Not sure if the club has released details but it looked very serious . Was still prostrate on the pitch when crowd left the ground . He actually looked very threatening and created a couple of chances .
Apparently Watford are playing Arsenal's first team today at London Colney Arsenal to play another friendly against Watford today (dailycannon.com)
Cajones all around? I think it's behind closed doors too. Xisco may play his preferred first team then, so we don't get to see just how competent we really are as a unit until Villa.
Reading in between the lines of pres season games and some players fitness levels etc, my prediction for the starting XI against Villa . 433 DEFENCE Bachmann Kiko -(although Ngakia has looked very good in preseason, could see him taking the RB spot this season ) Rose - (Assuming Massina injured ) Troost Sierralta MIDFIELD - difficult to pick this as we don’t know who is coming in and how new signings are settling . Yokuslu or Thorsby or Etebo as CDM Louza (reports saying he has impressed in training. Maybe Gosling starts as safe option if too soon for Louza) Cleverly - in the forward high press role . ATTACK Cucho Sarr Deeney - ( King clearly not at full fitness yet as shown by limited game time although we still 2.5 weeks away from Villa game so could change)
In real time could you tell what actually happened? Was it the result of a challenge / foul and was it obvious if it was knee or ankle or other?
Wheeling sets of drawers on to the pitch would certainly be an innovative approach to preseason football.
I agree - although I would probably have Kiko instead of Ngakia. Nothing against Ngakia here, a solid option, but I would personally like to see if Kiko can continue his form from last season. Villa, although decent are not the most toughest of challenges especially in an open season game where fitness levels for both sides will not be sky high. Having said that, I actually thought we would comfortably beat Brighton two seasons ago and look how that turned out.
Pre-season friendlies are never much of a guide to the way things are going to go, but after about 5 minutes of last night it was pretty obvious that Ashley Fletcher is a donkey; a midfield 3 of Zink, Gosling and cuddly Ken (on the right!) isn't what's required; Danny Rose is an excellent acquisition; Deeney has spent the summer studying the 'Andre Gray's Best First Touches' compilation film; Cathcart is no longer fit for purpose
So is nightmare scenario of 442, with Deeney upfront and playing out from the back going to come true then?
I mean, by no means do I fully track other teams, but I’d say we are massive underdogs, even at home, against Villa - top of my head - Mings, McGinn, Grealish, Buendia, Watkins…could tear us a new one!
You will find out soon. I would have guessed by now 4 3 3 suites our team quite well, and Xisco has had more than enough time to adopt a playing staff who can perform in said formation through training etc. Deeney is a bench impact sub unless we are short injury wise - along with Gray. Cucho and King (fitness pending) should be our main attack with Fletcher holding to support. Sema and Sarr on the wings with a solid defense including hopefully Hughes in the middle no. 6 role. Should be our main lineup, opposition pending. Just my own thoughts, but a front two of Deeney and or Gray/Success is pretty frightening.
Keep Sarr & Hughes, lose Deeney = survival (song: Isma superstar) lose Sarr or Hughes, play Deeney = relegation (song: Hurt - karaoke version by Leslie Chow)
Orns dreadful pre-season continues If we fail to beat Palace in the final friendly, you have to imagine Xisco might not even make the first game
Supposedly Nketiah, Willian and Nelson all started so not a completely full strength Arsenal team (although Aubameyang started too). EDIT: Supposedly Aubameyang scored two, Nketiah one and Miguel Azeez got their other
Good wins against Colchester and Millwall so far this pre-season. It's all shaping up to be a great season.
The source of the scoreline has 71 followers, so take it with a pinch of salt, but it doesn't seem unrealistic.
Starting team (will add as I see players): Bachmann Ngakia Kabasele Cathcart Masina Etebo Zinckernagel Louza Sarr King Dennis
Good to see Pollock getting some minutes. Another youngster about to be ruined. Or he's just injured.
Seems what you'd imagine would be close to our starting 11 for Villa - good to see they got absolutely battered by Arsenal's kids.
Bachman, Ngakia , Kabasele, Cathcart, Masina, Louza, Etebo, Zinc, Sarr, King, Dennis https://twitter.com/AdamLeventhal/status/1420385103558156299 Unless there are big changes to the side at half time - that is pretty humbling defeat to a side not a million miles away from our best 11.
Only 10 mins in but Zinc has been awful in the centre, lost the ball 3 or 4 times already Don't see him in the squad this season
