Pre-Season 2017

Our style of play is still messy, we just rely on individual quality to score a goal-- there's no strategy in creating chances, just pass it wide, bring it center, pass it wide again over and over again.

Watching this just shows how we desperately need a central midfielder. The back three is make shift but the amount of times Chelsea's forwards have been able to run at them is seriously concerning. And that's our first choice midfield pairing out there.

Screw it, get a right back as well. Ox defending

This is going to turn ugly.

What a painful experience watching this game

Thank *bleep* we're done with China, so we can concentrate of transfers again. Best part of being an Arsenal supporter

I don't know if that illness was still playing a part, but that was seriously poor. It doesn't look like we've worked on anything at all.

guess i shouldn't bother watching the match replay then?

Niles is definitely not ready, he should be the one on loan next season and Chambers should stay, at least he could defend down the flank.

China is crazy hot right now, that might play part in our poor performance. At least I hope so.

Half the kids if not 80% are garbage.

How was Kolasinac btw? Twitter seems disappointed with him.

I wont judge him on this tour, just got in and played with kids. He got skinned though hard, very Ivanovic, strong but slow turn.

Pretty underwhelming match TBH.

Amazed as to how fit Chelsea were, when compared to Arsenal despite them just starting their pre-season while we're almost done with ours. Also, Chelsea's youngsters seemed too good as well, when compared to ours as well.

Not sure what to make of AMN. Seems like a decent prospect but AW has him playing in all unfamiliar positions. However, his passing and defending has ridiculous in the past two games. Not much to say about Ox. He made that one mistake which led to the 3rd goal, but has been decent nonetheless. Dunno why Bielik wasn't given a chance ahead of Elneny at CB.

Oezil still has that odd lethargy at times, which makes it easy to get the ball off him.

Nelson and Willock were decent and can probably expect a few minutes in the Emirates Cup and Carabao Cup.

Though Kola is built like a tank and is ideal for the rugged PL, he need to work on technique, I guess. Apt comparing him with Ivanovic.

Our defence still suffers from this weakness where the side defenders(sidebacks or side wing backs) seem to gravitate towards the center, making it easy for the widemen to cross.

Say what you want but Coquelin does bring him some energy to the team. Though the energy is ultimately wasted, it does gives us a different option.

The only beneficiary from the tour has to be Iwobi.

BTW, anybody horribly underwhelmed by Bramall's performance? Offers nothing even in attack, despite his famed pace.

/long_post

Rob Holding, Calum Chambers, Hector Bellerin and Jack Wilshere returned to first team training today.

Mustafi and Alexis won't return until next week, so they're missing the Emirates Cup.

Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson have remained with the first team and could play in the Emirates Cup.

Gibbs, Debuchy, Jenkinson, Reine-Adelaide and Akpom will play in an Arsenal XI against Boreham Wood tomorrow.

state of that hairline in early 20s ffs lol

Are Gibbs and Jeff not a part of the first team anymore?

Jeff just came back from an injury however there were reports Arsene is done with him. Let's see. Maybe a loan?

Gibbs is being sold.

Arsenal's Emirates Cup squad:

That defending

We have the "numbers" though

Fantastic performance from Kolasinac.

Kolasinac played like prime Monreal on steroid, he's quite fast

Good match I assume?

Attack yes, defense no, was ball watching a lots

Good to hear about Kolasinac tho.

Heard Reiss impressed which is nice.

CM duo still a problem by the looks of it. Need a TANK asap

hmmmm been pronouncing Kolasinac like Invanovic (the c at the end) but it's Kolasinak apparently?

Weird. Didn't think Bosnian names worked like that?

Kola-she-nuts is actually how you say it in Bosnian which sounds really naughty in English

I just got back from the game.

First of all: best atmosphere I've experienced at the Emirates. The Benfica fans were right below where I was sitting (club level) and making a hell of a lot of noise. Our fans upped their game.

That we were coming from behind probably helped. The defending wasn't great, but it should be said that most of our problems came down our left, which was Niles' side. Niles is not a defender and isn't comfortable as a centre back. Salvio got at him far too much. His passing from the back wasn't good enough, either.

Going forward though we were fun to watch. Kolasinac and Walcott were both brilliant. Iwobi's a joy to watch in person because he's so good at receiving the ball.

The real star was Reiss Nelson though. This kid has something about him. Not only did he beat people for fun, his delivery was on point with either foot. His assist for Giroud's goal has the ground on their feet.

Huge cheers for Ozil and Lacazette btw. They were the most popular players after Chamberlain, Mertesacker, Walcott and Giroud.

That's good to hear. Hope atmosphere is good for the rest of the season.

I think walcott will retire with us or at least stay till 32/33. That's okay too. He is a good lad.

Reiss has that acceleration and turn, reminded me of Sterling. Iwobi finishing has got so good, such power and decisiveness.