Arteta and his boys will face many other clubs, in America and back at home, in preparation for the upcoming season. The Gunners had planned five friendlies before facing Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 6th. They’ve already played Bundesliga 2 side Nurnberg, drawing 1-1, and their next opponents are the MLS All-Stars, Manchester United, Barcelona, and Monaco in the Emirates Cup.
This run of games will allow the Gunners to practice certain tactical set-ups. It also provides an opportunity for players who have been outside of the main group last season, to compete for a spot in the first team and gain momentum for the upcoming season.
So in the following weeks, who deserves a chance to prove their worth to be trusted for Arteta’s project? This is my 3 to watch…
Folarin Balogun
On loan at Stade de Reims, the Hale End Graduate performed excellently. There’s a lot of speculation concerning his future; some Gooners believe he’ll go, while others think he’ll stay. Balogun deserves a chance this summer; perhaps the US star can persuade Arteta to keep and experiment with him in attack. In terms of goals, he scored 21 in 37 games last season in Ligue 1, establishing himself as one of the best attackers in France.
Jakub Kiwior
If you look at his Spezia highlights, Kiwior is a fantastic defender. But the question is whether he can make an impression in the Premier League. The need to rotate players to rest them next season will force others to step up, and this is how Kiwior contributes to Arteta’s project.
This pre-season could be the ideal time for Kiwior to show us what he’s capable of, boosting confidence ahead of next season.
Ethan Nwaneri
The Hale End graduate has just signed a new contract with the Gunners, notwithstanding his record-breaking season and media attention. Nwaneri, last season, became the Premier League’s youngest-ever player when he faced Brentford at 15. This is a great achievement; he may have set the record, and while he is gifted, does his talent warrant the hype? We can know if he’s given a chance in the next few weeks.
Even with some Gunners’ spots all but secured, this fixture-heavy season will surely see regular starters rotated and replaced and it would be great for these three to break into the first XI in this campaign.
Which three peripheral players would you like to see step up?
Daniel O
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All training without match practice is futile, So Arsenal preseason friendlies are a great way to improve fitness and practice all drills and combination conceived in training.
Arsenal preseason will take on a new dimension this season, these friendlies are perfect to incorporate new signings like Rice, Havertz and Timber, figuring out where these new players fit in the system is key to a flying start of the upcoming campaign
Havertz key position must be identified and settled on early.
Timber has to be sorted and settled if he’s going to be our first choice right back.
We got to identify the perfect formation for Declan Rice, and must establish if he will be the captain to take Arsenal forward. .
So before the new football season begins, this is a unique opportunity for Arsenal to regroup and prepare.
I think Arsenal are looking to sell Balogun or Nketiah. They wouldn’t be able to offer Balogun a new contract if Nketiah is still around
Kiwior would likely become a squad rotation player and Nwaneri has to wait until Odegaard/ Vieira/ Havertz leave a few years later
Balogun and Nketiah are poachers and should be ready to score at any occasion;Balogun is notablement superior in that role.Kiwior is showing progress and Knawery given minutes to play should overcame Vieira very soon.
Why did Arsenal buy Vieira when they were developing outstanding midfield prospects like ESR, Nwaneri and Patino in the Hale End Academy?
And the funny thing is Vieira cost more than Odegaard! Madness.
You can’t win them all mate. Viera is one of those misses. His acquisition was quite questionable though, seeing as what was needed as at the time was a defensive midfielder.
Vieira just needs to take care of the physical aspect of his game and the pace of the Premier league, he is technically very good and still very young, all is not lost ,he can still make it at Arsenal.
No method in the madness whatsoever,Ozziegunner and Quantic . I have no confidence whatsoever that Viera will break out this season and make me eat my words. At least with Mudryik Chelsea saw glimpses of a a player with speed, stamina and positioning sense who can read a game. He has nowhere near justified his price tag but smart money says he will. With Viera we saw nothing. And why why why aren’t our academy players given similar opportunities. This one is in Education and Arteta.
When i said it last week that the acquisition of some of these players is an opportunity for Arteta to waste money.
The Admin called me out and was giving unprintable names just because I voiced my opinion.
By the end of next season, many of you will be asking the same question why we bought Kai Hervatz for 65m.
Here are my two responses to your ridiculous statements
1…… The point is how do you KNOW that Rice is a waste of money and Arteta is just buying him to spend the clubs money, Mr Uncool?
2….. @MrUncool
“Arteta did not see anything special in him other than an opportunity to waste money and he is not going to make him a better player either.”
You are either a Nostradamus or a verified crazy troll. I’m going for the latter ….
Now can you explain why EITHER of my two replies were unprintable Mr VERY uncool????
Balogun story is just like Saliba no body believed even Arteta that injury to Saliba can caused Arsenal not to win last season premier League.the club should think well about this Player issue so that the team will not regret their actions against the boy
Mikael Arteta or shall I say Arsenal should not sell Balogun.It will be a d3cision made that will be regretted at a later stage like so many other exceptional players before him
I know Arteta praises versatility and depth but it looks like Balogun versus Nketiah. Neither really have the ability to play anywhere else other than centre forward and only one is needed. Nketiah came in last season and looked like a competent stand in but even them was edged out in favour of Trossard.
What we need is a reserve centre forward who can come in and look like he means to keep the place even when Jesus returns. Nketiah is 24, he really is not going to be that guy. Balogun deserves that chance if he wants it.
All Arteta can do is place Balogun on the bench early in the season – giving him chances in the game – and leave Nketiah out. That is a fair ranking of the pecking order, If either of them do not like it then move them on before the window shuts. Even if we lose both it is not a disaster. Trossard can play centre forward and other players can be signed.
Nwaneri is 16 but along with Lewis Skelley needs to be promoted to the first team squad to train with better players, pick things up over the next couple of years and take chances when they come.
After a sluggish start and terrible performances in the Europa Cup, Kiwior has shown he can come and perform in different roles. He is not knocking anyone out of the first XI right now but he is pretty damned close and if he progresses he will force Arteta into tight calls. Right now he cannot do more than that, really impressed with him so far, great player for the money.
EN and flo are NOT the same type of player from what I’ve seen and the past year stats. Flo would need to improve numbers in the other aspect in his game, interceptions/closing down, passing etc. He had a great on loan season but it was just the goals, the other stats looks like it places him quite far behind EK ( I don’t think either will be near the first team). MA doesn’t seem to deploy a poacher type player in his set up so I doubt we sign a striker this season. If you have 6 players plus hitting double figures on goals and assists, a few more from others should be ok.