at the highlights, the time people in the liverpool midfield have to pick passes which led to the attacking moves is crazy. They also seemed to have central overloads every time they attacked with our midfield being slow in getting back. This may of course be because of match fitness though I think if TP5 plays in the midfield without Rice, We will see more of this regularly IMO. This is what makes me most nervous going into the season. Hope Merino helps here.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Whining about pre season friendly. Guess many are going in their g-string to work today.

 

[Goonger]

Don`t understand the complaints about playing Ødegaard and Havertz etc. The whole point behind pre season is to ensure that players get some match fitness. Just because we get to see some youngsters in pre season ( Which is mainly due to the fact that senior players are not available) doesnt mean that the point of pre season is to see younsgters. 32 year old Salah played for 72min FGS.
Also, just looking at the highlights, the time people in the liverpool midfield have to pick passes which led to the attacking moves is crazy. They also seemed to have central overloads every time they attacked with our midfield being slow in getting back. This may of course be because of match fitness though I think if TP5 plays in the midfield without Rice, We will see more of this regularly IMO. This is what makes me most nervous going into the season. Hope Merino helps here.

I was just about to post the same thing. We have 2 games now to go before the League kicks off, we have a difficult start and we have a number of players who are late coming back.

We need guys like guys like Gabriel, Ødegaard, Havertz, Jesus to be as sharp as possible as they might have to bear the burden for the first couple of games. We need them to be ready to go and ready to play 90 mins if needed when the season starts.

Was a good idea not to rush Timber back as we are still trying to ease him back and we know what these pitches can do if overexposed.

Overall a good tour. Decent game time for most of the kids, no injuries it looks like. We learned that it looks like Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly in particular look ready to add to the squad, and unfortunately it confirmed that we need better than the likes of Nketiah and Nelson (certainly from the right, thought he looked decent on the left) as forward options.

 

[Iwobeast]

Havertz gonna start the season in midfield isn’t he? We gonna waste another 3 months on that experiment?

No he's not. Merino is going to start there, but Havertz can do a job in midfield if needed.

 

[DanDare]

Love how everyone is a sports science expert now and knows how much playing time the players should be having

 

[Tir Na Nog]

So many players in that 11 who should've ideally been shown the door.

 

[2Smokeyy]

Who even cares about a pre season game? Partey is cooked and we need someone to take the burden off Ode + a wide man/attacker.

The game hasn’t shown us anything we didn’t already know.