Feels like Nketiah has progressed into a whole new level this pre-season. Looks stronger, faster, more composed. It's really good to see.

We also really need 3-4 new defenders if we are being honest.

So that's the US tour wrapped up with three wins and a draw. I'd say the kids put on a better showing than the first team players, except for Auba and Laca, who were good in most games. Hard to say what Emery is thinking about the formation this season, but it seems 4231 might be on the way back.

It's the Emirates Cup vs Lyon next, then Angers in France and Barcelona in the Gamper Trophy. I imagine we'll see the squad be trimmed down, especially as the international players return. I think Guendouzi and Torreira will be back first. Elneny and Iwobi might not get a pre-season at all.

If we're lucky, we might see Ceballos play on Sunday.

Why is Elneny still here?

Maybe he didn't have elnenywhere else to go?

ffs

Isnt there a meeting happening today with the HOF and managing director?

Also, Jay.... how has Nelson being doing during the pre season, he has been relatively quiet after all the hype of him coming back from loan?

Also, how good does Willock look? Who could you compare him to?

I really really want to see our team come from within, it's probably the one last hope I have

There was a Q&A with Raul, Vinai and Edu last night:

https://arseblog.news/2019/07/arsenal-supporters-club-q-a-with-raul-sanllehi-vinai-venkatesham-and-edu/

As for the kids, Nelson has indeed been quiet so far. Maybe it's because he's playing on the right in a role that requires a lot of link-up with the right back, and that right back has been Jenkinson most of the time. Otherwise, he hasn't looked as motivated to get a first team spot as others have. There were reports about Emery having some doubts about him, so we'll see how this plays out.

Willock's development has been remarkable. He looked ordinary when he first broke through, but now he looks like a dynamic no. 8 with an eye for goal. I guess the easy comparison, role wise, would be to Ramsey, but I think he's got a touch of Dele Alli to him, as well. He and Nketiah look the most ready for more first team football.

Jay29 wrote:There was a Q&A with Raul, Vinai and Edu last night:

https://arseblog.news/2019/07/arsenal-supporters-club-q-a-with-raul-sanllehi-vinai-venkatesham-and-edu/

I could have written that interview before they even spoke. Nothing new, nothing interesting, nothing to lift the spirits. And if our budget isnt so inferior, how the fuck are we fighting with Celtic over 25 mil for Kieran? Same bs, different day.

Emirates Cup today boys

Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Monreal, Guendouzi, XHAKA, Mkhitaryan, Willock, Aubameyang, Lacazette

RealGunner wrote:Emirates Cup today boys

Tried for the better part of 10 minutes to find out the result or score of the Bayern vs Arsenal women game that just happened there and could not find out about it

starting to get the feeling that maybe, maybe, the internet might be male-dominated

edit: Bayern women twitter the only place to find out that we won 1-0

Hapless_Hans wrote:

RealGunner wrote:Emirates Cup today boys

Tried for the better part of 10 minutes to find out the result or score of the Bayern vs Arsenal women game that just happened there and could not find out about it

starting to get the feeling that maybe, maybe, the internet might be male-dominated

edit: Bayern women twitter the only place to find out that we won 1-0

It's been talked about in Arsenal twitter. Read the timeline https://twitter.com/Stillberto and https://twitter.com/ArsenalWFC

Yeah I'm too old to realize to think of looking on Twitter first

still google stuff beforehand

1-0 at HT thanks to an Auba goal.

- The build-up has been good. Sokratis and Chambers have picked out good passes to the midfielders, and XHAKA has been assured. Guendouzi has been caught a couple of times in possession, and there have been other bad giveaways from square passes, but it's looked okay overall.

- Mkhitaryan has been very good. He's popping up in good spaces and frequently linking up with Monreal/Maitland-Niles depending on which side he's on. This is the Mkhi I hope to see more of.

- Willock has been our most dangerous player. His movement down the sides of centre backs is good, and he's got presence in the box. His feet are quick enough to create angles for himself, too. I can definitely see him being used a lot this season in Ramsey's absence.

- Nelson: very exciting to watch when dribbling, but terrible end product so far. Might be a bit tense given he's been asked to prove something.

- Laca was subbed off early after picking a up knock. Likely just a precaution.

Willock looks so good. Like Nketiah he has come along well since last year. I remember saying how we should be starting him instead of ElNeny last season. The way he is making runs and demanding the ball. Very promising.

for some reason the commentator on the stream I've been running calls Willock "Willotch". Anything to that?

Also, they purport themselves as if Reiss Nelson had this monster of a breakout season on loan at Hoffenheim when really after a couple of eyecatching sub appearances with goals he fell off a cliff and was left out of the squad for a good part of the season by Nagelsmann.

And Nagelsmann knows.

Not liking Nketiah

Mustafi hurt himself while tackling

Every Arsenal fan hoping that it's serious

Hapless_Hans wrote:Mustafi hurt himself while tackling

Every Arsenal fan hoping that it's serious

For real. As horrible as it is.

First goal was on Chambers. Didn't mark Dembele, nor did he even attack the cross. AMN could have done better to stop the cross, too, but he had a knock at the time.

Second goal was offside, but still a perilous defensive line that had to drop off a few yards, not hold.

Pre-season friendly it may be, seeing that the defending isn't getting any better is dispiriting.

Last part of the game just devolved into chaos with all the subs. Impossible to get a read on anything, other than Ceballos looking decent.

for some reason the commentator on the stream I've been running calls Willock "Willotch". Anything to that?

It's more "Wil-luck" than "Wil-lock". Hard sound at the end regardless, though.

gonna be tricky to get used to this new goal kick rule
looks cool in friendly but could be a lot of heart in mouth moments in serious matches

Matteo Guendouzi Vs. OL pic.twitter.com/hkmDPvGWUB

— Billy M (@Wideoverload) July 30, 2019

Big season coming,can see him forming good relationship with Pepe as well,release him in behind whenever possible

Team to play Angers:

Martinez; Chambers, Mustafi, Medley, Monreal; Martinelli, Burton, Guendouzi, Nelson; Nketiah, John-Jules

Leno, Jenkinson, Kolasinac, Ozil, Ceballos and Lacazette haven't travelled and won't feature.

I imagine the team vs Barca on Sunday will be close to the one that plays against Newcastle.

Very poor display so far from the kids.

Angers lead after one of their players ran through the middle of the team under no pressure from Burton or Guendouzi. Medley was caught ball-watching and allowed the goalscorer to run off his shoulder.

It's a static showing with the ball as well. Hardly any progression, Nelson and Martinelli are having to drop deep to get on it, and the front two aren't dropping off, either.