All Emirates Cup Games. 2nd August-3rd August.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Has Bif managed to get a bit slower over the summer?

Looks like Bif has been stuffing his face with too much croissants and cheese during the break.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Giroud was born offside.

[Niall_Quinn]

Charmers is a good player. Picks the simple option, executes well, reads the game very well for his age. I hope Monreal, the experienced International, is learning something from this kid.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dumb challenge from Wheelchair, booked.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Wilshere scroting it up.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ridiculously unnecessary lunge by Jack.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Falcao scores!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 Monaco, Falcao. :doh:

[Niall_Quinn]

Falcoa completely unmarked in the 6 yard box. Kos? WTF?

[The Emirates Gallactico]

No one was marking Falcao! Free header.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Yes Michael Owen, that one goal in a pre season friendly is what's going to make Real sign Falcao. :rolleyes:

[Niall_Quinn]

We're missing the control we had in the middle yesterday. Up against a much better team but there's not much of the energy from yesterday. I think Bif just slows everything down and breaks everything up, compared to the much fresher and direct play we saw from Campbell. Also Jack has been shite.

[Niall_Quinn]

Yep, it was Kos who let Falcao go. Poor. That's HIS one mistake done for the season too.

[Niall_Quinn]

Owen is such a useless cunt of a commentator. His analysis of the goal was comical.

[Niall_Quinn]

Monreal is "playing" in the space between FB and CB and he's too slow to cover either. He might as well not be there.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 HT.

Arsenal. :lol:

Goodbye to the Emirates Cup again.

[Gooner23]

I'm listening to Spanish commentary. I don't speak any Spanish but it's preferable to Owen.

[Niall_Quinn]

HT 0-1 Monaco

Have to say it's all looked very pedestrian now Bif is back up top. So much breaks down around him and he's always trying flicks and fancy shit. He needs to be stronger in the challenges and FFS get in the box now and again BUT - without being offside. Basic striker stuff. Jack also making everything to complicated.

[Niall_Quinn]

And Monreal is shocking and he can't defend, doesn't have a clue.

[Newguy]

I hope Wenger isn't thinking that this 11 is what he's going with first game against palace.... Get bif out, get Cazorla out, get Arteta out....Id prefer Ox and Joel.....Sanogo ahead of Giroud??? Possibly

[Gooner23]

HT 0-1 Monaco

Have to say it's all looked very pedestrian now Bif is back up top. So much breaks down around him and he's always trying flicks and fancy shit. He needs to be stronger in the challenges and FFS get in the box now and again BUT - without being offside. Basic striker stuff. Jack also making everything to complicated.

Starting XI for the season? I'd go;

Ches
Debuch, Chambers, Kos, Gibbs
Ramsey, Arteta
Ox, Rosicky, Santi
Alexis

[sibreen]

I'd like to see Campbell instead of Giroud second half, Ox instead of Jack.

[Power n Glory]

Campbell isn't on the bench. Sanchez will probably go off for the 2nd half. I hope Wenger leaves Giroud on the bench when the season starts. Even with Sanchez on the field, we're finding it hard to create chances. We need someone more mobile up front.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Starting XI for the season? I'd go;

Ches
Debuch, Chambers, Kos, Gibbs
Ramsey, Arteta
Ox, Rosicky, Santi
Alexis
For the first game of the season (assuming German contingent won't be ready)

Chesney

Debauchy Chambers Kosicenly Gibbs

Arteta

Rosicky Ramsey

Alexis, Oxlade

Giroud


Think we still need to get an improvement to Arteta. He's so reactive (instead of proactive) to snuffing out danger and doesn't offer much physicality and dominance in the centre. Khedria please!

Got to remember that this is Giroud's first 45 mins of football since he returned. He's understandably looked rusty.


Edit - Miguel on for Chalmers and Ox on for Giroud.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ox on for Bif. Does that mean Alexis up top? Interesting to see what happens now.

[Niall_Quinn]

How has Monreal been left on? Even though it's a friendly, it's plain to see he's not going to cut it. Give somebody else a chance.

[Gooner23]

Ox on for Bif. Does that mean Alexis up top? Interesting to see what happens now.

Looks like it, obviously very much in Wenger thoughts to play him centrally. Good news!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alexis is still on, WUMger wants the trophy.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No composure from Wheelchair, just hammered it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Alexis already 10x better than Bif. It's just a fact.

[Niall_Quinn]

Alexis is 3 foot 6 but he still wins the header and he chases back and wins the ball. Makes such a difference. Retaining possession in that part of the pitch is so important.

[Niall_Quinn]

Shoot Ox!

But already so much better. Bif's best position is the bench.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alexis gets a boot in the mush.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Plucked it out of the air with his head. :unsure:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Miquel header, flukes a save.

[Niall_Quinn]

So then, Alexis will start up top. Bif on the bench. Ox on the flank. This much is self evident. Middle needs to be sorted out now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Falcao off, straight up to the board room for him. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alexis shoots, wide.

Well done Cazorla.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wide by Alexis.

But suddenly we are keeping the ball, we have movement, we are pulling their defenders around. It makes such a difference having mobile players in key positions.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well done Ox. Raggi wants to score for us I am sure.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ox monstering them.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Miquel booked. As cynical as it gets. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Miquel :haha:

Little bit cynical.

[Niall_Quinn]

Fucking hell - how bad is Monreal? he just stands there watching the game go on around him.

[Niall_Quinn]

Get Santos back as a replacement for Monreal.

[Gooner23]

Alexis has to start up top for us.

[I am invisible]

Who's our left-sided version of Bellerin? We must have someone coming through?

[Niall_Quinn]

Akpom, Flamini and Zelalem on
Wheelchair, Santi and Alexis off

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Zelalem, Akpom and Flamini on. Wheelchair, Alexis and Cazorla off.

[Niall_Quinn]

Who's our left-sided version of Bellerin? We must have someone coming through?

Gibbs still.

[Newguy]

How arteta is rated by so many of you is beyond me lol....I'd play flamini ahead of arteta simply because he's better lol

[Niall_Quinn]

Owen manages to say "pace" 11 times in one segment. :bow:

[Munchies]

Just got on the game, how has Sanchez played?

[Niall_Quinn]

Just got on the game, how has Sanchez played?

Let's just say Bif has got a pants full of the brown stuff right now.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Come on Arsenal.

[Niall_Quinn]

It was a completely shit decision by Atkinson, but that's expected.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

How arteta is rated by so many of you is beyond me lol....I'd play flamini ahead of arteta simply because he's better lol

it's nothing to laugh about, i want to injure myself every time i see him in the starting xi

[McNamara That Ghost...]

PELANTY!!!

Akpom. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Atkinson :haha:

Even in a friendly he can't help cheating.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wait, the pelanty wasn't given? :haha:

[Munchies]

Let's just say Bif has got a pants full of the brown stuff right now.

ffs

Get rid of Giroud!

[Niall_Quinn]

Regardless of it being a friendly, when a ref makes a decision like that he can't be allowed to be a referee. That wasn't even close, there was no decision to be made. It was completely obvious. One ref and two assistants and they come up with a decision like that. It won't matter today but when we get this guy in a league match it becomes pure lottery rather than competitive sport.

[Gooner23]

Corruption rife, even in the Emirates Cup

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Emirates Cup. :rose:

It has nearly gone again.

Atkinson gives the correct decision but then changes his mind to the incorrect one. :haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

Lol - it was the Asian gambling syndicate who denied the pen :haha: They have their own man on the line today.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bellerin on to save us.

[Niall_Quinn]

Debuchy off - did okay. Bellerin on.

[Niall_Quinn]

Good stuff by Flamini. Booked though.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Get it in the mixer!

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Well the good thing is that whenever we've won the Emirates cup we haven't gone to win the league.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Just hoof it you berks.

[Gooner23]

Love that from Flamini. Some toss pot starts showboating so he gets two footed.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

0-1 FT. Valencia win the Emirates Cup.

Blowing a five point lead in one game. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

FT 0-1 to the dopers.

Not bad though.

We learned Alexis up top and Bif on the bench is a no-brainer.

Ox looks rearing to go - he could be our best player this season.

Charmers looks like very solid cover.

Debuchy seems to be like for like for Sagnacuntface.

Good performance from Campbell.

Sanogo 4 goals (WTF?)

Germans still to come back.

Walcott still to come.

Lots of positives.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Arteta :haha: :haha: :haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

We also learned it's a criminal waste to play Ramsey behind Jack.

[Niall_Quinn]

When you look at the trophy it's sort of nice not to win it.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Getting a bit tired of seeing Wilshere do nothing in particular.

[Niall_Quinn]

The newest pundit idea that Kos lacks leadership qualities has really bedded in.

[PGFC]

We also learned it's a criminal waste to play Jack.

:good:

[Niall_Quinn]

Speak for yourself Mcmanaman - some of us think van Gaal is an utter cunt. And we're right.

[Niall_Quinn]

Where was Pires? They said he'd be in the studio. Anyway, Wrighty doc coming up now. The Pires one yesterday was okay so maybe worth a watch, particularly as the voiceover isn't being done by Owen.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I really hopes Bellerin makes it at the club, on the spectacle of watching him play alone. Really good to watch.

Akpom a little like Gnabry is quite unlucky he has so much to contend with as he is a really good player.

Chambers looks calm enough to be in the side now, although the goal we conceded was all kinds of tragic. If they didn't know to be breathing down Falcao neck in that situation we really need to throw the defensive drills script out the window.

I really hope Wilshere realises just how much work he will need to do to get in this side and I agree that The Ox looks really ready to go. I really like his catalysing style influence on our attack.

Hard not to despair about Giroud at times though I am happy to have him.