Giroud's spectacular second goal
It was another very pleasing
display from the touring Gunners in Hanoi yesterday. There was some nice
football, seven good goals (again) and one or two encouraging individual
displays. Similarly there were a couple of players who failed to push their case
for more game time, especially considering the paucity of the opposition. There
was even time for an easily overlooked misuse of the Arsenal captaincy. All in
all I suspect Arsene Wenger will have found the game more useful than a 7-1
scoreline might suggest.
Let’s deal first with those who I
felt did themselves few favours against the Vietnamese national side. Carl
Jenkinson I thought was particularly poor on the day. Given that he was up
against opposition like that I felt he was very quiet going forward, while
defensively he was the weak link in the first-half. Arsenal were never really
threatened too much in that time, but the closest they came to seeing chances
created against tended to be from moves where Jenkinson was either out of
position or failing to attack the ball properly. This was in marked contrast to
Bacary Sagna who played at centre-back. I’ve mused in the past on the fact that
I think a move to the centre of defence could prolong Sagna’s career at
Arsenal, while helping to develop Jenkinson in the appropriate way. I would
very much like us to sign a centre-back, but if it was made clear that Sagna
and Vermaelen were there to challenge Koscielny and Mertesacker, then that
would be a situation I’d be happy with if money was spent elsewhere on the
squad. Having said that, the back four that finished the game (and conceded the
goal) showed a lack of depth at the back – with only Monreal and Vermaelen not
on the tour we had Miquel out of position at left-back, and midfielders Kris
Olsson and Chuks Aneke at right-back and centre-back, respectively.
The other player who I felt was
very poor on the day was Ryo Miyaichi. I was a little surprised to see him take
the field as I suspected he was being kept fit for the two games in Japan.
Having been given 25 minutes to do his stuff he pretty much stank the place out
and looked seriously out of his depth in comparison to his Arsenal team mates.
The pace that is a feature of Ryo’s game was missing in a big way. In his
defence it was his first game since he got injured playing in the FA Cup for
Wigan at Everton (and that had been his first appearance in months itself).
With Ronald Koeman admitting he wants to sign him at Feyenord I would be
surprised if Ryo is with Arsenal for long after the players get back.
The positives were very good
indeed. Most impressive was the finishing from Olivier Giroud. The French
striker has his critics, me among them on occasion, but you can’t argue with
his start to pre-season, which has yielded 5 goals in 90 minutes on the pitch.
Yes the opposition is sub-standard, but you can only score past what faces you.
His finish for his hat-trick goal yesterday was a genuine strikers touch, while
his second goal had been nothing short of spectacular. Given the speculation
there has been about incoming competition for him you have to admire such a
response.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dominated
the midfield and his goal was also a sublime effort, and thoroughly deserved.
He looks so much better playing through the middle, and Arsene has some huge
decisions to make on who takes the field in that area for the proper stuff.
Jack Wilshere came on for twenty minutes but wasn’t really in it – there is no
rush where Jack is concerned. Gedion Zelalem picked up where he left off on
Sunday with some glorious passes played through the defence to pick out willing
runners. The physicality of the English game is something he will have to come
to terms with given his slight build, but his football ability appears
unquestionably good. I am very impressed by Zelalem. Chuba Akpom also did
himself no harm with a well taken brace, and he might have joined Giroud in the
hat-trick stakes with a little more composure and a little more luck.
So what about this captaincy
business? Regulars will know that this is a particular issue with me. I believe
that Arsene Wenger does not appreciate the importance of being Arsenal Captain
as far as the fans are concerned. Over the last few years the armband and its
history has been disrespected in the extreme with some of those who have been
allowed to wear it (Squillaci and Silvestre?) Obviously Mikel Arteta led the
side yesterday at the start of the game, but he was substituted at half-time. I
fully expected that Per Mertesacker would have taken over the armband at that
point as he entered the fray, as that is what happened at Newcastle when Arteta
went off injured. Imagine my surprise, therefore, when I noticed that Wojciech
Szczesny was the Arsenal skipper instead. With five games to go last season he
wasn’t even in the team, having been dropped for his poor displays. Frankly, if
we brought in a decent goalkeeper then Szczesny would not get in the side again
this season. That being the case, I don’t understand why he was given the
honour of being Arsenal Captain, albeit in a pre-season friendly. When he was
eventually taken off he gave the armband to the BFG, despite Jack Wilshere also
being on the pitch – you will remember that Thomas Vermaelen made a point of
putting it on Jack when he went off in a game early last season. It may seem a
minor thing. It may even actually be a minor thing. But to this Arsenal
supporter it is a source of great annoyance. If there is a positive then at
least it let me get through a post without moaning about no signings being made
(well, almost get through it).
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