Morning all.
We play our final game of pre-season today when we face Sp*rs at their place. With the new season upon us, I think there are probably a few things we can read into today’s team selection, with Brentford just around the corner. You would imagine that Mikel Arteta’s team today will be pretty close to the one he’s got in mind for Friday, so …
Goalkeeper
It can only be Bernd Leno, and here’s hoping he can put some of the jitters he showed in the Chelsea game behind him. As it stands, we’re light in this department, worryingly so. Arthur Okonkwo is talented but very raw, while Alex Runarsson just isn’t up to it. An injury or a suspension for the German, and we’re in trouble. It’s probably the most pressing issue we face right now in terms of the transfer market.
One for Edu to sort out when he gets back from the Caribbean.
Right-back
I think it will be Calum Chambers, and it looks like he’s the man in pole position right now. We have an overload here in terms of numbers, with Hector Bellerin and Cedric to choose from too, and while competition and depth are good things, you don’t need three right backs – especially in a season when you don’t have any European football. The bigger question, as to whether any of the players we have in this position is the ideal candidate to help take us forward, is a continued source of debate.
We have the same issue on the left too, although it’s clear Sead Kolasinac is the one making up the numbers there behind Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares. It’s not quite as obvious on the right, even if Bellerin has been linked with a move away all summer.
Something for Edu to sort out when he gets back from Disneyland.
Centre-half
We should see a start for Ben White, and I think Pablo Mari will be the one to partner him. Gabriel Magalhaes remains sidelined with an injury and there’s no fixed time yet on his return.
Mari seems like the obvious choice, but I wouldn’t completely rule out the idea of Rob Holding staking a claim there either. He has played on the left before, and while it was as part of a back three, I think he played some of his best football there before he picked up that ACL injury.
It will be interesting to see if last weekend’s high line is in operation again, and if so, how it functions with the £50m man in there.
Central midfield
With Thomas Partey out, all eyes will be on this area of the pitch today. I don’t think even the most optimistic fan, with his or her glass half full to the brim, could muster up much enthusiasm for the idea of starting a new Premier League season with Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny in tandem. It’s not that it’s absolutely terrible, but it’s just so uninspiring. To finish 8th, then spend all summer with idea of something new and improved very much on the agenda, only to fall back on this is just … meh.
I think if we see Xhakneny today, we’ll see Xhakneny on Friday, unless it goes very badly and/or Albert Sambi Lokonga comes on and makes a big impression. Of course the Belgian could get the nod today, which would be a smart idea, in my opinion. I’d like to see it. He might be young but he’s not completely inexperienced, and if we’ve bought a player for his potential, how are we going to know what he’s capable of unless we give him a chance?
We know what Elneny can do. Give Lokonga an opportunity today, it’s not like it could cost us points, and at least that will give the manager more to work with when it comes to picking his team for Friday.
Attack
Although he’s not long back, I’d be surprised if there wasn’t some involvement for Bukayo Saka today, with a view to getting some minutes into his legs before Friday. After that, the absence of Gabriel Martinelli means there’s a space on the left that I fear might be filled by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Much like the Xhaka/Elneny situation in midfield, there’s something disheartening about the sight of the captain ploughing a furrow up and down the left wing, trying to cross with his left foot, and whatever concerns we have about his goalscoring after an indifferent season last time around are unlikely to be alleviated by playing him out there. Maybe Saka could start out there and do 45 minutes, and I’d be keen to see him and Kieran Tierney together because I think that’s a potentially excellent partnership.
Eddie Nketiah is injured, so misses out, but Folarin Balogun is back in training having missed the last couple of games. The absence of any other attacking midfield option means Emile Smith Rowe will have to play at 10, and it’s worth remembering that he’s another good option for that left hand side … if we had someone else to play more centrally, but we don’t.
One for Edu to sort out when he gets back from the Seychelles.
Overall
Yes, it’s only pre-season and ultimately the result doesn’t matter. What does matter is how we play though. How we set up. How ready we look for the start of the new season, because this is the last bit of competitive build-up before we go again. You’re looking for things to be positive about, things to be encouraged by, and fingers crossed we see plenty of those today.
It’s a double-header at the Toilet Bowl today, with Arsenal Women taking on their counterparts following the main event. Andrew Allen will be there for Arseblog News, and we’ll have reports, observations and post-game press conference coverage on the site for you.
In the meantime, have a good Sunday.
