Friday, March 29, 2024

Saka and Martinelli feature as Gunners draw with Luton

Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka returned to action in Arsenal colours as Mikel Arteta’s side drew 0-0 with Luton Town in a friendly at London Colney.

Obviously, we’ve not seen the game but given the official report describes chances being “few and far between in the opening 45 minutes” we’re going to assume we didn’t miss much.

There were lots of changes after the break and despite Ben White and Granit Xhaka going close we weren’t able to break the deadlock.

Should we be concerned about a lack of cutting-edge inside the (opposition) box for a second successive friendly? No. But we do recommend a cheeky bid for Kylian Mbappe just in case.

And what’s going on with Alex Zinchenko and Emile Smith Rowe. Both continue to be absent from matchday squads which is far from ideal.

Neither has featured in any of the five games we’ve played this month and will presumably be unavailable in five days’ time when West Ham United visit the Emirates. Also, where were Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu?

Reiss Nelson, injured against Juventus at the weekend, and William Saliba, only just back in England following the World Cup, were the other absentees.

Arteta is due to face the press on Friday Thursday afternoon, so hopefully, we’ll get an update on the state of the squad then.
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Arsenal: Ramsdale (Turner), White (Sousa), Holding, Gabriel (Foran), Cedric, Partey (Lokonga), Xhaka (Elneny), Odegaard (Cozier-Duberry), Saka (Vieira), Martinelli (Marquinhos), Nketiah (Cirjan). Subs not used. Sajoe Jr.

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Prakhar

If Arteta thinks Nketiah can do the Jesus role, then I believe it too.
Plus, Ramsdale said Nketiah is most deadly player finishing-wise in training. Hoping for an Nketiah breakout season.

Kris

Arsene Wenger once famously said that Aliadiere was the best player he’d ever seen in training and Lupoli would have been better than Totti if he replicated what he did on the training field on the pitch. Means next to nothing I’m afraid.

Bleeding Gums Murphy

Bentdner said he was the greatest striker in the world. 😃

TeeCee

The problem was that nobody else did.

Daveo

His mum really rated him too…

Prakhar

I believe in Arteta more than I did Wenger. Things are obvious in training. Who can translate that in matches is the mental side, which Arteta is a good judge of.

Eddie Hopefull

I was not Eddie’s biggest fan but when he a run last year he did well. Don’t get me wrong get well soon Jesus! However, given the chances and assuming he has the likes of Saka, Martinelli, Smith Rowe around him he will get goals.

Sheldon

I hope Tierney is not injured again.

Sean

The one thing you’d say about Tierney is that despite the injury issues, at least there’s always a pretty clear time frame on his absences. Zinchenko on the other hand just being randomly absent for weeks (even months) on end is growing incredibly frustrating, and worrying. You can’t help but get the sinking feeling that City may have been more inclined to sell him after becoming familiar with this issue themselves

Gabi^3

If it frustrates our opponents while preparing to face us, I’m in

T.A.

Didn’t he go off injured against Juve?

Nainsley Aitland Miles

No, that was Nelson.

Man Manny

Let’s hope this is to lull West Ham into a false sense of security.

karl

And we face Moyes MkII instead of MkI

BillyKrystal

Let’s hope he’ll have to sit alone in a darkened room after this one.

karl

The World Cup break came at a bad time it seems. It is so hard to regain that momentum and that unbeatable feeling.

Man Manny

I have a feeling the players are playing with their handbrake on. One more injury in a wrong wing could compound our problems.

Cedric at left-back against Jarred Bowen next week doesn’t emit much confidence. Hopefully Tierney’s absence is just a precaution.

We’ve had tough breaks with full-backs the entire calendar year.

Boywonder

I don’t understand what’s going on with Zinchenko he had a 6 weeks break and yet he returns back with a injury that’s keeping him out for this long, seems so strange.

Sean

ESR been back training for couple of weeks now hasn’t he? Is it a concern he’s not had minutes yet?

Nainsley Aitland Miles

He did return to training but had another set back and missed training in the days before the Juventus game.

Optimist

Do we have another player whose name rhymes with ‘over the world’? It’s getting awkward now.

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