After seeing nine Arsenal pre-season games, one ANR correspondent has filed his comments on the performances of individual players. The numbers in brackets are the totals of games he’s seen them in.
This is Part 1 of a two-part report.
LEHMANN (3) : Obviously still the number one in Wenger‘s eyes ,though he will be 38 in November. Still prone to get involved in arguments on and off the field, as adverse comments about the Salzburg pitch testify. His erratic kicking and occasional lapses on shots from distance may become more noticeable as time marches on .
ALMUNIA (4): Apparently attempting to become English through continuous residency to be eligible for international selection. The new Polish keeper will obviously push him for selection for the bench .
FABIANSKI (0+3): I was concerned in a couple of the pre-season games about his alacrity in coming out of his box when the defence should have been trusted, though this may change when he learns what his protectors are capable of .What will a prolonged period on the bench do for his international career ?
MANNONE (1): If he stays, the Premier Reserve League is likely to be his bread and butter – always assuming the 2nd/3rd choice keepers do not play more in Neil Banfield’s sides than in previous seasons .
SZCZESNY (1+1):Regular u18 keeper this season . Will benefit from Fabianski’s presence, hopefully . Sometimes seems to show a lack of alertness from crosses.
JUSTIN HOYTE (2+3): Seemingly 3rd choice right back and 3rd choice left back .He has developed solidity and reliability. Not a spectacular overlapper ,despite the known family sprinting talents As a 22-year -old , how long could he jeopardise possible international career without regular starts ?
GALLAS (3+1): First choice (with Toure) though they will need to work better in defensive areas together, particularly at set pieces. Is he captain material? His reported past comments seem less than supportive. Needs to stay clear of injuries, with his 30th birthday imminent (17August – same day as Thierry Henry and someone else I could mention ! ).
DJOUROU (1+1 ) A more “technical” player than rival Senderos, but also more brittle, as his run of injuries has shown. Unlikely to be even the first back-up choice in any of his positions.
GILBERT (1+1): A solid if unspectacular right back. Began the pre-season, then loaned for six months to Southend . Unlikely to gain a regular place in the side now.
CLICHY (5):Lucky not to have his leg broken by Jurgen Colin at the weekend. The current lack of left-footed width may mean a more advanced role at times, though he has occasionally been caught out when not tracking back after a foray upfield .Needs to learn to release the ball sooner (and later !) at times.
TOURE (6):AFC’s most consistent player in the season before last. Suffered slightly last year with a succession of defensive partners not helping his cause, although he still showed great consistency. Will always be one of the first names on AW’s team-sheet .During the Amsterdam event the manager called for more goals from the centre backs this season – I’d settle for conceding 10 less. As mentioned, Toure & Gallas need to clarify marking responsibiltiies on a regular basis.
NORDTVEIT (2+1):Right-footed centre back who will be too young for anything but League Cup this year, but shows potential and a notable coolness on the ball ,combined with an ability to pass (rather than clear) from defensive areas. Let’s wait and see how he progresses in the youth squad with fellow newcomer Kyle Bartley.
GAVIN HOYTE (1+2): After his early exposure to a 1st team bench at Blackburn in the FA Cup last season, he will be another trying to establish a regular reserve place with games in Steve Bould’s u18 squad. Similarly endowed to his elder brother with pace and an ability to time tackles well. More competition this campaign for his position but has started in solid style in each game thus far .
RODGERS (1+2):Formed a fine central defensive partnership with Hoyte at youth level last season, though he would probably prefer to play right back .Less quick than Hoyte but his tackling has bite. Has gained much from regular reserve football at a young age last season .
SAGNA (4+1): It is easy to see what AW admires in the new signing ,who seems more defensively aware than Eboue. Has shown a powerful right foot when released down the flank ,though we are not yet aware whether his talents include filling in in other defensive roles. Is he that much better than Justin Hoyte / Eboue and will he be more adept at thwarting crosses than Eboue? Time will tell.
SENDEROS (2+1) : Needs a far better season than the last. The early promise that drew comparisons with a young Tony Adams seems to have stalled somewhat. A certain clumsiness on and off the ball is notable in his game, particularly when turning to his left side.But he justified his surprise selection as captain against Lazio with a solid performance, his tackling being particularly impressive.
STEER(2): Another youth player in the unfortunate position of having Clichy and Traore ahead of him in the pecking order. Steve Bould’s influence will doubtless be a great boon to his progress but he has to learn to work better with the central defence in respect of marking and staying closer to his wide right opponent.
TRAORE (2+5): May operate in front of fellow Frenchman Clichy more often this season (the reverse would be less likely). Like many other youthful Gunners his defensive awareness needs to improve . Has all the natural athleticism you would expect from an AW player, although the timing of his tackles has sometimes been questionable. His attitude to dropping down a level was not great on several occasions in the last season, after being praised for performances in the Cup .
THOMAS (0+2): The tall youth teamer begins his first season as a full-time scholar with the prospect of filling a role at either centre back, left back, in central midfield , or even as a striker, having operated in all those roles last term . Has a loping languid stride reminiscent of Viv Anderson.
OGOGO:(1+1): Regular youth team right back last season who also played for Neil Banfield’s reserve side on several occasions. Although not yet in the Daniel Alves class coming forward, he has begun to show potential while linking down the flank. Must balance his inclinations to break forward with the concentration needed to create a solid back line.
Coming up on Wednesday : Part 2- midfielders