This is just a quick little review of Arsenal’s friendly against the Orlando City Lions in their home at Orlando, FL’s Expedia Stadium. The game was delayed by about an hour past its 1630 start time, forcing almost everyone hoping to watch it in England to seek their dreams.
We started with a lineup that is very clearly the second string, in most spots:
Ramsdale
Cédric — Holding — Marí — Tavares
Mo’Neny — Sambi — AMN
Pépé — Nketiah — Martinelli
Excepting the first ten minutes, and then much of the second half, seeking their dreams was a good plan for Arsenal fans watching. Due to the delay I turned on ESPN+ and the game just as Gabigol passed to Sambi in their box. Sambi passed straight back to the Brazilian running across the box. Gabi shaped a shot towards the back post, but it was cut out brilliantly by the back of the Orlando defender straight into the near corner of the net, completely fooling his keeper.
Arsenal 1-0 Orlando (Martinelli, 5′)
Orland seemed to use this to grow into the game, and after much uninspired play from Arsenal they punted a second long-ball that was well-gathered by their midfielder Facundo Torres, who did well to beat both Tavares and Marí and rifle a shot into the bottom corner of Ramsdale’s net.
Arsenal 1-1 Orlando (Torres, 29′)
Orlando had the best of the first half, outshooting and outpassing Arsenal, and generally playing well enough they were good value for the halftime score of 1-1. Arsenal were relatively insipid and disappointing, though there were some good performances. Gabi was solid, Holding was slow and got turned but was generally solid, Sambi did well in midfield (on both sides of the ball) and Eddie worked hard with little to show for it. And a word on Tavares. He played some lovely stuff, but is a completely mixed bag: great footwork followed by a wayward pass, running yards to pick off the ball then shooting into row z when he got the chance. I really don’t know what to make of him, hopefully if he is loaned to Brighton it will winnow out his chaff so he can take his next chance in red and white.
There were the obligatory substitutes at the start of the second half, with White coming on for Cédric and Gabriel for Marí in defense, Mø for AMN, Jesus for Martinelli, and Turner for Ramsdale. Instantly our offense clicked better, and our defense snuffed out chances higher up the pitch, and prevented Orlando from getting beyond our defenders with the long balls over the top. In the first minute Jesus had a shot on goal saved by Orlando’s keeper on a pass from Tavares, one of two or three shots Jesus had saved in the opening 15 minutes of the half.
On 60 minutes Arsenal brought in another raft of subs, with Saliba, Saka, Xhaka, and Partey replacing Holding, Pépé, Sambi, and Mo’neny. As with the half-time subs this group tightened our play even more, and we started playing with a real intent; I don’t believe Orlando got a real sniff of our goal from then until the end of the game. And six minutes later we had our second goal. After some nice interchanges Jesus shot while falling down, the ball bounced off their defender to a perfectly-placed Eddie who stroked the ball into the bottom corner of the net. A perfect poacher’s goal.
Arsenal 2-1 Orlando (Nketiah, 66′)
We continued our assault on their goal, forcing saves or blocks on shots from Jesus, Tavares, and Saka. In the 80th minute we cycled the ball deep back to Partey, who worked it up the left through Xhaka, Nelson, Tavares, Jesus, and Mø, who passed it across to Saka inside their box on the right. He held it up then flicked a well-weighted pass to the oncoming Nelson, who first-timed it into the goal with his right foot from just inside the penalty spot. 10 passes (might have been one or two more prior to Partey picking up the ball in our defense), 29 seconds and using much of the width and breadth of the field: trust the process. Artetaball at its finest (against, admittedly, a bang average-minus Orlando team, especially in the second half).
Arsenal 3-1 Orlando (Nelson, 80′)
And really, that was it. We had a couple more attempts from Xhaka and Nelson, but once the third goal went in the game ran out of steam.
We ended up with these players on the pitch:
Turner
White — Saliba — Gabriel — Tavares
Partey — Mø — Xhaka
Saka — Jesus — Nelson
I strongly doubt Tavares and Nelson will be with us, and I am less and less inclined (especially if the incoming Zinchenko forces him to the bench) to get rid of Xhaka. Partey made only one mistake I saw, driving us from the defense into attack with some nice passes and dribbles. Mø was both captain and conductor, Saka was a live wire and deserved a goal, and Saliba was composed and regal in what has to be his starting position for the season. If we can get left back sorted, and Tomi can come in (though White did well in this game I remain unconvinced he’s better than Cédric long-term) and stay uninjured, we could have a pretty strong first team with a decent-enough second string (so long as we don’t have to play them all at once.
Now the team has to survive the lightning, heat, humidity, and Orlando’s other savo(u)ry delights ahead of Saturday’s game against Chelsea. COYG!
Excellent double dipping on the preseason previews, Scruz Gooner. It seems our English comrades have difficulties with these late match start so excellent stepping into the breach.
Have to admit, I slept right through it in my German time zone, one hour ahead of Greenwich. Home tomorrow night, hopefully.
Thanks Scruz – a real public service to give us a taste of this game. Dr Faustus will be along for the Chelsea game. Florida in July is a crazy place for preseason games.
Thanks scruz.
I got a mail from Arsenal offering me a two for one deal for this game and the Chelsea game for 5.99 but after two seconds thought I deleted the mail. I’d rather read your report for significantly less👍
As I said in the previous drinks, Nuno is rumored to be going to Brighton on loan. That would be good for him and potentially us too, though with a full back pairing of Nuno and Lamptey I am not sure how good it would be for Brighton (though of course that won’t be our problem….
Good to hear Saliba is fitting in well.
Thankyou scruz for an excellent and thoroughly unexpected match report.
Not a match I would have sat up for so I am delighted to read that our first choice players added a touch of donner und blitzen to proceedings. It’s all good for their fitness, team-work and mutual understanding.
Where’s KT3?
Scruz,
Thanks for this impromptu and informative report . Apart from the hour , I had sat through two hours of the Lionesses ( on my wedding anniversary ) and thought I needed a break from footie .
I’m interested in your insights. All seems to be moving at pace now and hopefully we will shed some of our baggage and bring in some revenue . It’s all very well negotiating carefully for weeks and debating over £2million if you then sell your players at 50% of what other clubs could get for them
Top stuff Scruz and a great Queen reference in the title !
Thanks, scruz – well played, Sir !
I tried evening snoozes to compensate for the potential loss of proper sleep but then had to give in to the Florida storm and toddle off up the apples.
Game sounds ok – good in parts – typical pre-season fare really. Maybe Florida could come up with a hurricane for Saturday’s game …… has anyone told them that sort of thing can happen at this time of year ? 😳🙄
Thank you very much for the report and the analysis of some of the players.
I have to admit I am a bit lost with understanding the squad and our best 11 plus subs and the formation at the moment. Even if we ignore players who are likely to go or at least not participate we still seem to have too many players at the moment.
I’d be interested to know from others who would be definite first 11 starters as it currently stands if all are fit. Something like this?
Ramsdale
Tomi – Saliba – Gabriel – KT
Partey – Zinchenko
Odergaard
Saka – Jesus – ESR
But then we have White, Xhaka, Viera, Martinelli, Eddie who aren’t far behind.
Sancho Panza. I think your first XI is pretty much spot on. But this season, with five subs allowed, and the Europa league as an extra competition compared to last year, this year has to be about a 22 man squad, not just 11 players. I think all will become apparent early in the season and how Arteta uses his subs to keep energy and creativity high in the last 30 minutes.
Thanks for the report scruz.
That squad is beginning to look a little tasty. Roll on August 5.
COYG
The usual excellent analysis from Mike McDonald on Gunners Town who was there at the game last night.
Thanks for the report, Scruz. Sounds as if the more good players we had on the field, the better we played. 🙂
SP@8: My 2-cents in answer to your question is
Ramsdale
Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney
Ødegaard, Partey, Zinchenko
Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Minnesota United 4 Everton 0.
Not a result that I foresaw even in my wildest dreams. If I were Fat Frank I might be calling up my friend Nervous Nelly for a consultation on the ouija board. Beware the wounded animal though. Arsenal have to play them again in a few weeks.
https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2022/07/21/lampard-blasts-players-everton-loss-arsenal-battering-minnesota-united/
Minnesota United 4 Everton 0.
Not a result that I foresaw even in my wildest dreams. If I were Fat Frank I might be calling up my friend Nervous Nelly for a consultation on the ouija board. Beware the wounded animal though. Arsenal have to play them again in a few weeks.
https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2022/07/21/lampard-blasts-players-everton-loss-arsenal-battering-minnesota-united/
C100@11: Thanks for the link. I found Mike McDonald’s comments on AMN and Reiss Nelson illuminating. You can make it in football (more or less) without talent but never without commitment. Talent with commitment makes you top class. Talent without commitment is just wasted talent.
Contrary to appearances I did not post that twice to emphasize how shit Everton have become.
bt8 reports of fan protests at the toffees as the team that only just avoided relegation last seasoned appears to be significantly weaker now.
Typical of Lampard to slag off his players. He learned that from Mourhino.
Everton’s night began by conceding a penalty for hand ball and then a Michael Keane own goal. In the second half they were out scored 1-0 by Minnesota’s reserves including two players who were making their debuts for the club.
https://www.mnufc.com/news/recap-minnesota-united-4-everton-0
Excellent report scruz! We saw the same match.
Some of my additional observations: I am happier with White at RB as Tomi’s deputy more than Cedric. The right back has a very specific tactical role in Mikel’s set-up and Cedric rarely does it well.
Gabriel-Salba would be a great pairing in the 4-2-3-1 we start with and Gabriel-Saliba-White will be perfect for 3-5-2.
Nuno’s defensive techniques and positioning can be questionable but his physical abilities, commitment and intensity are great assets. Given how many Europa league matches we need to play I would rather keep him in the squad and make him work on his defensive abilities.
If everyone is fit my starting eleven:
Ramsdale
Tomiyasu Saliba Gabriel Tierney
Partey Zinchenko
Saka Ødegaard Martinelli
Jesus
This 3-5-2 sounds intriguing, not having seen us play this preseason. Taking a stab in the dark at who would play (?)
White Saliba Gabriel
Tomiyasu Saka Ødegaard Partey Zinchenko
Nketiah Jesus
The five in midfield are really hard to predict.
Have we actually been playing a 3-5-2? Successfully?
bt8@21: yes, we often switch to that formation while chasing games. We played Everton preseason second half that way.
We will see if Mikel uses that at all this season. Solving the “we never come back from trailing” problem would be one of his bigger challenges.
The XIs look pretty similar apart from the question from last season on Gabi/ESR on the left. Personally I’d like to see a bit more of Saliba before thinking he should start instead of White in my own first XI.
C100 is right about the 22 though, and I think another player on the right that MA believes in would be good. I would have liked Tielemans as well but that is looking less likely now.
C100@9: Absolutely, it is a squad game now. With 16 players a match permissible, I think we are going to see much more proactive formation shifting throughout the phases of a match with the appropriate players brought on as subs, rather than managers shifting from their starting formations only when they need to make mid-course corrections.
Thanks for attaching Mike’s report C100. It was as illuminating as ever and he really gets players . His comments on Nelson, AMN and Xhaka were spot on.
I’ve seen the highlights now . Firstly I thought Turner got nowhere near the shot for their goal. It was a good strike but the lad worries me. Secondly if we are going to play two upfront we need at least one more striker . Balogun could play in Europe but we need someone who can attack centrally and from wide . That means we may see Martinelli playing through the middle often and if we go for another wide man it may be Gakpo who can play as a striker
And just what was Sanllehi doing in the director’s box?
Sorry I realised the keeper who let in the soft goal was Ramsdale. Apologies to Taylor . It was a very poor goal to concede. Ramsdale needs to recover last season’s early season form
I’m having a shocker . I’ve apologised to Taylor for a goal he didn’t le5 in. But his name is Turner .I’m a sad old buffer
that must be taylor lans, ttg.
I thought Torres did do well for their goal, though I’d be more inclined to ask questions of Nuno and Mari’s defending such as it was – however it’s likely neither of them will be here at the start of the season so not to worry.
Balogun doesn’t seem to be getting much playing time so far.
Sky Sports gossip column says : “Danny Welbeck has revealed his incredible body transformation ahead of the new season.”
Don’t know what kind of transformation they could be talking about. Woulda thought they would at least give us a picture. 🤨
Suppose that opens up an opportunity to gossip about it. 😆
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/07/21/17/60543083-11036493-image-m-29_1658421069005.jpg
The Daily Fail is not so shy
But will it improve his finishing? Danny always looked like a fabulous athlete (see also Iwobi).
And will it stop him spending three quarters of every season injured?
I can’t verify the veracity of this (wait for Ornstein or Romano) but
https://www.sportbible.com/afcstuff/arsenal-transfer-news-william-saliba-20220722
I think it’s genuine news C100
If so it really is like a new signing !
That’s excellent news, chaps. It is indubitably like a new signing.
I have not seen him play but a lot of people seem to be very impressed.
Next…
I have only seen Saliba on video, but he looks the business and transformed from the player who was all at sea in a couple of U-23 games after he showed up at Arsenal. Score one for the loans system (sadly a rare one) and for Arteta’s insight that Saliba needed a transition season to acclimatise to senior football.
I get the impression that something else Arteta has brought with him from Man City is blooding superstar youngsters gradually, as Pep did with Foden and seems to be doing with Cole Palmer. It is managing their development as players, but also the capacity of their bodies to deal with the physical stress of top-level football, and to keep them grounded as people. The risk, of course, is that teenagers are impatient, think they already know it all, and will kick up against it especially those who have outgrown U-23/U21 football but aren’t fully senior football ready (Guendouzi, Hutchinson, AMN to an extent), even though it is in their long-term interest.
It did cross my mind that Arteta was sending a message to the Academy players in his selection for the US tour that they have to fit in to his timeline for their development, not him to theirs.
Ned and I differed on Saliba’s future when we discussed it last year and it looks like I was wrong ( again) . I thought Arteta didn’t fancy him as a player . However he was a standout player in the French league last season and is now in the World Champions team .
It must be said that Romano doesn’t think things are as advanced as the Paxton article suggests but it is clear Arteta has confidence in him .
I watched some of his work in France and he is a real quality player . We might go to three at the back but if we play two centre backs Benny Blanco is under serious pressure , although he might start the season at right back
And Zinchenko is now confirmed . Our second Ukrainian after the legend that was Oleg Luzhny ?
Zinchenko is officially an Arsenal player now! Cannot wait to get his shirt now, with the junior wearing G. Jesus …
Friends in Ukraine are telling me suddenly there is a significant increase of interest in following Arsenal once the season starts! As it should be. 🙂
Well done Edu, Mikel and everyone involved. Two absolute quality players who can yet improve further.
And welcome to the Arsenal Zinchenko! 🇺🇦 🇺🇦
The Daily Fail is not so shy
He’s had a haircut.
RIP Maria Petri. A legend. Went to practically every game played by the Academy, Womens and first team.
dave’s greeting her with a pint of guinness and a seat down front.
What scruz said.
Absolute legend.
Condolences to Maria’s friends and family. Even us remote fans heard and read much about her legendary dedication to the club at all levels.
Echoing Scruz@44. Pure gold. RIP.
TTG@39: Graciously said.
Interesting team sheet from 2014 courtesy of Jorge Bird. Not many would have picked the nailed-on starter for the Arsenal 1st team in 2022-23 from those two U-19 sides.
A walk down recent memory lane
And a slightly raised bat
Ormonde-Ottewill plies his trade in the Dutch 2nd division these days, Siemann got banned for a year for a prohibited substance after leaving Arsenal and Uade became the first English player to sign a contract with a Uruguayan team, though it seems he never actually played. I’d never heard of those 3 so just curious…….
This is not exactly as it appeared on publication, it’s a rough layout from The Gooner 277 (the good old days) where they featured Maria as she turned 80.
Shit. Sorry guys, remove that…
Oops
Thanks for posting that, Cynic.
I’ve no idea how to host that at an appropriate size, or simply post the URL to click as that’s what I did and the forum decided to hang itself by displaying the image, so someone else will have to work it out.
Cynic,
Thanks. If you just click or thumb
on the image it shows the whole
thing and is easy to read.
That’s a brilliant piece Cynic, thank you so much for posting.
RIP Maria Petri. She must have been a special person, Arsenal through through, and unique in the most positive ways. Never met her as I never met Dave but the powerful connections to Arsenal’s past are right there for us to hang on to their memories. 💐💐💐
Arsenal through and through, which nobody can deny.
Thx vm for posting that, Cynic. A lovely read.
Cynic
May I add to the thanks for posting the interview with Maria. I remember when we did it with her but haven’t read it since .
She will be greatly missed around the Goonerverse.. She really connected at all levels of the club . It’s amazing that fans can become closely connected with players even nowadays when most don’t know who played for the club ten years ago
I noticed you referred to the ‘ good old days ‘. Was that of the Gooner or the club? My impression was that you felt, along with many others that the Gooner became too downbeat . Most people I meet suggest it’s picked up very positively under Layth and I would echo this
Good old days for the publication, but then I hate change in all things.
I’d still be chipping ice from the inside of my windows in winter in an ideal world 🙂
Thanks for posting that, Cynic. Maria is an inspiration to Gooners everywhere and the club should mark her passing.
Lovely tribute to Maria on the club website.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/rest-peace-maria-petri
An excellent tribute to Maria. Well done, Arsenal.
cynic, i fixed the image link in yours at 53. thanks for posting it!
Cynic: my thanks, too, for posting the interview with Maria Petri. One of a kind.
I see that the first appointment of substance by the new owners at the Bus Stop is Tom Glick, formerly the chief commercial officer of Man City’s parent company. Glick will run Chelsea’s commercial operations as ‘president of business’.
https://www.ft.com/content/383c24f0-eb83-4612-8d90-ea8dadc06ef5
Clearlake Capital has also taken on £800m of debt, £300m of it for working capital. I guess the Abramovich era really is over.
Thanks fixing the link, glad you all liked it. Can’t even remember who did the interview and there’s no credit on the original .doc file, but assume it was Kev Whitcher
Ned@69
Interesting observation. I wonder when the penny will drop with Chelsea fans ?
Don’t know about you guys but Vivianne Miedema gives me goosebumps.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62274347
PL clubs with the highest commercial revenue, according to the Deloitte Football Money League 2022
1. Man City €308.2m
2. Man Utd €262.2m
3. Liverpool €238.4m
4. Chelsea €175.5m
5. Tottenham €170.8m
6. Arsenal €154.0m
Closing some of those gaps buys a couple of top-class players.
We used to be second or third in commercial revenue terms did we not. Certainly ahead of those who only have a duster in their trophy cabinet.
Thanks for attaching this Ned .@73.This disparity is at the heart of my concerns about our ability to sell players . The Spuds got £26 m plus for Bergwijn for goodness sake! Liverpool got close to £17m for Neco Williams . We are being lowballed all over Europe and over the last few years we have torn up the contracts of several people but paid off a lot of players. This is why we are languishing in 6th place in that table allied to the poverty of our commercial deals which reached a nadir under Gazidis.
For all the excellence of our purchasing we have to get MUCH better at selling
Is the problem in offloading players not related to the disproportionately high salaries we have awarded in the last decade or so to distinctly average players and callow yoofs? I am sure we could have offloaded the extremely disappointing Pepe already but for his salary. The same applies to so many players on our books.
Our position in Ned’s table is a scandal. Our global support should be vastly greater than the Marshdwellers’ even considering our recent slump. Those two decades of being highly competitive beginning with the ’89 destruction of the Anfield myth coincided with the globalisation of football. OK, the Chavs have come up on the ropes since Abramovich and Citeh will have no doubt artificially boosted their ‘income’ but we really should be doing much, much better at the merchandising. If I were Stan, I would ask Gav at “She Wore’ to take charge of our merchandising and he would turn that income around big time!
Commercial revenue is a different beast to revenue from selling players.
You may remember the Highbury House restaurant in Drayton Park a great place to meet pre- match and somewhere Bob Wilson often used . He was telling me one day he went to book it and was told it was closed because they had expanded the commercial operation .
No more loyal Arsenal man exists but he did express astonishment about what all these marketing staff were doing when marketing revenue was reducing substantially ( we were still in the CL then) . Gazidis made many mistakes but the failure to increase our non- matchday revenue was probably the biggest .
I think Bath makes a good point about salaries but that’s how you get players to join you when you’re not in the Chsmpions League. It’s a bit of a vicious circle
very engrossing france netherlands game goes to extra time on an outstanding save from the dutch keeper. great game to watch. miedema is nearly out on her feet.
Hoop Holland!
but it looks bleak.
bleak indeed.
Not a good game for those with Dutch / Arsenal connections. Miedema struggled bravely post Covid but had little service and had one of those games when it passed her by ,
Danielle Van de4 Donk was subbed around 65 minutes and Dominique Jansen gsve away the pen
However for British viewers the rather lovely Anouk Hoogendijk had a blinder as a pundit Possibly the prettiest Arsenal player I’ve ever seen .Just ahead of Nikklas Bendtner
The last 40 minutes of France-Netherlands was the first action (of any kind) I’ve seen in this tournament. France we’re the better team in that time but the Dutch we’re valiant. Unfortunately the rather lovely (according to reports) Anouk Hoogendijk was not on American TV. Wish I could say differently, I’m sure.
Autocorrect going crazy for the apostrophes tonight apparently.
C’mon Oleks.
No Smith Rowe in the squad facing Chelsea. Hmmm.
The boys looked outstanding in the 1st half v that blue team. Total domination. Crisp passing, great pressing and a couple of nice finishes by Jesus and Martin O.
2-0. Hope our 2nd eleven can finish it off.
all of them on for 2nd half but z. chelsea has lost their balance a lot so far this half.
Sakaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!
Probably offside by 2 yards though 🤷🏻♂️
Sambi header from Cedric cross, a beauty!!
it’s only preseason, but i like it like it yes i do. oh i like it.
Only seen 10 minutes highlights but
looks like a nice win. Good finishing
and a Sambi header that he looked
very happy with 😀
They looked a bit fouly for a friendly,
but it was just highlights so I’ll wait
for the report before slagging them
off for the cheaty bastards they are
go ahead and slag those chavs. cheaty mcdivers, to a man. kicked then complained. should have seen more yellows (conor gallagher for one). slag away!
I’ve only seen the highlights but that looked mighty impressive. We werevery cohesive and Chelsea looked a rabble but maybe we made them look a rabble .
Even Cynic would have enjoyed that.
We have only two concerns -our sicknotes – Tomi, Tierney and ESR the perennially injured trio. Let’s hope Vieira isn’t another
We need cover for Partey ( yes we have the admirable Elneny but I think we need someone who can sit deep and start play and break up the opposition’s play )
We have several 8s – Xhaka looks much better suited to this role as does Sambi and we also have Vieira . I think Tielemans would be another 8. Possibly if we use Eddie and Jesus together we may need someone who an place wide or as a striker .
But Arteta’s plans are coming together well and Gabriel Jesus looks brilliant
Well, that was quite magnificent.
We look like the Arsenal again and….
Chelsea are back!
>>>>>>>