A guest post from @foreverheady
Meaningless methadone it may have been and for the manager and team no doubt a low stakes game, where getting fit and building up gently for the rigours to come was the main priority. And yet Arsene would have known that it was also a game that the team was expected to win, and win well – and that the right result would do much to build momentum and confidence. It was a useful, risk free game for the critics too: a win would be treated as all that should have been expected and that counted for nothing, while a stumbling draw or embarrassing defeat sure signs that the team was lacking the key personel so obstinately ignored by the out of touch manager.
But as things turned out, something rather wonderful emerged from a game which certainly exceeded my expectations – and given that this was the third time in a row that this has happened it is perhaps time to start taking it seriously. In the final game of the 14/15 League season Arsenal needed a point to secure third place in the table, their charge towards second spot having been derailed by two disappointing home results (with no goals scored each time) and a lacklustre point at Old Trafford. West Brom at home was a nice way to finish the campaign, but there were plenty saying that if we couldn’t break down the Swansea and Sunderland defences we would struggle to do so against a Pulis team. To add to the interest the following week’s Cup Final ensured that players would be anxious to make a last claim on a starting spot, while also remaining injury free. Arsene rested Giroud and started with Walcott up front and in an astonishing display of free flowing football Arsenal scored four goals, with Theo bagging three. It was breath-taking and the WBA defence was shredded. Much the same happened at Wembley: once again Walcott started centrally; once again the team scored four with Walcott the first scorer.
Fast forward seven weeks or so to the game yesterday, and Walcott was again a central attacker, although this time paired with Giroud in what looked suspiciously like a 442. I have to say it didn’t come as a total surprise to see Theo open the scoring, but what was slightly unexpected was the fluency and sharpness of the team, who seemed to pick things up exactly as they had left them at Wembley. At times the Everton players looked compleley bemused by the speed and trickery of their opposition, and if you haven’t seen the game I urge you to find a recording of it somewhere. Cazorla, Ozil, Ramsey and Wilshere were unplayable, the stretching runs of Walcott almost impossible to predict. This was football of the highest order, football that no English club has produced for some time – and as I say, it was the third time in three games that it has happened. Yes, it was only a pre-season friendly (although before the game I was told Everton would provide a stern test). Yes, Aston Villa were poor (although before the Final I was told that they would be awkward opponents). Yes, the Baggies played as if they were already on the beach (although before the game I was told they would be resolute and well-organised). And yes, harder games lie ahead and we won’t always have it our own way (thanks for pointing that out because I would never have thought it, wet behind the ears that I am).
But given the evidence of yesterday, you would be foolish to think anything else than this side is transforming into something rather special who play football in a most unusual and next-level way. Any new signings will have to fit into this new evolving pattern – and, of course, help it evolve still further. These are exciting times to follow The Arsenal – and yes, it is only pre-season, but if you can’t be optimistic and excited in July, then you really have no business being a fan at all.
Positively Arsenal 
See. I said this should have been the match review.
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Good post. I think we shouldn’t lose sight of why these 3 fluid victories have come about, in my view, because of almost zero injuries. When in recent times have we actually seen a fit Walcott, Wilshere, Ramsey, Giroud, Ozil, Ox, Cazorla all on the pitch together ? We dreamed about it. We wondered what the effect would be if it happened. And lo and behold, what do we get ? An amazingly cohesive attacking unit capable of ripping teams apart. All of the protaganists of Wengerball have predicted this for years, that if the blight of injuries was sorted out, we would see this, but we are consistently told that it is about “squad depth”. I think the challenge now is whether we can maintain this type of play over the whole season when we do get 3 or 4 injuries. But it looks good. We can be confident going into the new season. I cannot remember a pre season where we have had 27 fit players and played a premiership team so early in July and looked so fit.
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I did not see the game and am anxious to get home and get my desktop humming. But given this talk of how fit the squad appeared, the non-conformist, sceptical side of my brain is hoping we don’t peak too early.
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Firstly, thanks Stew for a totally relevant piece that reflects the way I feel about the youts, etc.
Due to so called commitments, I didn’t see the game until about 4am, and I was sitting with a Chelsea supporter whilst watching. He’s actually a very good friend and not a person I consider a “normal” GazFan. By no means.
I’ll need to watch the whole match again so I can suck up every last detail of who did what and how they did it, cos that’s how I roll. Apparently.
I wasn’t happy about the PC speculation, but Arsenal chose him, and I’m happy he’s with us and happy with the way he played and the way he talks. Trouble is, I still want to keep WS & Ospy. I want it all.
Superb piece, FH. Thanks.
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Shotta, what if this is just the start of the curve?
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Steww you set um up and let Tim fire them home great work from the both of you top quality. We obviously didnt want the season to end in May and the display yesterday proves the squad is even more irresestable this season.
chelski offering record amounts for a defender shows two things 1, they are worried about the racist in chief this year and 2, it once again proves we can never keep up with financially whatever the aaa might tell themselves. Maureen once again showing his lack of class over the approach for the young cb.
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I think you are right. The departure of Podolski and possibly Campbell soon seems to have introduced an edge to things that has motivated the squad. From their various comments etc it seems that they now genuinely believe that they are at a top and ambitious club. Players seem to thrive of on having their place scrutinised.
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for those who haven’t seen it the highlights are up http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150718/highlights-everton-v-arsenal although i’d advise you watch the whole game
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George @ 12:20 pm – Yes it could be the start of an upward curve but it is not the 1st we have had a fast start. Somebody has to be a contrarian.
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Oh no they dont
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Intriguing the role Theo will play this season assuming he stays fit and Team Walcott get their act together. Could it be the time when finally all those original talents finally come together with the work that Theo has done to improve his technique and emerge from the featherweight division ?
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We now have 2, in some positions 3 high quality players for each starting place. No player is guaranteed first team football, and every starting player knows there are game hungry world class players waiting to get into
The team if they drop in effort.
Maybe Arsene is getting tougher, certainly releasing Diaby brought tears to My eyes.
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If Liverpool sign Benteke, that’s one escape route for Theo blocked.
If his agents are seriously thinking of offering him to either of the manc clubs, I will hunt them down and kill them.
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Theo won’t leave. He patted the badge on his shirt after scoring in a pre season friendly. What more proof could anyone possibly need?
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That will do for me then Stew.
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Great stuff, thanks.
The football was a welcome distraction from the cricket!
Comments from the gaffer on players who’ve had long term niggles looking after themselves during the off season are worth considering, alongside JW’s recent comments on the intense levels of conditioning, the constitution required to perform at the top, that it takes even a good player several games to find their best rhythms.
So JW TW and AOC all have been working hard. They’ve seen the efforts other players have put into their rehab, and others who haven’t (not sure NB was training that hard when he was without a club, that’s why he missed out and didn’t get as many games when the opportunity came his way. He wasn’t fully fit, picked up a niggle after that early hull goal and then by the time he was ready a younger player had been given the chance – memory could be wrong but that’s how I recall what happened with Bendy).
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The featherweight division?
Wally left behind the likes of Lennon Downing and Johnston a long long , long, time ago.
I remember when the experts thought Lennon was the better player. Those were the days! When Walcott was heckled before he scored in the first 5pur2 demolition. What an important goal that was.
He’d better re-sign! (He will).
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don’t know if there is anything in it, but loads of reports today that Flamini to Galatasary is happening, and will be done by Tuesday.
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afcstuff @afcstuff 4m4 minutes ago
Tomorrow, Alexis will carry out his annual charity event in his home city of Tocopilla
Every year, Alexis returns and travels the streets of Tocopilla giving gifts to support the children of his city.
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FootyHumour @FootyHumour 5h5 hours ago
Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph spotted in Manchester
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Stew, your well-crafted epistle, was like a rainbow during the dusting down of a cricket team at Lords!
A pity, there is no gold at the end of a rainbow.
I would suggest that Everton 1 Arsenal 3, was a mere limbering-up exercise? The Community Shield will be the cantering-up to the curve?
As for Team Walcott, it is a question of who and how to pay a salary to Walcott senior? The last time. I checked the father was on a retainer, paid indirectly by the Arsenal.
I caught sight of Passenal, chasing a mirage!
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Two first-class posts, thanks Steww and Tim, outstanding efforts, both equally good value for the three points.
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they are our Mezut and Santi
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Good stuff.
Closer ever closer draws the start of the season. Can almost hear it coming towards us at a rate of knots, now. Marvellous.
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walcott will stay. he wants to stay, wenger wants him to stay and i, yes I WANT HIM TO STAY.
theproblem with walcott at arsenal is the fact that for far too long he has been underrated and undervalued by fans. maybe because he doesnt play the kind of football they fantasized about when he was brought from southampton and feried to the world cup at 16. but one thing that theo garrantees is goal and baskets of it. i dont think i have seen a natural goal scorer as him here at arsenal since i started following this club. that includes henry. the runs he makes to get at the end of every pass is second to none. and with the many creative players we have here, walcott is a dream striker for them. i sure know that messi will even love himto make such runs to get the many he gives for free at both barca and argentina.
so to begin to get so many negative comments from fans (not here), like the one i read on arsbollocks this morning baffles me. if theo can stay fit andplay the same number of games as any of our strikers, i’m sure he will outscore them. that doesnt mean he is better than them though.
he is the longest serving player at the club and this should aern him respect and prove his loyalty to the club. but when he begins to negotiate some contract that some almost useless english players get the double elsewhere,i think the decision and judgement should be left to wenger to make. afterall players like rvp and cesc who some fans would defend with their lives as loyal left the club after the first seroius bids for them,even after they were made captains and paid record wages here.
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theo has scored 58 goals in his last 166 games, 117 starts + 49 sub, which is a great strike rate, as he played nearly all those games as a wide player, I don’t have his exact assists stats for the same period, but I think its around the 50 mark, so for me he is worth every penny of the reported £120K he wants. Walcott has been a target for the brain dead AAA ever since that idiot Waddle made the “he hasn’t got a football brain” comment. As I said before the AAA don’t have an original thought between them, they just spout whatever the latest soundbite is.
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thanks edu, i can only remember just 3 times that he was staredasa central striker. he isabout to negotiate his last big contract. as the next time he hopefully will be almost 30. so 120k is about theleast we can get for strikers of his quality anywhere. dont forget the transfer fee we have to pay. plus he is a decent player who hardly make any troubles.
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how much is starling wage now? he is just 20 and doesnt even know where the goal post is.
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Theo has about 76 assist in his time. There have been many pretenders to Theo’s crown over the years (even some from the spuds) and Stirling the child bearer is just the latest. Only Theo’s injuries have stopped the development into a truly world class player however he is now not far away from that now. He is intelligent and has, like Arsene, showed patience with contracts to maximise the result without creating ill feeling. His signature is more important than new signings
right now.
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I agree with A-or B
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At the moment Arsenal have 25 players over 21 still with us, so we can expect outgoings if we are to sign more. Now that 25 does include Joel Campbell and Wellington Silva,(both are expected to leave, possibly on loan, and of course 4 goalkeepers. We also already have two over 21’s out on loan, Sanogo and Jenkinson
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Lucas Biglia of Lazio is being linked again with a move to Arsenal, reports suggest he would replace Flamini in the squad
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biglia? so are we not buying cavalho anymore? what about the benders or lee?
well… i’m looking forward to the start of a very promising season already. we played everton without a recognised DM and we didnt look like conceding till we began to relax a little bit. that to me was a pointer to what wenger intends to do this new season. there will be games we may not need coq at all and there will be games when arteta will do while we will still see more of the youngsters in some matches.
arsenal fans just wont be satisfied till we spend 20m+ on a DM. before flamini, it was that song was playing as if he was a creative midfielder. when he left it was that we needed to replace song. by the time flamini was brought in for free they were disappointed we didnt spend big for him. so all through last summer, it was we needed a new DM. then we got coq back from loan, they expected him to fail but they were proved wrong. his stats and results showed he was better that most DMs in the league. but he cost nothing,so they were still not satisfied. they say he is not yet proven, he is 24 and brought up in england, he is played in france and germany. but they want wenger to get a certain cavalho who is 21 and only ever played in portugal. why? because he will cost us 30m.
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we’ve won back to back facup trophy and last season’s community shield. but all they kept saying is if we dont strenghten, we wont win the league title. but city will strenghten, united will, chelsea as well. and thereis only one title to be won. so what makes it certain that we’ll win if we strenghten? what if we spend and the player gets injured for the better part of the season or even flop like falcao and torres? i’m not against strenghtening the squad but not with this talk of winning the title. in any case, this squad if injury free like any others in the big four, are more than capable of winning.and i’m also sure that if wenger sees anyone who can make us better, he will do it. not just because the player will hand us the league title.
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He has a name far too like Biggus Dickus
I can’t see it working
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Our players stay fit we are good to go.. let the doubters watch and learn and admire!
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Hey, that is Fat Sam’s real name!
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Speaking of which, whatever happened to Ravel Morrison?
Frozen out for not talking to Biggus’ special agent pals or has he lost his way or anything else, anyone know?
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Will Maitland-Niles have the better season then Morrison (yup, different types of players possibly, but they’re still midfielders)
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ravel morrison was having a very good preseason with lazio but reports say he suffered a bad injury at the weekend
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Thanks!
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moureen accuse porto of breaking all rule. can you believe that?
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whats that about layksite
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arsenal should put in a massive bid for John Stones, just to piss jose off
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Cech “I’ve found the team spirit quite extraordinary”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11751575/Petr-Cech-believes-Arsenal-only-little-details-away-from-catching-Chelsea.html
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I thought Biggus Dickus too!
I liked what scousers say on this thread, but remain indifferent to them generally:
http://forums.liverpoolfc.com/threads/375497-Arsenal-Wenger
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edu,
http://m.goal.com/x/en/news/13746772
this is the same guy who has reportedly had a £20m bid rejected for a rookie defender, and heis reportedly ready to return with £26m. he needs a slap on the face by someone soon.
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little datails and injuries.
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thank for the link rantetta.
hope the guys from legroan and many others AAA and WOB’s blogs see that. i will even add aclf
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i have nothing to say but I thought id get the 50th comment out the way,
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