Player-by-player analysis for the Emirates Cup
THERE were a few stories of this Emirates Cup.
Perhaps the most far reaching is the all but confirmation that we are moving to a 4-3-3 formation. We saw it for 90 minutes in both games, to go on top of in the other friendlies. The good news, in my view, is that it does NOT seem to consist of Cesc Fabregas playing as a second striker.
We saw that at the end of last season and I didn’t like it one bit. Instead, the trio in the middle are far more fluid, with Cesc given licence to operate from deep, collecting the ball from Almunia at times and spraying passes around.
Jack Wilshere was another story. He played a game and a half and was outstanding for a game and a half. And there will be those who will contrast the 66 minutes RVP and Bendtner played against Athletico with the final third of that game and the majority of the Rangers game and conclude that the two aforementioned players slow the team down.
There may be a little truth in it, but consider too that it was Cesc and Wilshere as opposed to Denilson and Eboue offering the support on Sunday and the argument becomes less clear cut. What I think is beyond doubt is that while Cesc, Wilshere, Arshavin, Eduardo, Merida and Song played some beautiful stuff, we wre physically minute and the likes of RVP and Bendtner can offer crucial physical presence.
So, onto the player ratings and apologies in advance if any of my recollections are less than 100% accurate. It was Mannone (6) on Saturday and frankly he looked shaky when Rangers attacked late on, with one swerving shot almost embarrassing him in a way it might have been hard to recover from. Almunia (7) looked better against Rangers and pulled off one good save with his legs from close range.
Bacary Sagna (7.5) bombed forward from right-back against Athletico, even if his crossing was a bit hit and miss. Comrade Eboue (7), our only other right-back, looked better in that position on the Sunday than right-wing for 45 minutes on the Saturday. I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but actually I don’t know if I want him to leave.
Firstly, we lack any cover at right-back. And secondly, when he doesn’t roll around and dive and moan and play the clown and lose concentration, he’s actually a decent footballer.
William Gallas (7.5) looked solid and increasingly vital in his game and a half. Johan Djourou (7) was fine, even if at times in both games we looked a little shambolic. Silvestre (6) did little to change any already arrived at opinions.
Armand Traore (6.5) was fine in his two halfs but didn’t do enough in my view to push himself ahead of Gibbs. Gael Clichy (6.5) looked rusty but it was good to have him back.
Aaron Ramsey (7.5) dinked a beautiful ball across for Wilshere’s second against Rangers and generally looked interested. Alex Song 7.5 looked strong both in defence and midfield against Rangers and outshone the lacking in confidence Denilson (6), in keeping with the end of last season.
Cesc (7.5) linked beautifully at times with Arshavin, while Merida (7.5) was something of an unexpected hit for me, using the ball very well at times and not looking out of place. Meanwhile Tomas Rosicky (8) gets high marks for a very impressive return. Denied a very nice goal against Madrid, 63 minutes over the two games was a nice contribution and having him available as part of our middle three would be a boost.
Sanchez Watt (7.5) was only on for a little while but made Wilshere’s second with terrific chasing down of what appeared a lost cause. Wilshere (9) brought the Athletico game into life and showed against Rangers that as well as all the mazy runs and tricks, he can finish too. Hugely impressive. Andrei Arshavin (8) floated on a higher plain, netting twice against Athletico (once outrageously) and wowing and delighting against Rangers. One through ball for Eduardo was one of the most outrageous you will ever see.
Eduardo (8) took his goal beautifully and looked razor sharp, while Bendtner (7) was industrious if unspectacular. RVP (6) can sometimes take time to warm-up going into the season.
Vermailen, Diaby and Nasri were all injured and Walcott and Gibbs and Vela were rested.
2 August 2009 at 6:12 pm
Thanks for coming around and seeing that we need to keep Boo-Boo! And Wilshere is certainly making a case for first-team action. Where is Walcott?
2 August 2009 at 6:23 pm
Walcott rested I think along with Gibbs due to England commitments – same goes for Vela and Mexico
2 August 2009 at 6:27 pm
Bendtner and RVP give us a physical presence! You are kidding mate.
I am glad the Cesc position got sorted, he needs to have industry if he has no pace or physical presence.
I still think we need a forward, a DM and a CB, a bit like a sweeper. But its not easy to get and I would not like just anyone to come for the sake of it. So will understand if Wenger does not sign.
2 August 2009 at 6:31 pm
I agree with your analysis of Eboue, although didn’t notice the dives because I thought that they were legitimate free kicks from being so direct. give the guy a chance – he is massively improved!
Merida, for me, was the unexpected player of the tourney. He had intelligent link up play and runs in the final third. He deserves to play this year.
I am not so worried about the defense, especially with this formation. I think that Wenger has finally got it right there…4-4-2 exposes the defense while 4-5-1 leaves us with a massive gap between the striker and the midfield. 4-3-3 gives us alot of options and stetches the defense allowing us to get out wide or through the middle. Hope he keeps the formation!
2 August 2009 at 6:31 pm
wilshere, ramsey, merida, lansbury, walcott, vela, gibbs…..all probably in and around the first team this season. there aren’t many things more exciting than a bunch of talented kids coming through at the same time. would love a stodgy old pro around to guide them though. and think we need chamakh if he is going to go 4-3-3.
2 August 2009 at 6:33 pm
We are far too shor. Everyone’s under 5 feet 8. When Wenger moved to London, he brough monsters liek Petit, Viera and Henry to George Grahma huge back 5. Now he has brought shor arses. We won’t win because Stoke and Hull will bombard us – ’nuff said.
2 August 2009 at 6:54 pm
eboue will be playing right back position this season provided there are no injuries
2 August 2009 at 6:55 pm
vela shoud leave arsenal asap. wenger is planning to have in the bench, so he better find a permanent new team where he can develop to the player he is menat to be.
2 August 2009 at 6:58 pm
Hi Goodplaya,
It’s funny because I was thinking the exact same thing about Eboue. I was saying that Eboue at right back is actually a good thing at times for the team going forward at least. He is better than Sagna going forward in my opinion. Especially with his deep runs. When he plays on the right wing he isn’t effective at all, but from deep he has the ability to drive the ball forward well.
If we let him go we only have Gavin Hoyte left as a right back after Sagna, while we have Clichy, Gibbs + Traore at left back?
I was very happy with Arshavin, Eduardo + Wilshere thought. Going forward we are looking good, if Wenger plays the right team.
2 August 2009 at 7:02 pm
Withshere was different class, Arshavin superb, how did he score his second goal, Merida had a few too many stray passes for my liking, but he has the makings of a very good player, Ramsey did well, however at the centre back positions we look weak and this is I feel the fundamental area that the great man must find a gem at a price we can afford. Where was our new signing
A holding midfielder possibly, but Song and Diaby may be able to take on that role between them.
I do not see us relinquishing our top 4 spot
2 August 2009 at 7:08 pm
Brilliant tournament overall and can’t fault any of the players, as they all contributed to the cause. It feels like Ebue is the guy that will always be the scape goat and few people appreciate his directness and drawing out free kicks from the opposition around the area. We’ve already ‘lost’ 3 players and i really don’t see why we have to lose one more, especially since he provides some physical power which comes in handy in a ‘proper’ premiership match. Anyways an overall good feeling is back after today’s game and i’m really looking forward to the start of the season, new signings or not. Arsenal 4 Life!
2 August 2009 at 7:16 pm
david s,
Vela, Gibbs, and Walcott have all been given extra time to recover after close season competitions. I’d be surprised if all three were not involved against Valencia. Besides, where would Vela go? Not another PL side. Fulham on loan? Back to the Americas?
2 August 2009 at 7:18 pm
Hi Goodplaya,
Nice round up. To add to your well put conclusions I’d also say that there was a remarkable difference between depth and quality of attacking players to defensive ones. The defending against Rangers was at times less than impressive, what on earth Silvestre brings to the picture I don’t know. He’s 4th choice left back IMO and that’s his better position, far too slow to play at centre back and got caught a few times.
I was actually impressed by Traore, he offers a more than decent whipped cross, power and pace and a well timed crunching tackle. It’s a pity that one of Gibbs and Traore isn’t a right back really, that would be ideal and we could flog Eboue with no second thought. The common problem for both Eboue and Traore is that the team seems to be moving towards 4-3-3 and that leaves no wing roles for the pair.
Like you GP I thought Merida caught the eye, a lovely assist for Eduardo’s goal and he looked industrious throughout, closely in advanced positions applying pressure that won us possession back quickly and in the opposition half. Unlike Eboue his chances are definitely on the up with a 3 man central midfield.
You mentioned that Bendtner and Van Persie bring some height and physical presence but I do feel we need that in midfield and at the back. To conclude our business I would like to see:
Eboue sold on (Mainly because of the right wing role disappearing)
A centre back signed
Silvestre moved on
A top notch defensive midfielder added
2 August 2009 at 7:27 pm
Jack no comments!absolutely fantastic.gallas has proved to be vital to arsenal back,i thnk in the middle song is the solution,denilson wasnt so much good today.in tanzania we had very good time with goonerz wathng our best team.
2 August 2009 at 7:29 pm
Agree with David S about Vela. It would be good for us and for him if we sold him. We have too many small skillful attacking players. I would sell Walcott as well, before he is found out as being a runner, with no end product.
Anyway, who can name the first team that takes the pitch in our first Premiership game of the new season?
2 August 2009 at 7:41 pm
I disagree on traore, to me it looks like his year at pompey has done him the world of good. Looks a lot more focussed now. I think in terms of football intelligence gibbs is further along, although traore is getting better, but armand is definitely there physically, which is an area gibbs needs to improve on because it can be exploited. Both players are extremely talented technically, so it’s going to be a good competition between the two for the no.2 left back spot this year and further in the future – but even then I wouldnt rule out either of them switching to midfield in the longer-term if necessary because they really are very talented.
I think you were also a bit harsh on silvestre. He made some vital interceptions, that side to his game always seems to get missed, and overall he did a good job. Looked a bit shaky at the start I think.
Arshavin is a strange one. I dont want to be overly harsh and rain on the parade because there’s no doubt hes going to be vital this season, but its not his skill on the ball or vision that really do it for me. Hes good enough, no doubt, but that side of his game isnt amazing. He seems to have an ability to get on the end of things, and he keeps his head in front of goal. As I say, hes going to be vital, it just annoys me that people might be over-rating him.
Apart from that, agreed with the ratings. Merida doesnt surprise me at all. Hes as talented as jack but hes slower, and more of a play-maker, so I think he gets less noticed. Got an assist today though which is great. I expect him and wilshere to get a lot more opportunities this year.
Would echo what Begeegs said about eboue. Hes a good player, and Im glad it looks like hes staying now
2 August 2009 at 7:43 pm
We looked improved, but still lacking power, size. Same story in Arsenal midfield- our counter attacks and build up are way too slow and predictable to be effective and we give away ground too easily, improved over last season, not too worried about fourth place. Against top teams though a lot of the stuff we pulled we would not get away with.
2 August 2009 at 7:45 pm
who won the tournament i didnt see it
2 August 2009 at 7:48 pm
laspeyres and david s, mates you got it completely wrong about vela… he is absolutely fantastic- his finishing is top notch and also creates chances from nothing, also buys time on the ball… plus he can play on the left in the 3 man striking combination
very excited about this season, i genuinely feel that with a cdm, cb and striker(maybe) we would very strongly challange for the premiership
2 August 2009 at 7:52 pm
4-3-3? So what players will fill this formation against Everton in 2 weeks ?
2 August 2009 at 8:00 pm
Blazingooner, I agree with you on both points. I think Vela is good, but I just don’t know he is going to get a game with so many options for out attack based on Arshavin/Nasri/Eduardo/Fabregas/Van-P/Rosicky/Walcott. I suspect that first team will be drawn on about four out of this seven every week, and even with injuries (guaranteed), I can’t see him getting on the pitch for more than 20mins every three games or so. He is worth more than that, but won’t get more experience because we have so many similar players. Not a problem we have in defence or defensive midfield!
2 August 2009 at 8:07 pm
I forgot Bendtner…so that is 8 from which we will draw 4 or 5 a week to form an attack…I can’t even see him making the bench that often. Do you think I’m misreading how we will play?
2 August 2009 at 8:15 pm
Good point laspeyres, but if Velas good enough then he’ll prove himself. Also if we do go with the 4-3-3 then the midfield wil be Nasri/Fab/Rosicky/Arsh/Ramsey/Wilshire/Walcott/Song/Denilson and strikers would be Vela/RvP/Bendtner/Eduardo with the possibility of Walcott/Arshavin being used as strikers at times, so the thing is that we are very very well sorted in the depth for once in the attacking scene, so let the best rise to the top! No more ade-like complacency in our team this time around!!!
Agreed – one solid beast of a defender (maybe Servet) and a good CDM, then we’re on our way!
2 August 2009 at 8:15 pm
first 11…. almunia
sagna Gallas vermailen clichy
cesc song nasri/rosicky(depending who is fit and how fast nasri recovers)
eduardo van persie arshavin
wat u guys think???????
2 August 2009 at 8:30 pm
I miss toure..
2 August 2009 at 8:33 pm
What I don’t understand is why everybody is suddenly expecting the 4-3-3. It seems a massive departure from what we have played (oftern 4-5-1 last year) and looks to me as if it would leave us vulnerable down the winds (one good pass from defence/goalie and you have a player running at Clichy/Sagna?). I think he will have 4-4-2 again, with Cesc and one of the defensive midfielders (Denilson/Song/Diaby) in the middle, with two from Nasri/Rosicky/Walcott/Arshavin on the wings and 2 from RVP/Bendtner/Eduardo and sometimes Arshavin/Vela up front.
2 August 2009 at 8:53 pm
I disagree with your analysis of Denilson. He was one of our best players on Saturday, although admittedly he was quite poor in his half today. Song didn’t outshine him, Song just benefits from playing in more than one position and having a more defined role when he plays in midfield.
The game against Atletico was far more about keeping things tight and posession became the weapon we used to wear them down, Denilson did that very well.
I fear Denilson is destined to suffer from preconceived notions for the forseeable future as he isn’t flashy and can’t solve any criticisms by going on a mazy run or slamming into a tackle.
He’s a tidy player who does his job well.
2 August 2009 at 9:09 pm
Vela is a beast. Hes strong strong as well as ridiculously quick, skillful and an excellent finisher. If we sold him we would regret it massively. Hes the only young striker we have who I think can be, not just good, but a really top striker on the level of henry, van nistelroy or fernando torres
2 August 2009 at 9:27 pm
Davi, I don’t doubt the guy’s skills, I’m just not sure how we are going to fit him in the team. I am just struggling with how we give all of these guys a game: Arshavin/Nasri/Eduardo/Fabregas/Van-P/Rosicky/Walcott/Vela/Bendtner. It seems to me that we will aim to play Fabregas/Arshavin/RVP/Nasri whenever possible which leaves the other 5 competing for 1/2 slots while we play 1/2 defensive midfielders (from Denilson/Song/Diaby) and that is before we consider Wilshire and Ramsey.
2 August 2009 at 9:54 pm
laspeyres – oh right, fair enough. That is a concern. We will get injuries, but despite their potential its a bit risky to be relying too much on youngsters. I might have been responding to somthing earlier btw
2 August 2009 at 10:03 pm
I have been to the Emirate Cup and IMHO some of the notes reflect the TV impression rather than the overall picture.
Mannone 5.5 had a couple of good moment but also some rather dodgy moment. He should be nowhere near the first team. That is why Arsenal are sniffing around Krull from Newcastle. Some may think that he is not yet ready, I just do not rate him.
Eboue 7.5 must have been given a talk by Arsenal or his agent and chastesise that the only club after him is Fiorentina that he has already rejected, but he was excellent. Against Athletico during the first half he was the only player driving effectively forward. Everybody else was passing the ball he was running with it cuasing a lot of problem. There is a reason why he has been consistently Arsenal most fouled players since the departure of Reyes.
He played three roles during that game, right midfield, right-back and left midfield. A squad player who if he were to leave would be missed.
Sagna 6.5 solid defensively but does not deliver going forward. His cross are poor and his shooting radar is worse than Eboue.
Ramsey 4. He has a couple of good touch going forward, but his overall contribution was extremely poor. Somebody should tell to stop his attempt of copying Steven Gerrard and be superman. His tactical indicipline is putting the team in danger. He has a job and he should stick to it instead of leaving space behind. Kept hanging to the ball for too long and be caught in possession. The problem is that as a central defensive midfield player that led to the opposition straight in the midddle facing our centre-back. When he was not caught with the ball of then make hospital pass to a teammate. Remember the Blackburn back-pass that led to Almunia injury he did the same one to Mannone, one to Gallas, one to Djourou and one to Denilson.
Merida was very good and seldom lost the ball. It looks lik he bulked up a lot and that now he can withstand the physical aspect of the premiership.
In keeping with his interview, Arsene experimented with different systems: 4-2-3-1, 4-3-2-1, 4-4-2.
That could be good news for some of the youngters like Merida, Wilshere, Lansbury, but for others it is the end of their Arsenal career: Simpson.
2 August 2009 at 10:12 pm
The one i feel should have been shown the door is walcott. Hes had more chances with less success than anyone. The joke is hel be ahead of vela next season. Eboue should be playing ahead of him still imo. He works hard, gets free kicks, is a very good dribbler and against the smaller teams is quite effective going forward. Against the bigger teams he makes us more compact and stronger. Walcott gets to play because there is a very slight chance he’ll do something amazing and score a goal from nothing, otherwise hes fairly worthless as he doesnt defend. His dribbling and finishing arent That good that hes worth taking that sort of chance on.
2 August 2009 at 10:20 pm
Valentin – hard but fair i think there.
fair enough about ramsey i think you were spot on in truth, but he will make it. He does need a bit of guiding tactically but he definitely has the attributes to make it.
What did you think about traore
2 August 2009 at 10:21 pm
I thought Denilson was excellent on Saturday and the major reason Aguero and Forlan barely got a sniff of the ball. I lost count of the number of times he won the ball back and it is quite hard to impress when you are in that position. If the team is stable this year he will look better going forwards. He’s not really small either, 5′11” I think.
Eboue is actually pretty good when he gets the bit between his teeth and he runs at the opposition in a way that no-one else in the team does. If his concentration was better he would be an awesome DM. As it is he is good backup and is hard for tired opposition to handle. I’d be sorry to see him go but I’d understand if he wanted regular starts.
2 August 2009 at 10:25 pm
Davi, I totally agree on Walcott. I fear that he is really a runner and not a footballer – what’s worrying here is that he has admitted himself that he is not even running as well, since he got the shoulder injury. I think his end product is poor and he has had plenty of time to reveal what he can do. I once thought he would make a great striker, given his speed. However, there was one game late last year when he had 4-5 good shooting chances inside the 18 yard box (most of them closer to the 6 yard box) and he fluffed them all. He did not hit the target once. He has no poise on the ball at all when under pressure – contrast with a real footballer like Nasri, who invites players to come to him, remains really calm when crowded, and the plays the ball to others, once he has drawn defenders to himself. Walcott, is OK running fast, but that is worth nothing if you are not creating anything, as we saw with Pennant.
3 August 2009 at 5:26 am
“What I don’t understand is why everybody is suddenly expecting the 4-3-3.”
Because we have used it in most of the pre-season matches. This formation, so long as everyone is working hard, is very good defensively, since it allows every player to pressure the opposition and win the ball back. It also allows us to field the numerous forwards we have, whilst playing a solid midfield three (remember, a middle three will be able to beat a middle two of a 4-4-2 just by virtue of passing).
3 August 2009 at 9:09 am
[...] the highlights (part of my self-enforced off-season break) – but according to most papers and this very detailed player review by Goodplaya, we played quite [...]
3 August 2009 at 2:53 pm
Eboue continued with his antics yesterday，albeit in a ”mild“ form. flog him now before
his expected return from the ANC and loss of form.Tired of waiting for miracle transformation.
3 August 2009 at 3:00 pm
The centre of defence looks as fragile as ever。May struggle against the likes of Dogba and Anuselka ,is Vermaelen enough to plug the holes?
3 August 2009 at 7:52 pm
“remember, a middle three will be able to beat a middle two of a 4-4-2 just by virtue of passing”….well that’s that sorted. How did we not work it out earlier?
3 August 2009 at 7:53 pm
…and what about the little manner of the wings….
4 August 2009 at 5:00 pm
“….well that’s that sorted. How did we not work it out earlier?”
Sorry…what the fuck?
5 August 2009 at 7:00 pm
Haven’t looked on here for a few days. As usual a lot of sense spoken by Goodplaya & a mix of the good, the bad & the downright bonkers in the comments.
Never thought there’d be someone who’s not impressed by Arshavin’s ’skill on the ball or vision’. You’d have to imagine it’s someone very,very,very hard to please but yet….the same person is hugely impressed by Eboue of all people !!! The world has gone quite simply mad !!