Only two pre-season games in but already you can see which players have started with a real determination ahead of the new campaign and top of that list is Samir Nasri.
Missing out on France’s car-crash of a World Cup campaign seems to have galvanised the 23 year old judging by his pre-season form with Nasri looking physically stronger and going by yesterday’s performance, the sharpest of the Arsenal players at this stage.
He opened the scoring by showing quick feet and and rifling a finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area before find the top corner with a wonderfully struck free kick shortly before half time, when he was withdrawn from the action.
He’s always been excellent at retaining possession in tight areas and finding a team mate but the frustration has been that he is clearly capable of so much more. Staying fit will of course be crucial but if he manages that then this could be the year where we see the real Samir Nasri.
Another criticism has been that he can’t play on the wing and it’s true that he would prefer to be at the heart of the action, just as most players with his attributes would. But I disagree that he can’t play excellently on the right or on the left, he has had games where he has been brilliant on the flanks. I is simply a case of needing him to grow more as a player and become more consistent and confident in his his approach to the game.
And judging on his displays in pre-season thus far, it appears that he may just have found his feet at last.
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Other stand-out performers in the comfortable 3-0 win over Sturm Graz were undoubtedly Havard Nordtveit and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who both looked like players who are desperate to become part of Wenger’s plans this season.
That might be a target out of reach for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas but Eduardo leaving maybe there is a small opportunity for him somewhere, and if not then I am certain many clubs will be looking at a loan deal. He really does have a brilliant touch and great feet, especially when you consider he is built more like an American footballer than a typical Arsenal player. His talent I don’t think is in question but his future at this club will be decided by his application and attitude – if he gets those right then there is no reason why he can’t forge a career for himself at the Emirates.
Nordtveit, meanwhile, has come to the end of his footballing education out on loan and will surely fancy a place in the 1st team squad for next season as a utility player to fill in when needed at right back, centre back or as a holding midfielder. He’s showed great composure so far this pre-season and I’d really like to see how he copes at centre back when Sagna and Eboue return to their right back roles.
As for more impressions of the new signings, there was little to be said that hasn’t already been mentioned. Laurent Koscielny likes to keep tight and win the ball early much like Vermaelen does, and his heading ability was shown a little more in the Sturm Graz game. Marouane Chamakh continues to ease himself into pre-season and despite the heat and tiring training schedule seemed one of the more energetic players with some excellent pressure from the front. His touch was hit and miss but having seen him at Bordeaux I’d put that down to heavy legs rather than poor technique.
