The Game

Mixed feelings after today’s game as the Gunners battled their way past Cologne at the RheinEnergieStadion, in Germany.

Needless to say, one has to start with Gervinho’s performance. After officially joining this week, the Ivory Coast International only needed six minutes to time his run to perfection, meet Jack Wilshere’s delicious through pass and give us the lead. Minutes later he was quick to make his way into the penalty area to make it two before giving way for Ryo Miyaichi.

Of course, Gervinho couldn’t have asked for a better debut and the way he clicked with Jack, Theo and the others up front was great to see as it again shows how easy it is for new players to settle down at Arsenal.

What was worrying today, however, was again the defensive department. Way too often we were exposed, especially on the left wing and the high line just cannot work out as in more than one occasion the local team took full advantage of bad communication between the back four.

The second half, simply put, was very boring. I jotted down nineteen notes concerning the first 45 minutes, only nine in the second half. The pace of the game was terribly slow and it seemed we just wanted to keep the scoreline as it was to archive the game as a win.

Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie were yet again sluggish on the ball and lacked in creativity and contrary to Asia, Carlos Vela – again playing in an unusual right-wing position – was terrible as he also failed to make it onto the scoresheet.

As always, there’s some positive to take out of the game like the brilliant 15-minute cameo by Ryo Miyaichi, the vision of Jack Wilshere and the alertness of Vito Mannone in the first part of the second half. But, again, something needs to be done back there if we are to stand a chance for next season’s English Premier League title.

As it is, whatever is being done on the training pitch is not working out and sooner or later we will play against a team with a strong offensive department that will, I’m afraid, punish us more than once.

As always, whether you agree with my ratings or not, submit your own at Arsenal Interactive and make sure to share them on Twitter and Facebook.

Match Video Highlights

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Player Ratings

Szczesny: 6,5 – Made a very good save in the 39th minute of the game to deny Cologne after Aaron Ramsey carelessly gave the ball away on the left wing near the corner flag. Can’t blame him for conceding the own goal.

Koscielny: 5,5 – Terrible in the 10th minute of the game in losing Lukas Podolski to attack the man on the ball and too hesitant with his movement when we conceded in the final part of the first half.

Vermaelen: 6,5 – Also guilty of poor positioning but made a number of good interceptions, including the one in the 14th minute that almost ended with a goal.

Jenkinson: 6 – An unlucky own goal can happen to anyone. Overall, Carl had a shaky start letting – together with Alex Song – Podolski through on the right in the 5th minute but improved as the game went on.

Gibbs: 5,5 – Excellent going forward but I lost count of the number of times Cologne easily made it on the left as there was no one covering that particular area of the pitch. In all fairness he produced two good blocks in the second half but as I have been saying for the last month or so, we desperately need to sign a player for the left wing, else trouble lies ahead.

Ramsey: 5,5 – Hot and cold in midfield. Linked up well with Jack as it was the case in Asia, tried his luck from distance in the 33rd minute, started a counter minutes later ended with Kieran Gibbs losing the ball but no idea what he was thinking in the 39th minute when he gifted the ball, and a chance, to Cologne.

Song: 4,5 – Very, very poor. One would think that he would be more careful out there now that Emmanuel Frimpong is adding competition in midfield but I’m afraid he has been terrible so far in pre-season.

Wilshere: 8 – The one to chip it over for Gervinho’s first goal and caused all sorts of trouble to the Cologne defensive department as he produced some brilliant runs such as the one in the 30th minute ended with a free kick on the edge on the penalty area.

Walcott: 6,5 – Very good game for Theo. Made some of his usual mistakes but you could see that we lacked something when he came off in the second half. And of course, the one to assist Gervinho for the second.

Gervinho: 8 – He came, he scored, he left. Welcome to Arsenal, Gervinho. If today was a sign of things to come, I’m of course happy.

Chamakh: 4 – Three games played in pre-season and he failed in all of them. I’m starting to wonder if it was wise to keep him and let Nicklas Bendtner. I mean think about it, as much as you may not like him, Nicklas scores, assisted when used on the right even if he doesn’t belong there last season and is not shy to shoot. What does Marouane bring to the side?

(Subs)
Mannone and Fabianski: 6.5 / 6 – Not much on the pitch but I was impressed with the Italian. He was very quick off the line and this avoided a lot of trouble especially when they pushed from the left. Also nice to see Lukasz back.

Sagna: 6 – Not happy with the ease with which Cologne lifted the ball in the penalty area and almost scored in the 56th minute and he was again on the wrong position of the winger in the 67th minute of the game.

Squillaci and Djourou: 5,5 – This partnership, clearly considered by Arsene as a backup to Thomas and Laurent, is not working out. To be fair on Johan he made a fantastic block in the aforementioned 56th minute chance created by the Germans but these two have to improve.

Frimpong: 6 – Poor on the ball, missing the easiest of passes but a beast when we had to win the ball back. The way he won the ball to set up Andrey in the 81st minute showed how important the youngster can be in midfield.

Rosicky: 6 – Some good movement off the ball and one of the few who opted to try his luck when he forced a save in the 65th minute of the game.

Nasri: 5,5 – Tried to be involved but his final ball was terrible. I hope his future is sorted out next week as it’s already frustrating to be kept on the toes over the future of one player, let alone two.

van Persie: 5,5 – Also disappointing. Yet to score in pre-season but in all fairness he didn’t set the world on fire during the first part of the season last summer either, so I’m not worried.

Miyaichi: 6,5 – Impressed and I was very, very disappointed not to see him in the second half. He’s quick on the ball and brings depth to the side. More of the Japanese, please.

Arshavin: 7 – Brilliant. Shot blocked in the 50th minute of the game, great skill minutes later to get past his marker, another good try, just wide, in the 66th minute and yet another effort saved in the 81st minute.

Vela: 4 – I don’t expect Carlos to perform when used on the right wing. If he is to be used on the wing, it must be the left one, else in the middle. His movement off the ball was good, very good, but he will never bring anything to the side if trapped on the right wing.

Henderson and Afobe: No Vote – I feel for Conor, the poor kid was stretchered off and looked in pain. Not much, of course, to rate him and Benik.