REPORT: Hangzhou Greentown - Gervinho - More Signings to Come

HANGZHOU GREENTOWN 1 - 1 ARSENAL

Team Line-ups

Arsenal:

Mannone, Sagna, Djourou, Squillaci, Traore, Rosicky, Frimpong, Nasri, Arshavin, Vela, van Persie

Hangzhou Greentown:

Jiang Bo, Wu Shaokun, Li Yan, Pazzaolano, Longyuan, Xuan, Jiashu, Vazquez, Liu Bin, Wang Song, Randy

Match Report

Pre-season Friendly

Meihu Stadium, Yiwu

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Kick-off: 12:30

Just a quick summary of Saturday’s last match in the Asia tour for Arsenal. THe opponents were Hangzhou Greentown, a proper club team compared to the Malaysia XI that was chosen to face Gunners. The match was going to be a test as Greenhouse are used to the conditions and are a fitter side at the moment.

The team had a relatively mix of starting eleven players and fringe players. You could tell with the line-up we had we weren't fluent in our passing and were quite sloppy. Also pressuring the opposition when needed wasn't at its best. However this is the bets time to get rid of those rusty performances.

The brightest players on the pitch in the first half for us were mainly Arshavin, Nasri and Vela. But it came as no surprise with Greenhouse taking the lead due to, that's right you've guessed it, another poor show at the back from a set piece. Green house were quite dangerous and hit the post prior to taking the lead. It was Squillaci and Mannone with school boy errors that saw Arsenal take an unexpected lead. Thankfully these two don't start for Arsenal on a regular basis.

Arsenal soon enough got back in the game  and drew level in the first half with Vela finishing it off with, sorry not a chip over the goalkeeper but the simplest of tap ins from a well worked one-two from van Persie and Arshavin. van Persie's shot was saved after Arshavin's lobbed pass, which fortunately landed into Vela's path (fox in the box anyone?).

The second half was a much better performance from Arsenal as it saw a complete change of the eleven that started the first. The fact that the core of the usual starting eleven began the second half, with the likes of Szczesny, Koscienly, Vermaelen, Song, Wilshere. Also a big factor was natural pace speedsters in Miyachi and Walcott to stretch Greentown.

To sum up the second half, we had many chances that we should've finished with ease. But with time and more match practice that hopefully shouldn't be the case.


Match Highlights:

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So the new man in town has now arrived, but you already knew that a few weeks ago didn't you? That's right Gervinho has finally been unveiled in both Arsenal shirts, clearly it's a marketing scheme in order to try and sell more shirts.

Marketing ploy with both home and away shirts

Gervinho himself states that he will play in his best position, which is on the right of a front three, but he can also play on the opposite side as well as down the middle. I personally want to see him down the right hand side. For the past few seasons now with Walcott, we haven't seen that natural ability to get past a player with skill, it's all about speed with Theo. Gervinho has skill as well as pace. He contribues with a lot of assists, which I think Walcott needs a lot of work on still. But then again Walcott should be down the middle anyway as he thrives on instinct.

Anyway back to our new striking sensation (if you can call him that). I relish to see what this player is going to be like for us, he seems an exciting and electric player and although I've heard of him before, I've never really watched him apart form the odd substitute appearances for Ivory Coast, otherwise he's an unknown quantity to me really.

However I'm glad we've signed someone finally, I hope this spending spree continues.

Welcome to Arsenal Gervinho!

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So more signings looks like it's on our way with rumours going about again that we're still in for Cahill from Bolton, Samba from Blackburn and Mata from Valencia. Now these rumours persistently never stop, just as the never ending saga of Fabregas and Barcelona, when will they shut up and just pay the asking price or just go away and leave our club alone?

I wouldn't be surprised if we signed any of the aforementioned three. However it seems whenever it's English sources the transfer never comes off. Most of the reliable sources come form France (is that because we're run by a French manage, who knows?)

But the outs seem like they've started as well. Denilson will be heading back to Sao Paulo, that's pretty much confirmed as it was on Arsenal's official website. Bendtner is in talks with a few clubs. Eboue looks like he's on his way to Galatasaray and it's gone all quiet on behalf of our No.1 goalkeeper (his shirt number, not literally) Almunia. So I'm sure something's happening there.

Possible Signings This Summer?

I'm sure every 'Arsenal' website has mentioned about who we should sign in this years summer transfer window. Well who we'd like and who we're likely to get are completely different. Unless you do want the players we're linked with, then that's fine.

At Our Arsenal, we believe there will be several ins and outs for the squad this summer (if you can call it that with all this rain!). Two players most likely to go, although it seems there's not a huge demand for them, are Brazilian Denilson and Denmark's number one striker Niklas Bendtner.

But what us Arsenal fans want to see after a huge downward slope to the end of the season are new signings who will give us that extra push. The players Wenger and the backroom staff believe to be are these three:

• Gervinho (Lille - Auxiliary Striker)
• Christopher Samba (Blackburn Rovers - Central Defender)
• Gary Cahill (Bolton - Central Defender)

I would go as far as saying Gervinho is a quick nippy player who Arsenal could benefit from as he had success playing in the right of a front 3 this past season. But as we all know we need that big, strong no nonsense defender like we had in Sol Campbell (who made a difference for half a season in 2010).

This is where the news that Samba could be close to signing for Arsenal is a sweet melody to the to ears. He has tonnes of Premier League experience for a team that, with due respect, probably gets their defense tested all the time. Standing at 6 ft 4 inc, that is one hell of a player to try and out jump. Also his age of 27 years is probably right as he could easily last a few years at Arsenal to a high standard. Did anyone also mention he's a beast! That physical presence is vital to Arsenal.

Wearing an Arsenal shirt this upcoming season?

Cahill of Bolton has been linked with our club for as long as I can remember now. Whispers are flying through the air that we'll be also signing him along with Samba. Where would this leave Koscielny and Djourou? Two players who have had there mistakes, but have been solid for the most part, especially Arsenal's number 20. Could this mean a move for Vermaelen to left back with Clichy on his way out? We will have to wait and see.

So if the Gervinho transfer doesn't go through, there isn't much to get upset about, as we have a lot of attacking players already. However if a defender (a position we know is all but strong) is not brought with the calibre and assets someone like Samba has, just call it another season of fustration.. in defense and lack of trophies.