Arsenal’s penultimate friendly of pre-season ended in defeat as Brentford won 2-1 at London Colney.
Featuring a starting lineup made up exclusively of players who came off the bench in the weekend’s win over Chelsea, the Gunners went down early to a Bryan Mbeumo goal before drawing level through Eddie Nketiah’s strike.
The Bees, regular opponents in behind closed doors friendlies at the training ground, completed the scoring just before the break thanks to Ryan Trevitt.
The club’s match report claims Arsenal piled on the pressure in the second half with Nketiah, Marquinhos, Lokonga, Maitland-Niles and Cedric all coming close but an equaliser wasn’t forthcoming.
Given the four substitutes were all members of the academy, we’re guessing the big guns weren’t part of the squad and are being saved for Saturday’s Emirates Cup clash with Sevilla at the Emirates.
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Arsenal: Turner, Cedric, Walters (Awe 46), Holding, Tavares (Souza 76), Elneny, Lokonga, Maitland-Niles (Patino 85), Marquinhos, Nelson (Sagoe Jr 90), Nketiah.
Interesting that Maitland-Niles and Nelson both continue to get opportunities – makes me wonder if the door isn’t completely shut for them playing a part this season.
Personally, I would have liked to see Patino start if there isn’t a future for AMN at the club.
I think it’s more us displaying to other clubs what we have up for sale.
I think it might be a bit of both, First half of the season with Europa group games and league cup these guys will probably get minutes, then we probably gonna see if anyone’s interested in January
Not sure a behind closed doors friendly is the place to do that.
It’s the only place we can do it when we’re nearing the end of the transfer window, and we seem to be struggling big time to shift the dead weight. But you could be right, as Daniel mentioned with Europa and cup games I’m sure they’ll both get some minutes.
There are five weeks left in the transfer window. Not advocating that these guys feature against Palace, just pointing out that the window is only abut 60% gone. May feel like more because we’ve done so much in an uncharacteristically timely fashion!
Normally not, but I guess potential suitors – if there are any – would be invited to watch that.
I don’t think that someone will suddenly randomly discover that AMN exists by watching a public Arsenal friendly and wants to sign him asap. Either he is on someone’s radar already or not.
Slain by the mighty Brentford😅
It would appear that the truth stings.
Beehive yourself.
Now there’s a nice big cup of coffee to wake up and inhale.
Interesting the names that didn’t play – not including the 11 that started against Chelsea and are probably penciled in for Sevilla/Palace;
ESR, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Vieira – presumably not fit enough for even 30 minutes yet. Absolutely fine to keep them wrapped in cotton wool.
Balogun – Possibly to keep him from getting injured before being loaned out for the season.
Torreira, Bellerin, Mari, Leno. Likely not in Mikel’s plans at all this season.
Pepe – slight knock perhaps?
Maybe, hopefully, some moves in the offing?
I wouldn’t rule out that some of ESR, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Vieira come into the XI for Sevilla, but probably viewed as not the sort of game to test them in. Rest makes a lot of sense, albeit you’ve got to consider whether the two obvious guys in that list of not in Mikel’s plans should be if moves that suit us don’t materialise.
Perhaps, or maybe the club will arrange another behind-closed-doors friendly for next midweek.
Well, that fulfills our contractually obligated early season loss to Brentford for this year. Onwards and upwards now!
Mikel is learning
Get beaten by Brentford behind closed doors so we don’t have to see Neville and Carragher cavorting with the Brentford fans
If he now gets rid of Tavares and Cedric, he’ll have proved to me that he’s learnt a hell of a lot more…..
Eddie gets goals.
Top headline!!
Even when now it’s clear that Balogun will be loaned out, not giving him even one minute of football is super atrange. “Clean plate”, “fresh start”, “equal opportunity”, but only not for him.. maybe there were some diaciplinary problems?
Maybe there’s a deal close and they don’t want him injured. The EFL season starts this weekend.
Sure, but the same logic should apply also for half of the players that did take place in that game…
It would be good to hear something about Balogun for sure, everybody else has been accounted for one way or another, either by playing some football, reported as injured or with comments about pending moves a la Torriera/Leno etc. As we only have Jesus and Eddie in that position I believe we need Balogun in the squad myself, plus one other back up purchase or loan for that position, all other positions are well backed up to start the season.The guy went to the States and didn’t kick a ball in anger but wasn’t reported as injured was he?, yesterday’s… Read more »
Yep, he should have been given some minutes. There should be a reason.
Any team that goes out with the Arsenal strip is The Arsenal, First team second string or reserves, still reported as the Arsenal, supporters of course know we were trying out our fringe players, whether they stay or go, our match. On Saturdays Emirates Cup day should field our strongest side,, Management have been busy replenishing our crop of talented players, of course when replenishing we have to say farewell to past players many leave for new clubs some on loan but of course our thanks 0go with them, and our hopes they find good futures. Arsenal of course look… Read more »
Can anyone comment on how Marquinhos did? I just wondered if he has shown any signs of genius since joining up with the lads? I know absolutely didly squat about him and havent bothered to Youtube scout him either.
His “highlights” against Nurnberg sinply reminded me of Pepe (gets the ball on the wing, passes it backwards) but from match report, it seems as if he was lively so maybe it was just jitters the first time out.