Just some quick thoughts from the Far East Tour:
4-1-4-1 – the preferred formation at present? Or is it 4-3-3? You decide.
Sebastien Squillaci – just isn’t good enough. When you are being told how to defend by Emmanuel Frimpong, a 19-year-old central midfielder in his first season as a first- team squad member, you must know your time is up. Note to Arsene Wenger – please buy a centre-back and quick.
Frimpong – can defend and break up play with the best of them; its just his passing that lets him down sometimes – a step up from Denilson already then.
Carlos Vela – all the talent in the world, chipper extraordinaire, just wish he’d find his role in the team. Do or die season ahead for the Mexican striker.
Andrey Arshavin – please look like you can be arsed and get involved for 90 minutes.
Kieran Gibbs & Armand Traore – maybe Clichy won’t be missed after all.
Samir Nasri – Wenger needs to get his contract signed or offload him, brilliance on the field in pre-season may lead to disruption down the track, if he leaves this transfer window.
Carl Jenkinson – who needs Emmmanuel Eboue.
Ryo Miyaichi – lets hope he gets his special work permit, because this kid is bloody good – he’s no Inamoto.
Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey – carrying on from Brand United last season – the future of Arsenal’s central midfield for many years to come.
Wojciech Szczesny – yes you can be number 1 for 15 years, it’s up to you.
We still need someone to wear the no. 9 shirt – an out and out goal scorer to assist RVP & Chamakh.
FC Köln here we come.
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I always find the pre-season games less than useful for the fans to see how the Team works. The qualities of individuals may be easier to spot and both Carl Jenkinson and Ryo Miyaichi seem to be very good signings.
I know many Arsenal fans don’t appreciate Eboue but I like him. There is never any issue with him even when being replaced by Sagna as first choice RB after a couple of good seasons for Arsenal. Eboue is an Arsenal player. I still would like to retain Eboue as he can do a job on either side LB, RB, RM, LM, RW, LW. He is the “perfect” utility player. However, from these games, it looks like CJ will be Sagna’s understudy. I hope we sign a new partner for Vermaelen, better than Koscielny/Djourou who currently are 2nd/3rd choice CB. Squillaci is not needed with Bartley and Miquel coming through. Gibbs/Traore as LB with Eboue/Vermaelen as back ups. Miyaichi and Gervinho on the wings. Vela is another of my favourite players – he can do some amazing stuff and always looks to enjoy himself (4-4-2)
Szczesny (Fabianski)
Sagna (Jenkinson), New CB (Djourou), Vermaelen (Koscielny), Gibbs (Traore)
Fabregas (Ramsey), Song (Frimpong), Wilshere (Diaby), Nasri (Miyaichi)
van Persie (Arshavin), Walcott (Gervinho)
Manone, Eboue, Miquel, Bartley, Rosicky, Chamakh, Vela
Lots of talent, do we have the winner? Vermaelen seems to be such a player, a new, experienced (24-27 years) CB need to be another one.