Debutants Impress In Milan Stalemate

Gary Lineker once declared “Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win." I’m beginning to think something similar about the Emirates Cup – four teams turn up every year, and Arsenal always win.

This inevitability did not stem the enjoyment of watching Arsenal take on AC Milan on Saturday afternoon. It was for many the first time they had seen their side play this season – the first opportunity to catch a glimpse of the new blood and a chance to see whether old faces had developed their games.

Our opponents? A bunch of geriatrics who, had they not arrived at the stadium on the team bus, could easily have taken advantage of London’s Freedom Pass scheme.

Clarence Seedorf, Alessandro Nesta and Gianluca Zambrotta are not getting any younger and, rather sadly, their increased immobility seems to have rubbed off on the previously indefatigable Mathieu Flamini, who looked a shadow of his former self. Or at least left a rather large shadow on the playing surface.

As the teams were announced, the largest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for Jack Wilshere, the home-grown hero of whom so much is expected. His performance was a little disappointing. He kept things ticking over very ably, but looks a little slow and there seemed nothing exceptional about him yesterday.

He is the antithesis of Andrey Arshavin, who makes little effort during the game, but when he can be bothered to get involved, makes something significant happen. Indeed, the first goal came from a dynamic run by the Russian and a perfect through ball for Chamakh, who finished well past Abbiati.

Chamakh was playing at the Emirates for the first time and his performance was very encouraging. From the opening minutes, it was clear that Wenger had made another astute signing. Chamakh is quick off the mark, has a great first touch and brings others into the game intelligently. He won’t be prolific this year, but he will add a lot.

As for Arsenal’s other debutant, Laurent Koscielny, he too was impressive. A clone of his defensive partner, Thomas Vermaelen, he has a good leap on him, displays good pace and looks like a ball-playing centre back. He looks a better player than the departed William Gallas.

AC Milan equalised in the 75^th minute, with the skilful Pato glancing in a header from a Seedorf cross. Arsenal had plenty of chances to win the match, the best falling to Mark Randall, who shot straight at Abbiati. The game was to end 1-1.

This was not a match to set pulses racing, with the crowd becoming a little restless at times at the lack of action. Indeed, they broke into a Mexican Wave at one stage, with David Beckham – part of the audience – even getting involved.

The game was memorable more for exceptional moments of skill. In the 42^nd minute, Pato perfectly controlling a 50-yard ball before unleashing a fierce shot just wide; in the 71^st minute, Vela nutmegging Zambrotta and curling the ball agonisingly wide of the post.

As always, however, Arsenal lifted the Emirates Cup the following day. And some say the Gunners never win silverwear. Tsk.

Cesc, Just Say Nou

For the past couple of years it’s all been about Cristiano Ronaldo. This year, Cesc Fabregas’ will-he-won’t-he move to Barcelona is the transfer saga of the summer.

Yesterday, after Arsenal’s first pre-season game – a 4 – 0 win over Barnet - Wenger made his latest attempt to put an end to all the talk of Fabregas leaving the Emirates, stating that it “has to stop” and “we [are] not listening to any offers”.

Often when a manager says they have no intention of letting a player go, they mean precisely the opposite, something more along the lines of “Give us another £5 million and he’s all yours”. There is no doubt in my mind, however, that all the rebuffs served out to Barcelona from Wenger have been just that.

And I entirely agree with Wenger’s stance. In my eyes, only if Barca were to offer a fee close to Real Madrid’s for Cristiano Ronaldo – the figure bandied around is £80 million - would it make sense. 

This time last year I felt entirely differently. I had always regarded Fabregas as over-rated – sound technique, I felt, but all too often he just passed the ball sideways and seemed to drop deeper and deeper as the match went on, as if wishing to escape from the real hustle and bustle of the game. 

The first time I saw him play last season, in a Champions’ League qualifier against Celtic, I saw a different man. He seemed not to shirk the physicality of football but absorb himself in it. Consider this: before last season Fabregas had scored 29 goals in 231 games at an average of roughly one in eight matches. Last season, he netted 19 in 38 games for Arsenal, and 4 in 8 for Spain for good measure.

The 2009 – 10 campaign saw him add stamina, power and sheer determination to his game. In short, he became a man. To lose Fabregas now would be to lose one of football’s best performers.  

And yet there is a further reason why Wenger is so desperate to hold on to his captain. Rightly or wrongly, Wenger’s ideology post the Invincibles team, and perhaps influenced by the fact that he could not compete against the financial clout of Chelsea, has been to buy talented youngsters and watch them develop, and also grow as a side – to play together and form a unity and understanding of one another’s game.

Cesc was not the only one to raise their game last season – Alex Song, Walcott, Diaby, Nasri, Bendtner, Ramsey all showed greater quality. They are still young and I can see them improving even more during the forthcoming campaign. Up until defeat at Spurs in mid-April we were in serious contention for the title. We made the early running but couldn’t sprint for home.

This season we could be in serious contention for the title. This season represents the climax to Wenger’s long-term strategy. But we need Fabregas, the most important cog in the machine. Without him, Wenger’s masterplan will not have the chance to reach its denouement.

Moreover, this will take the wind out of Arsenal’s sails and render them a ‘selling club’. This message will filter down to the players who will believe they are good, but not quite good enough to challenge the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd.

Fabregas discussed his future with Wenger before the World Cup, describing the chat as “the greatest conversation I have had with someone in my life”. I suspect Wenger’s stance on the occasion was “Let’s finish what we have begun. Give us one more year and you can still play for Barcelona for the next ten.”

I’m sure the way Cesc currently feels is comparable to that age-old relationship dichotomy – Is it possible to be in love with two football clubs at the same time? If Arsenal do not let him go, he won’t sulk, he’ll roll his sleeve up and give his all for a club, and manager, who he has great respect and fondness for. But, clearly, his heart lies with Barcelona.

This is how I see things panning out: Jack Wilshere will be sent on loan to Bolton this year – under the tutelage of Owen Coyle, a man who encourages his sides to play in a similar fashion to Arsenal – to fast-track his development. Fabregas will get his move to Barcelona at the end of the season and Wilshere, one of the few who, like Fabregas, makes Wenger’s eyes light up, will inherit Cesc’s crown.

Yet for the time being, keeping the marvel that is Fabregas at the club is not a matter of life and death, it is more important than that.