- Ramsdale is at his best when he’s up against it. The bloke is wired that way. He seems to feed off the energy of away fans or feeling he needs to prove something, he’s overcome a lot of doubters and adversity in his career so far and I reckon this Raya stuff will push him even further. Pointed celebrations at the end there. That meant something to the players, and Ramsdale, with the way they swamped him.
- Timber. Holy shit. Yes it’s still pre season. However in the handful of games he’s played so far, he’s fitted in beautifully. The advantage of getting key business done early, the price to pay for doing that, is it allows such a nice amount of time to integrate and slot into the side. This bloke can play. He’s no back up, with his versatility and ability to invert, I can see him featuring very very regularly this season.
- I liked Havertz’s game up front, even if he wasn’t necessarily signed to do that role. Whilst I’d prefer Trossard start the league match v Forrest, having someone of Havertz’s size and physique is awesome to be able to call upon. Arsenal haven’t had that option in quite some time. I think he’s going to cause a bit of aerial threat especially drifting in at the back post.
- Partey in this form, yes please. I like the option of Rice AND Partey in midfield in the big games, especially away. Partey has an ability to play himself out of trouble and look so smooth at the same time. Whether he can do this in April and May, that’s the question mark. Managing his minutes will go a long way towards that.
- We kind of take this for granted because of the high standard he maintains, but Saliba. ****ing hell. He’s ridiculously good.
- Whilst it hasn’t been as convincing and consistent a pre season as say last year was, this was still an important result. The result clearly means more to Arsenal than it does City, who to be fair just won a treble and as we’ve seen they work their way into a season and come up gold from March onwards. For now though, Arsenal have at least achieved a bit of a mental barrier in not only taking it up to them, but “winning” (albeit via a fortunate equaliser and then a convincing penalty shootout). Doubt they’ll mind much though, the players needed that outcome and hopefully can generate the same kind of momentum into the new season as last year.
- Timber. Holy shit. Yes it’s still pre season. However in the handful of games he’s played so far, he’s fitted in beautifully. The advantage of getting key business done early, the price to pay for doing that, is it allows such a nice amount of time to integrate and slot into the side. This bloke can play. He’s no back up, with his versatility and ability to invert, I can see him featuring very very regularly this season.
- I liked Havertz’s game up front, even if he wasn’t necessarily signed to do that role. Whilst I’d prefer Trossard start the league match v Forrest, having someone of Havertz’s size and physique is awesome to be able to call upon. Arsenal haven’t had that option in quite some time. I think he’s going to cause a bit of aerial threat especially drifting in at the back post.
- Partey in this form, yes please. I like the option of Rice AND Partey in midfield in the big games, especially away. Partey has an ability to play himself out of trouble and look so smooth at the same time. Whether he can do this in April and May, that’s the question mark. Managing his minutes will go a long way towards that.
- We kind of take this for granted because of the high standard he maintains, but Saliba. ****ing hell. He’s ridiculously good.
- Whilst it hasn’t been as convincing and consistent a pre season as say last year was, this was still an important result. The result clearly means more to Arsenal than it does City, who to be fair just won a treble and as we’ve seen they work their way into a season and come up gold from March onwards. For now though, Arsenal have at least achieved a bit of a mental barrier in not only taking it up to them, but “winning” (albeit via a fortunate equaliser and then a convincing penalty shootout). Doubt they’ll mind much though, the players needed that outcome and hopefully can generate the same kind of momentum into the new season as last year.
