What we learnt from Arsenal's pre-season defeat to Chelsea

 

Mikel Arteta

What we learnt from Arsenal's pre-season defeat to Premier League rivals Chelsea

By Jack Lacey-Hatton

Ahead of next weekend’s final pre-season game against Spurs, Arsenal’s other London rivals Chelsea visited the Emirates on Sunday, coming away with a 2-1 victory.
The three clubs are competing in a mini pre-season round robin tournament known as ‘the Mind Series’.
But the Gunners started with a defeat, after goals from Kai Havertz and Tammy Abraham.
It was another disappointing result from a mixed pre-season, with the start of the new Premier League campaign now under two weeks away.
However, games like this are not all about the result. Instead Mikel Arteta will want to be able to spot the errors and rectify them by the time the serious stuff gets underway.
So what did we learn from the Chelsea game on Sunday?

 

Mikel Arteta is still short of top-class options in midfield

The game exposed how Arsenal are still struggling for depth in the all-important central midfield positions.
Whilst it does now appear Granit Xhaka will stay in North London for the season ahead, the manager is struggling to find his best pair in the engine room.
This was not helped by Thomas Partey limping off injured in the first-half, automatically becoming a doubt for the opening league game at Brentford in 11 days.
It is such a shame, particularly considering how well Partey has played when he has appeared in pre-season.
The fact Mohamed Elneny was back alongside him shows that reinforcements are still needed in this area, even with Xhaka now staying.
Together they are not an inspiring partnership, and lack the dynamism required for Arsenal to beat the press against the league’s top teams.
Xhaka did score (after replacing Partey) and played reasonably well, but the game was a dispiriting reminder of how short Arsenal’s central midfield is, particularly when you see N’Golo Kante dominating proceedings in the Chelsea side.
The sight of an Eleney-Xhaka partnership lining-up against Brentford would bring a collective sigh from plenty of Arsenal fans.

 

Ben White is an instant upgrade for this defence

He may have cost a pretty sum at £50million, but Ben White already looks like he will be a solid buy for the Gunners.
This game was a reminder of what he is coming into. Rob Holding started against the Blues, but had a difficult afternoon.
He struggled to perform well in a back four intent on playing a high line, missing challenges high up the pitch that left the defence exposed.
Pablo Mario, his partner was a little better, but didn’t distribute the ball particularly well. Things were going so poorly, White was summoned from the bench at half-time.
Obviously, neither should be written off based on one disappointing friendly, but it was a reminder of how White will need to start quickly.
The word is that the former Brighton man will be in from the off against Brentford, when the season proper kicks off, and he will have to hit the ground running.
Clearly Arsenal didn’t sign White to sit on the bench, but perhaps only now are both parties starting to understand the upgrade in quality required.
 

Tammy Abraham

Tammy Abraham would be a useful signing

One key learning point for the manager from this game, didn’t actually concern anyone wearing red.
Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham came off the bench at half-time, and not only scored the winner, but proved a general nuisance to the Arsenal defence.
In his 45-minute appearance he reminded everyone at the Emirates, not least Arteta, of his power, strength and finishing ability.
The goal may have looked a relatively simple one-on-one finish, but it was classic Abraham. In the right place, at the right time.
With Arsenal currently linked strongly with the 23-year-old, his performance demonstrated what an excellent signing the club would be making.
He is a real handful up-front, with a physical presence the other strikers in the first team simply don’t have.
Clearly any moves by Edu and Arteta won’t be based on one pre-season performance.
But it can’t have hurt Abraham’s chances of a move across London, to produce such an accomplished performance, against potentially his next club.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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