A dominant and expected victory over Barnet in the pe-season opener then, and a good chance to see Arsenal’s two summer signings in action.
Of the two it was far easier to get a good idea of what Marouane Chamakh is all about – maybe because I have already seen more than enough of the athletic striker for Bordeaux to know what he will bring to the team. He is very much the sort of striker that creative midfielders need to play well, a “wall” to play off up front in many ways. His touch is very good and he more often than not finds an intelligent pass into the feet of one of the supporting players. The Moroccan’s aerial prowess could be an important weapon that we didn’t see a lot of today, but from his Bordeaux performances that I saw it is very clear that he will be a handful for any defender.
I think the big question is where he will fit in here, and today gave us no real clue as he played the part of a target man for the second half, a role that he can certainly fill – but when Robin van Persie returns will he stay central, be moved out wide or left on the bench as an impact substitute and 2nd choice main striker? Those are the questions that only time will give us the answers to.
Laurent Koscielny, meanwhile, enjoyed a far more comfortable afternoon than his defensive partner Vermaelen did a year ago in the same fixture. My first impression is that he seems like a defender who is in the same mould as his Belgian team mate, with an obvious desire to win the ball ahead of the striker and move out of defence with the ball. Too similar? Not if they learn to play together as a partnership, and that will be crucial if he has indeed been brought in as a first choice. On the ball he looked as calm and composed as you’d expect of a Wenger signing, and the coming pre-season fixtures will hopefully give us a better insight on the summer signing from Lorient.
As for the other players on show, it was Emmanuel Frimpong who really shone today as one of the younger players looking to catch the eye. The game highlighted his strength, determination and desire to press the ball quickly and was a big factor in our monopoly of possession. Unfortunately his passing ability does let him down at times, whilst against any side who are good on the ball he’d need another midfielder sitting with him, in the way that he and Coquelin formed such a great partnership at youth level. Hopefully he’ll get himself a good loan move on the back of this pre-season and take it from there.
Jack Wilshere was another to look lively, with typical intelligence throughout his half of football which resulted in two assists for Jay Simpson. Will this be the year he is ready for Arsenal? I’m not as convinced as many, certainly in a central position as he can take big risks that weren’t picked up on at Bolton as they would be at the Emirates. There’s no doubting he is destined for great things in the future though.
Elsewhere Ignasi Miquel as the youngest player to take part did well at centre back and Andrey Arshavin was outstanding as he continually tormented the Barnet right back. Conor Henderson was also very calm and composed as he got a chance in midfield for the second half, whilst the two players who disappointingly missed out on a World Cup place, Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri, looked pretty sharp as they look to prove a point this season.
Arsenal, welcome back.
