Total-Timber, The New Overmars, The Swarm of Bees is Back: 8 Observations from Arsenal v Barcelona

TotalArsenal

If you were able to attend the game, or even watch it live from the comfort of your sofa, it will have been quite a spectacle. Of course, once you know the score it is always a different experience, but I still enjoyed the intensity of the game. Eight goals is also nothing to complain about, and I was especially pleased with the cohesion and purposefulness of the team.

Eight quick observations:

  1. The defence is a work in progress, but the big plus at this stage of season-preparation is no doubt the addition of Timber to the team. Play him left or right, it does not seem to matter. Early days of course, but Jurien offers that rare combination of strength, speed and a great touch and passing ability. He also has presence; you just notice him on the pitch constantly. I liked it that Arteta played him on the left with White on the right. It shows we have options.
  2. Saliba is still looking a bit rusty but of course he is taking it easy, and he knows that staying fit is his biggest priority. We did concede three goals but the good thing was that except for the first one, when Saliba clearly was keen not to overstretch and allowed a very dangerous pass into the box, they were all the result of us making defensive mistakes. A big deflection of a soft wall from a free-kick left Ramsdale without any chance of saving it, and the last goal happened after an unfortunate slip by Holdingho. Gradually, the defence will sharpen up and work these sort of mistakes out of their game. A defence of White, Saliba, Gab and Timber looks very strong to me. As good as any in the League.
  3. I will have to say once again what a top, top player Bukayo Saka is. He scares defenders and, other than giving him a kicking, they do not know how to stop him. He is both effective and efficient by creating opportunities for himself and others whilst never overdoing it. It reminds me of Dutch wing-masters Overmars and Robben who both were unstoppable and efficient.
  4. On the left we looked a lot more balanced with the introduction of Timber at (advanced) full back. Partey looked much less isolated than Rice did v the kicking Mancs, and the link up play with the excellent Trossard and Havertz was much better, I thought. We were almost equally as dangerous from the left as from the right, and Trossard is just such an intelligent, energetic and direct wingman. His two goals were great and full of opportunism, but it was his total left flank involvement that really impressed me. What a (winter) signing, and on this evidence I prefer him to Martinelli.
  5. Jesus is getting back to his best. The world cup was a disaster for him and he never looked the same after his injury and then return to the team. But the man with the best emoji face in football is starting to purr again, and the return of that swarm of excited wasps that puts any defence out of their comfort zone is about to pounce again on a regular basis. This will be Jesus’ best season yet. I am feeling it.
  6. It looks like Partey is staying, and this is probably my biggest remaining transfer window hope. Thomas glided over the pitch and looked six years younger on Thursday morning. He had a fine game and with so many big games coming up, we need his experience next to Declan Rice’s hunger and youthfulness. They can play together but also give each other a break when needed, and very few teams can say they have equal, let alone better, deep midfielders in their midst.
  7. Havertz remains a bit of an enigma to me. I still have to see how he will fit into the team. I like his presence and energy, though, and he also seems to have a nose for sensing where to position himself (a skill that cannot be learned). I love his extra height compared to other attackers, and he is adding the high ball into the box option to our play. Saka and Odegaard will pick him out regularly and I can see many goals coming from this.
  8. One of the big plusses of these two friendlies is that Emile seems to be back in the squad, and he looked good when he came on in the second half. The departure of Granit seems to be a good move for him, and Emile and Kai can compete with each other for this all important position. They both lack the defensive abilities of our sadly departed Swiss maestro, but there is a lot to come from both of them in attack.

By TotalArsenal.

73 thoughts on “Total-Timber, The New Overmars, The Swarm of Bees is Back: 8 Observations from Arsenal v Barcelona”

  • Nice one TA. ESR and viera needs to impose and should feel part of the team. ESR was that guy in the season he scored 10 goals. Viera is still shy and just glides along and plays the safe passes. They both needs to be fearless and should feel that they have the responsibility to .ale something happen. If they do that and impose on the game we will have a fantastic squad. I agree with you that Tomas and Rice can compliment each other and provide much needed rest to each other in what looks like a long season ahead. Hopefully with a trophy.

  • Hi folks,

    I’m feeling well enough to run our prediction competition for the coming season and I’ve prepared the required spreadsheet. All I need to know is if BKers are interested?

    A reminder of the rules.

    1. Six games will be selected each week for your prediction.
    One point awarded for each correct prediction.

    2. Three of the six games will be selected for a score prediction.
    Two points awarded for each correct prediction.

    3. Four points awarded to the person with the highest score.
    The points will be shared in the case of identical scores.

    4. Ten super points awarded in the case of a person getting 100% of the predictions correct.

    My plan will be to select the weekend of August 12/13 games during the weekend of August 5/6.

    Please let me know your thoughts.

  • Thank you for your post Total.

    You are able to give me deeper understanding of our team and it’s possibilities that I don’t pick up when I watch a game..

    I’m happy that you want the competition to continue.

  • Fine post, Total. Led me to an outburst of glossolalia.
    Super, GN5. I’ll be up for it, as long as I can travel in the back of Kev’s taxi… 😇

  • Thanks Sharkey, always good to hear from you, and, as always, I am honoured about your play on my name. Hope all is well with you and your family. 🙂

  • GN5, glad you are feeling better. Count me in!

    TA, much to agree with in your post. If Kieran stays what options Mikel has at wing-back: KT, Zinchenko, Timber, Tomi and White!

    Madhu, Emile certainly looked like he wanted to impress, and he did. Of course, he has the advantage of having played more than the others due to his matches with England U21s. Viera was a bit anonymous but should get a lot of confidence from that goal!

  • That’s great Total an Arsenal away shirt as a prize to the winner of the competition is a super idea. Thank you!!

  • Fine post, TA. Nothing to disagree with; though couldn’t help noticing you have easily dropped Tierney from a possible back 4 (with Zinchenko out). Well, we’d see about that. I still think Tierney can stake a reclaim of his position if Zinchenko stay unfit.

    What I liked most about that win vs Barca was the fact we got a reaction from the players, after the loss to the red side Mancs. Arteta must have demanded it; it will reassure him as it did the fan base.

    The defence is still getting to know one another (again, as is the case with Saliba-Gab) with the Timber addition and the usual pre-season changes to give game time to as many players as possible. All the goals conceded have been from errors which can be cut out by the start of the season.
    Yeah, Partey did boss that midfield; perhaps memories of the many dwells he had with good Barca midfielders in his time in La Liga spurred him on. Whatever the case, he showed why he just cannot be sold this window. Bar Mo’ Salah, Saka has got to be the best right winger in the league, nay, Europe.

    I am confident Havertz will come good soon as the rest of the team become aware of what he brings: guile, tenacity and that instinct for the right position to take, which Xhaka brought last season. I agree, he will get a lot of opportunities to get us goals.

    So, for me, cut out the errors and we should be good at the back; no problem with the forward areas.

  • GN5, of course, I am in. The prediction game is a great season’s highlight to have on the blog. Nice touch too, TA, to give away the shirt.

  • Good post Total, I think that Havertz is going to be a surprise packet not least because expectations of him are so low…

    Yep GN5, I’m in again on the quiz and yes Stu, you can ride in the back of my cab any time.

  • Saw that too. Even if it is a story meant to give Ramsdale a jolt, it is something to consider. The man needs the competition.

  • I read that story too. Even if it is to give Ramsdale a kick up the backside, it should be considered. The man needs the competition, methinks.

  • Also read that Forest are interested in our USMNT keeper, Matt Turner. Not sure what to make of that as he hardly got a shout last season. He is a good shot and penalty stopper; whom we may find useful on occasion. However, as the national team keeper, he needs to be playing more games than what we offered.

  • GN5 count me in as well. Prediction game is one of the highlights of this blog. Hope that you are doing better and pls take care of your health.
    TA thanks been doing well and spending my summer here in Uk. Scheduled to go back to Bangalore on 15th after the season starts.
    Can’t wait for the season to start though.

  • Thank you guy’s for supporting the prediction competition.

    PB I hope you join in this season, with your knowledge you should be a whiz!!

  • More lenient on physical challenges, is that PGMOL speak for fouls?

    So when Saka gets routinely kicked up in the air the officials will simply ignore it and if Saka dares to complain he’ll be cautioned.

    Marvellous!

  • Yeah, right. Soon after Granit Xhaka leaves the scene, they introduce a higher threshold and leniency for physical challenges?
    Well, at least, he won’t fall frequent victim of the reduced threshold for yellow cards for dissenting ref decisions. 😀

  • Saint Maximin leaving Newcastle for £26.8m to Saudi or basically PIF transferring one of its players from one of its clubs to another one of its clubs, nothing to see here?
    Maybe that’ll leave enough in the Newcastle coffers to assist in making a realistic bid for Tierney?

  • Still no movement from the Pepe camp, I can’t help but wonder if he’s seen the likes of Aubameyang, Lacazette, Kolasinac, Ozil, Mustafi walk away for nothing tha5 that’s in his mind, given that he’s only gotta hang about on his big wages for one more year then he can walk…

  • GN5, it will be my pleasure to participate.
    Sorry to bring this up again – and please disregard if it increases the workload of the prediction assessment significantly -, but I still think that guessing the exact goal difference is a big achievement (predicting a 2:2 draw in a 3:3 game is ‘superior’ to a 4:1 prediction, and for a 4:1 game a 3:0 prediction is much better than a 0:3), so it could worth a single point compared to the 0 for the other similarly incorrect, but maybe not equally wrong predictions.

  • TA, Eris, I see 0 credibility in the Raya rumor.
    Not that Romano, Ornstein or The Guardian/Athletic have no credibility, but it just don’t make sense. Just like City going for Rice didn’t make sense – and was indeed never serious.
    We are not in the market for a goalkeeper. Raya (with 2 senior caps from 2022) is smarter than to continue his career as a #2 for Arsenal. And 40M is quite some money, which would make him the 5th most expensive goalkeeper in history.

    We are well covered at the goalkeeping department. Turner keeps showing in USMNT games that he is more capable than we give him credit for. And probably Arteta owes the Kroenkes to keep 1-2 US players at the club.

    You may say that competition is good, and Ramsdale could benefit from that; but currently we are not a ‘competing for the starting spot’ type of team, but a ‘the first choice player always starts, regardless of form’ type. just ask Turner/Ramsdale, Jesus/Nketiah, Saliba/Holding, Zinchenko/Tierney, Saka/Nelson/Pepe, White/Tomiyasu, Odegaard/Vieira.

    The only position where there was a hint of competition last year was LW, but even the few occasions when Trossard started ahead of a fit Martinelli could be explained with pre-planned resting. This year I predict the ‘competitive positions’ to be extended to RB (between White and Timber), but let’s not expect Arteta to make a full paradigm shift in the summer.
    So even though Ramsdale could benefit from an upgrade at the second choice goalkeeper department, that shouldn’t convince Raya to join. Maybe there is a slightly better salary for him, but a huge step back in his career after playing 38/38 PL games last season.

    From where I stand this is obviously an agent-facilitated rumor without any foundation whatsoever. Unfortunately for David Tottenham and United have already made their GK investment, and Bayern has Sommer and Ulreich to compete for the starting spot when Neuer is injured. So the best option he has is to sign a new contract with Brentford, and linking him with us is the right strategy to improve his position.

  • PB, I’m really happy that you are joining the competition.

    As far as your proposed changes are concerned I frankly have no idea how to include them in my spreadsheet and to attempt them manually would be a bridge to far.

    I’ll give it some thought and see if I can figure it out for later in the season.

  • For those that don’t know Sunday Aug 6th is the Charity Shield game Man C v Arsenal.

  • All good points, PB. I am not entirely sure whether Aaron has got the Nr1 spot bagged. So a new goal keeper may be encouraged by this.

    Also image we have ten games to go and Aaron, knock on wood, gets badly injured. Is Turner going to save our season???

  • GN5, I took part in a similar competition a long time ago and we got one point if we predicted the right result (win, draw or lose), two points if we predicted the right result with one correct score, and five points with to correct scores.

    So game finished 3-1

    Prediction 1-0= 1 point
    Prediction 2-1 = 2 points
    Prediction 3-1 = 5 points.

    Not sure if you are able to put this into the spreadsheet, though.

  • Kev, I am with you on that point to do with Nicholas Pepe. Curious how a player who tore Ligue 1 defences to shreds a few seasons ago (and didn’t do too badly on loan last season) cannot get a club to put up some money for his services. I knew we had set some bad precedents to follow when we started to allow some big, overpaid players walk for free.

  • PB, I am not sure the Kroenkes care if we have one or two Americans in the side, as romantic as that would look. See how Folarin didn’t get a good shout during the recent tour of the USA, as an example.

    Again, I am reading that Sheffield united are in for Trusty, anyway. Selling Turner, if we got a good fee, shouldn’t pose a problem if we are getting a better keeper in. Forest are making enquiries about him.
    I also read that personal terms have been agreed with the David Raya, so this is more than just the agents doing their thing, PB. However, until it gets done, one can never know.

  • Total. I’m reluctant to make changes to the spreadsheet as it took a lot of time to creates the formula’s and check and balances. But what both yourself and PB have suggested in certainly not inconceivable.

    I think the best way forward is to start the season with my existing spreadsheet and ( if I can get my head around it) I will attempt to create a new spreadsheet which incorporates the new suggestions.

  • Monaco is giving our starting 11 a stern test, which is not a bad thing as the start of the season approaches and sharpness is required.

    It would seem we are resting some of our big hitters for the Charity shield; or, Saka, Gabby Jesus and Odegaard are nursing injuries.

    1-1, so far. Fofana for the visitors and Nketiah for the hosts. Half time, with the second half soon to start.

  • Arsene Wenger in attendance for the unveiling of his statue. It would seem GJ9 is out injured but we may get to see the others mentioned above.

    Aleksandr Golovin is a talent; just a bit too slight of frame to cut it in the EPL. I recall Wenger did eye him at some po8nt…

  • Ends 1-1. Arsenal win the shootout to take the emirates Cup for 2023. These are the kind of games we need to remind us we are in Europe the coming season. Good workout for Fabio Vieira and Kiwior, who both played the entire game.

  • I have to say that Monaco looked the better team and should have won the game in open play. They controlled the pace of the game, had plenty of possession and created the better chances. Fabio is showing a marked improvement over last season which is pleasing but he still needs to work on his crosses. Timber, is looking to be the best of our recent purchases at the moment but, you could see that, Declan and Kai are becoming more comfortable in their new roles and with their new teammates. On this showing, I would say that, the players who are the closest to being ready for the new season are Marti, Leandro, Jorginho, Thomas and Eddie. The starting lineup is going to quite different on Saturday though!

  • GJ9 must be devastated by the injury and missing the start of the new season.

  • GN5, I am totally happy – no pun intended 😂 – with you keeping it the way it is, buddy. It’s a great and well run and fair competition. 🙂

  • I second TA’s assertion.
    You’re the boss here, and you’re ongoing contribution give this blog a significant edge over many others.
    Keep it up, keep it real!

  • Here are my selections for the weekend of Aug 12/13. You will note that I’ve made every game a score game, so 3 points available for each game – 1 point for correct game prediction and 2 points for each correct score. If enough of you like the idea then we can make it permanent.

    Arsenal v Nottingham Forest *
    AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United *
    Sheffield United v Crystal Palace *
    Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur *
    Chelsea v Liverpool *
    Villarreal v Real Betis *

  • Total/PB.

    Thank you for your comments – frankly the competition is good therapy for me as it helps to keep my mind off of dark thoughts.

  • Sorry to hear you have dark thoughts sometimes, GN5. That makes me extra grateful for your contributions to the blog. Keep trucking 🚛 🚛 🚛 buddy. 🙂

  • Here we go, here we go, here we go…

    Arsenal v Nottingham Forest * 3-0
    AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United * 1-1
    Sheffield United v Crystal Palace * 1-2
    Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur * 1-0
    Chelsea v Liverpool * 1-1
    Villarreal v Real Betis * 2-1

    Here’s a song for you GN5. Darkness is only the absence of light. Let it, let Him flood into your beautiful soul, mate. We love you.

  • GN5, maybe a few black n white pictures of London buses will lighten your mood?

  • Keep on keeping on, GN5. Soothing and apt song, Stuart. TA, loved the pic too.

  • My predictions for the selections…

    Arsenal v Nottingham Forest * 2-0
    AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United * 2-1
    Sheffield United v Crystal Palace * 2-2
    Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur * 2-1
    Chelsea v Liverpool * 3-2
    Villarreal v Real Betis * 2-1

  • Arsenal v Nottingham Forest * 3-0
    AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United * 2-1
    Sheffield United v Crystal Palace * 1-1
    Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur * 2-1
    Chelsea v Liverpool * 1-2
    Villarreal v Real Betis * 2-1

  • Arsenal v Nottingham Forest * 3-1
    AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United * 0-2
    Sheffield United v Crystal Palace * 0-1
    Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur * 0-2
    Chelsea v Liverpool * 0-2
    Villarreal v Real Betis * 1-2

  • Arsenal v Nottingham Forest * 3-1
    AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United * 1-1
    Sheffield United v Crystal Palace * 2-1
    Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur * 1-0
    Chelsea v Liverpool * 2-2
    Villarreal v Real Betis * 2-0

  • Thank you gents. I really appreciate your comments.
    Stuart – the song was very touching and along with Total’s picture it brought a few tears to my eyes.

  • Total, my comment with my predictions is stuck in limbo.
    When I try to re-send, it is acknowledged as a duplicate, yet I can’t seem to find it even after 6 hours of the first submit.

  • I’ll give the lads a cheer from you all at Wembley later this afternoon, Stu, ask for a minor miracle eh?

  • Indeed, Total. An empire was lost.

    I fancy us, Kev. Where’s your seat and what are you wearing? I’ll look out for you on my biggish screen…

  • Here are my prediction GN5. Hope you stop having dark thoughts with another exciting season to begin.
    Arsenal v Nottingham Forest * 3-1
    AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United * 1-1
    Sheffield United v Crystal Palace * 1-1
    Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur * 3-1
    Chelsea v Liverpool * 2-3
    Villarreal v Real Betis * 1-0

  • Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz.
    Subs: Turner, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Holding, Vieira, Trossard, Smith Rowe, Nketiah.

    Manchester City: Ortega, Walker, Dias, Stones, Akanji, Kovacic, Rodrigo, Silva, Grealish, Alvarez, Haaland.
    Subs: Ederson, Lewis, Gomez, Laporte, Phillips, McAtee, De Bruyne, Foden, Palmer.

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