3-0 vs. Rangers, Chamakh, Vieira and more… 3 August, 2009
Posted by lasagnechef in Arsenal News.trackback
I’ve had no Internet since Saturday night so sorry for the late update but there you go. It’s amazing how my day becomes so incredibly boring without internet access and how my mind goesastray without any Arsenal news. Well nothing has happened so I guess the top story was yesterday’s 3-0 win over Rangers…
I was at the game and after missing Day 1 of the Emirates Cup it was nice to be back watching Arsenal at the Grove. We started with a fairly strong side and found ourselves 2-0 up after 10 minutes. The Rangers fans had come in their numbers and we’re well up for it. It roused the home support a bit more and it ended up being a decent atmosphere for a pre-season game.
I’m sure you know what happened in the game so I’m not going to bother going into depth. It finished up 3-0 making us Emirates Cup champions for the second time, celebrations were muted unless you’re Emmanuel Eboue who seemed to be making the most of the silverware.
Once again I’m going to have to single out Jack Wilshere who picked up the man of the match award for the second day running. He was just class again but Wenger has tried to talk it down. Arsene was asked whether he might get chances in the Premier League this season and hinted that he would not be a regular but if the opportunity came he wouldn’t hesitate picking him. Fabio Capello was watching from the stands but after the game Jack said he’s concentrating more on getting in the Arsenal side than representing his country!
He’s in a great position because he has it all ahead of him. I’m sure the Carling Cup will be his chance to impress this season and if he gets a couple of league appearances, then great.
Overall, we played well yesterday and we’re creating some nice football. We look to be coming on nicely this pre-season and we have another week of training before a good test away to Valencia on Saturday. Wenger says all transfer business should be done by then… but then again you can’t go by anything Wenger says to do with transfers. He rarely lets slip about is what is actually going on and usually tries to throw the press off the scent.
However we could have a player in by the weekend still and Bordeaux have confirmed that we have made a bid for Marouane Chamakh. The president says we bid just €7m but they value him at double that. I’m pretty sure we won’t be splashing out over €10m for a player such as Chamakh so I’m guessing Wenger will submit an increased ‘take it or leave it’ offer. At the moment though he looks the most likely player to arrive this week.
It surprises me that Wenger is going for another striker after saying this Emirates Cup proved we have decent attack. Most will say our priority should be a central midfielder or a defender but he still could be looking at one of those as well. We’re going to have to wait and see but at the moment the only player we’re being linked with in those positions is Patrick Vieira.
Wenger still hasn’t ruled out the move so there’s still the chance it could happen. I would love it if he did come hence getting my shirt printed with this yesterday. A bit optimistic I know but oh well. I believe I said in my last post how Vieira’s signing could be justified, I think he could do a job here but it’s not down to me, it’s down to Wenger. This week should be quite telling about Patrick Vieira’s future so just sit back and see what happens.
I’ve got to go now but before I leave I want to tell you about the chance to appear in a Nike advert for Theo Walcott this week. On Thursday there’s going to be some filming done at The Grove and they’re looking for people to get involved. Rather than just use extras in the crowd they want to try and get proper Arsenal fans to come down.
It’s from 9.30am until 4pm, a bit of a long day I know and I’m not sure what you will be asked to do exactly but Nike will provide you with lunch and a free Arsenal home or away shirt of your choice. And obviously you could feature in the advert itself. If you’re interested in getting involved then email your name, age, contact details, preferred shirt and size, and ideally a picture to nike[at]knucklehead.co.uk (replacing [at] for @ etc…)
Not sure if I will be able to make it myself but I’m thinking about it. So if you’re free on Thursday, get an email sent and get down to the Grove.
Right that’s it I better go. It’s Member’s Day tomorrow so enjoy that those of you who are going. Otherwise there’s an Arsenal XI playing Borehamwood at 7:30pm.
Thanks for reading.
the only thing i’ll say about the match yesterday that i ahven’t yet seen elsewhere is this: capello was at the game, but doesn’t it make more sense that he scouting almunia? After all, our kid is now eligible for the english team is he not? Of course, i don’t know why capello was there, but in terms of speculation, “to look at almunia” seems to be at least as plausible as to watch wilshere, yet the latter is the only connection i’ve seen anyone make
You don’t just think that Capello was in England this weekend and Arsenal were the only team playing in England that were worth watching… what’s he gonna learn from scouting a pre-season game anyway? Surely he’s allowed to go to a football game just to watch it isn’t he!!!
I think the whole Vieria saga is Arsenal fans talking form our hearts rather then our heads. I would love to see Paddy back and in an Arsenal shirt but the dinamic player he was is gone years ago, injurys have had an effect here. He could do a coaching role and groom someone inot that role i agree but we wouldnt get no more then 5-10 games out of him, Blaise Matudi looks good and think he is better option then Song an Denilson who are good back up players but no more, Diaby well the kid seems to get injured weekly. Chamakha seems overpirced for 10 million skillful yes but dont we have Van Persie for that and Arshavin what we need is another fox in the box and Mardi are selling one who fits the bill and who we need to bid for……Wilshere is a breath of fresh air and i would be suprised if at the end of the season there isnt a bandwagon started for him to be on the plane going to the world cup
I was so pleases wiv JW’s performance although i have to say Fran Merida really caught my eye i mean the lad even had a screamer go well wide and i was up applaudin the effort…we dont get to see enough of that.
I realy was impressed,Song played well for me quite solid and i like the fact that he has really got the idea that the position is up for grabs and his goin for it.
Denii is good real good but the lad jus seems to reallyrun hard but the purpose is hard to see,oh well wiv the way its going his got a god opportuinity to learn more ‘on the job’
our squad looks good but we will get injuries no matter how hard we cross our fingers we will get them look at the niggles Vermalen,Diaby and even Gallas got more so Nasri is out till end of Sept,we have to plan for that so i say bring on Chamakh coz his good enuf and he wants to come
No one talks about klass coming to Arsenal again. Whats up?
viera would be a good player to bring back as i think he would bring more life to the players at the emirates even if he dont play as many games as we would hope he will have a great affect especially upon the youngsters and i think he would make diaby a great player he has potential and has been knocked to be the net viera and with his guidance who knows but personally i would like to see de rossi maybe at the emirates but i this vermalen was a mistake as was losing toure to city but we have potential in our squad to go far but wenger needs to spalsh sum cash to survive this season and bring in klaas jan huntelaar and another center half maybe dunne or richards would be great
Arsenal needs a good consistent striker who can find the back of the net. Rangers is not on par with The EPL or Champions League. The Atletico match proved a striker is needed. http://bobbygee.wordpress.com/
We are short a good central defender or 2. Galas wount make the whole season. I thnk we should be looking in the premership for one.
Gallas will have a fantastic year. It is a contract year for him. He will be playing for his next contract; he will move to another league. He will impress. He is our best CB.