**The Emirates Cup Thread** DAY 2: Arsenal v Rangers

[Tallest gooner]

I was at the game today, with my dad who had tickets for club level and full hospitality, he did a job for kerocera the shirt sponsor of altletico madrid thats why he got the tickets.

The whole prawn sandwich thing is unreal its like being waited on hand and foot, had free drinks all day, free food all day, 2 waiters to our table, free programme and the best seat i have ever had at the emirates in the box next to the directors box on the halfway line, sat behind alan curbishley with his missus (my old man said he is in a legal battle with west ham????).

Saw Wenger and Fabio having a good old chat during the the 1st game, probaly about Wilshere getting a shout for Engerland

Thoughts on the game..........

> Still cant defend corners or set pieces into the box to save our lives, its like panic stations everytime a ball comes in either almunia flaps or punches it into danger or defenders hack it clear last min.

> Silvevtre has got to be the worst signing this century, couldnt even keep Klye Lafferty quiet, looks slow, mistake prone and step behind everything that happens.

> Eboue and Song had better games than i was expecting, saying that eboue spoilt it by acting like a right nobhead at the end.

> Wilshere, Arshavin and Eduardo were bang on there game and looked sharp, fit and ready to make a big impact this season, maybe Wilsheres impact will be from the bench.

In general looks like the same sort of thing as last season, never really was a problem going foward just at the back and in the middle of the park we lack leadership and physical presents espeicaly from set pieces. ( But we have known that for 2 seasons!! ) For me 2 signings to this squad and we will be up there for a shout!! Has to be the right sigings tho not the cheaper/older option!!

[Lethal]

good post agree totally

eboue is just a embarrasment

[n7gooner]

The only problem I had with the attack today was that we seemed scared to shoot in the second half a few times it was back to the old pass across the box and let denilson put it into the upper teir.

[peeps112]

We all have to be careful about heaping too much pressure on the boy but jesus wilshire is going to be absolute class Did you hear the pillock from sky interviewing him afterwards and asking him if he knew that capello was at the game ? FFS give the kid a chance to make it into our team before you start lauding him up for the engerland senior team

As hard as this may seem I really thought that silvestre was worse today than last season Hot knife through butter springs to mind How about almunia defending the corner into his 6 yard box when he boxed it straight down to a rangers guy and only merida was on the line to block the shot he would have lost his clean sheet. I know that he did ok but I really cannot see traore ahead of either clichy or gibbs in the pecking order and if so is there any point in keeping 3 left backs ??

On the plus side I thought that merida did well, arshavin looked class as usual but for me eduardo gave rvp an exibition on how to play the lone striker role and his finishing was deadly as usual Oh and case I forgot wilshire is going to be different class

i also think song was very strong today when he played midfield holding for cesc and merida - not so much at the back but then again silvestre makes anyone alongside him look dreadful.

merida is an interesting player in that center role. i thought his vision was excellent and he was willing to take long shots, something we always need.

wilshire was the best player on the field for the second day in a row, something that is no small feat with arshavin in the lineup (not to mention fab and eddy in there).

augie your point about ed is so well taken. he really does know how to link up as the lone striker. his runs are so well timed - he was in free about three or four times if he had his touch on or didnt realize he was onside, and his finishing is WORLD class.

[peeps112]

I was at the game today, with my dad who had tickets for club level and full hospitality, he did a job for kerocera the shirt sponsor of altletico madrid thats why he got the tickets.

The whole prawn sandwich thing is unreal its like being waited on hand and foot, had free drinks all day, free food all day, 2 waiters to our table, free programme and the best seat i have ever had at the emirates in the box next to the directors box on the halfway line, sat behind alan curbishley with his missus (my old man said he is in a legal battle with west ham????).

Saw Wenger and Fabio having a good old chat during the the 1st game, probaly about Wilshere getting a shout for Engerland

Thoughts on the game..........

> Still cant defend corners or set pieces into the box to save our lives, its like panic stations everytime a ball comes in either almunia flaps or punches it into danger or defenders hack it clear last min.

> Silvevtre has got to be the worst signing this century, couldnt even keep Klye Lafferty quiet, looks slow, mistake prone and step behind everything that happens.

> Eboue and Song had better games than i was expecting, saying that eboue spoilt it by acting like a right nobhead at the end.

> Wilshere, Arshavin and Eduardo were bang on there game and looked sharp, fit and ready to make a big impact this season, maybe Wilsheres impact will be from the bench.

In general looks like the same sort of thing as last season, never really was a problem going foward just at the back and in the middle of the park we lack leadership and physical presents espeicaly from set pieces. ( But we have known that for 2 seasons!! ) For me 2 signings to this squad and we will be up there for a shout!! Has to be the right sigings tho not the cheaper/older option!!

tallest i have to disagree on one point. today we looked much more dynamic and threatening than last year, and i really think losing ade and perhaps robin or even theo not playing had a lot to do with it, or eboue playing right back and not right mid. instead of ade holding the ball up and taking way too long, slowing down the attack - or for that matter rvp doing the same thing taking way too many touches, eduardo or arshavin would make one touch back and spinning off (a great example was the second goal - arshavin's one touch), allowing cesc or merida to find a wide player or another runner inside.

it is so tough not to put jack in a starting lineup for everton, as he is so valuable cutting inside from the wing instead of counting on theo or eboue to just run straight and try and get past for a cross to no one. the former really plays much better in our game, as wilshire was combining sublimely with cesc, andrei, ed, and fran today. lovely stuff.

[Gunnersaurus]

Agree about the front 3 being sharp, with Lazy going I can see this being a good thing for next year, the attacks were pretty much hard to read which defenders wont like, the slowed down, predictibility has now gone from the final 3rd.

Thought Song played really well, wasn't really sold on him last year apart from in the last few months but yesterday he looked every bit the player (Rangers were awfull though so will be interested to see if he starts the season like that)

The contrast between him and Denilson now is very noticable, when Song moved back and Denilson came on you could really tell the level had dropped.

Wasn't impressed wit Eboue at the end either, maybe I'm getting old but if you are gonna act the clown then at least put in a good display, granted he was a bit better at RB (but then he always is) but he still made me ask why at some points.

Good to see Rosicky and Eduardo feature on both days, if there was any risks about their fitness then they would have only played on one so that has to be a good sign.

[Tallest gooner]

I was at the game today, with my dad who had tickets for club level and full hospitality, he did a job for kerocera the shirt sponsor of altletico madrid thats why he got the tickets.

The whole prawn sandwich thing is unreal its like being waited on hand and foot, had free drinks all day, free food all day, 2 waiters to our table, free programme and the best seat i have ever had at the emirates in the box next to the directors box on the halfway line, sat behind alan curbishley with his missus (my old man said he is in a legal battle with west ham????).

Saw Wenger and Fabio having a good old chat during the the 1st game, probaly about Wilshere getting a shout for Engerland

Thoughts on the game..........

> Still cant defend corners or set pieces into the box to save our lives, its like panic stations everytime a ball comes in either almunia flaps or punches it into danger or defenders hack it clear last min.

> Silvevtre has got to be the worst signing this century, couldnt even keep Klye Lafferty quiet, looks slow, mistake prone and step behind everything that happens.

> Eboue and Song had better games than i was expecting, saying that eboue spoilt it by acting like a right nobhead at the end.

> Wilshere, Arshavin and Eduardo were bang on there game and looked sharp, fit and ready to make a big impact this season, maybe Wilsheres impact will be from the bench.

In general looks like the same sort of thing as last season, never really was a problem going foward just at the back and in the middle of the park we lack leadership and physical presents espeicaly from set pieces. ( But we have known that for 2 seasons!! ) For me 2 signings to this squad and we will be up there for a shout!! Has to be the right sigings tho not the cheaper/older option!!

tallest i have to disagree on one point. today we looked much more dynamic and threatening than last year, and i really think losing ade and perhaps robin or even theo not playing had a lot to do with it, or eboue playing right back and not right mid. instead of ade holding the ball up and taking way too long, slowing down the attack - or for that matter rvp doing the same thing taking way too many touches, eduardo or arshavin would make one touch back and spinning off (a great example was the second goal - arshavin's one touch), allowing cesc or merida to find a wide player or another runner inside.

it is so tough not to put jack in a starting lineup for everton, as he is so valuable cutting inside from the wing instead of counting on theo or eboue to just run straight and try and get past for a cross to no one. the former really plays much better in our game, as wilshire was combining sublimely with cesc, andrei, ed, and fran today. lovely stuff.

Would have to agree with your point peeps we did look alot quicker and sharper up front due to the combination of eduardo and arshavin.

But my point was more aimed at how we defend in games, like i said i dont think its ever been a problem going foward and dont think it ever will be, thats proved by the stats, we only scored 4 less goals than Manure last season but conceded way more!!

Gallas is the best defender at the club by a millions miles but he needs a big unit next to him to combat the aerial threat we are put under by the likes of Stoke and similar teams. (If vermaleen can fill that void then fair enough, but i have my doubts).

On your point of starting Wilshere at Everton, im unsure wether he is totally ready to be thrown into the mix, as someone said Rangers did fuck all yesterday, so he wasnt really tested on defending his wing. I can def see him having a big impact from the bench and in the cup runs.