Emirates Cup kick-off versus Boca for Arsenal

UPDATE: Watch for our liveblog tomorrow, starting at 3pm UK, 7am Pacific, 10am Eastern.

Tomorrow is the first day of the traditional Emirates Cup, a two-day pre-season tournament held in London, featuring Arsenal and three fairly big sides. This year we’ll play Boca Juniors and Thierry Henry’s Red Bull New York; Paris St. Germain will also take part.

(Be sure to also read Homey’s transfer/news round-up)

Who designed this cartoon?

The competition is a bit of a drop-off from years past, when we faced the likes of AC Milan and Lyon (2010), Real Madrid (2008) and others, and it would have been nice to face PSG, who are the newest mega-rich team in Europe. But the Emirates Cup always provides a good transition from the early friendlies to our season opener, as it’s treated a bit more seriously by all clubs and provides a chance to see how the squad is coming along.

Boca

We kick off against Boca on Saturday at 8:15am Pacific (11:15am Eastern). Boca are no longer the dominant power they once were in Argentine football, posting a 12th place finish in the Apertura and a 7th place finish in the Clausura last season (ask me about the Apertura-Clausure set-up in the comments if you want). In fact, the league saw some pretty wild results this season, with record champion (33 titles) River Plate getting relegated for the first time ever. (Better yet, don’t ask about the Apertura-Clausura; it doesn’t make any sense: RP finished 4th and 9th but were relegated because of a 2008 result…)

Boca’s team is almost entirely made up of Argentine players you’ve never heard of, but includes the enigmatic Juan Roman Riquelme, he of Villareal/2006-Champions-League-semi-final-Lehmann-penalty-save fame. Riquleme is an odd duck, one that probably would have excelled in Italy in the 80s, but European football seems to have passed him by: Jonathan Wilson called him the “last of the old-school playmakers” in 2008. But he’s a phenomenal player with a passing range and vision that most teams would kill for. He returned to Boca in 2007 and led them to a Copa Libertadores win, then the 2008 Primera Division title, and has played an important role in the midfield for them since, though he only featured 13 times for them last season.

I don’t follow Argentine football, so I can’t guess at how Boca will line up, but it’s a safe bet that they will be skilled, quick passers, and probably a tad dramatic (he said nicely). Wenger said they “will cycle the ball at a slow pace and suddenly try to kill you.”

Arsenal

Because teams play two games in two days, Arsenal will field a mixed-team of starters, fringe and reserve players, though we likely won’t see the same wholesale substitutions that marked the games of our Asian trip. I would expect mostly first-teamers to start against Boca, and maybe Frimpong, Fabianski and Rosicky. Look for Vela, Mannone and Benik Afobe to get some playing time as well, as Wenger runs the rule over fringe players. Maybe even Miquel?

Our youngsters played today, winning 7-1 at Boreham Wood. Sanchez Watt got a hattrick, Lansbury scored a screamer, and Chuks started. I thought maybe Lansbury would get some time in the first team this weekend, especially given the recent praise from Wenger, but he may be tired or on the way out to Norwich.

Possible line-up

With the Cesc and Nasri situation still up in the air, and with more transfer rumours flying about (see this companion piece for a transfer round-up from your man Homey), I find it both interesting and frustrating to guess at and then watch how we line up, knowing that it likely won’t be how we’ll line-up on August 13th in our season opener.

Without Cesc, our midfield three isn’t at all solid. Song, Wilshere and Ramsey? That doesn’t induce fear the way it should. Nasri will play this weekend, so could feature in the middle, or could play in the wide right spot. Wide left is Arshavin’s to lose, as far as I’m concerned, and the latest from him (see last post) makes me hopeful. Gervinho and RvP will trade duties up front, though each can play on the wing. I do like how versatile all our attacking players are.

At the back, it will be a joy to see Vermaelen partner with anyone in the middle, Sagna at right and Gibbs on the left. Dear Gibbs: Please don’t get injured. Wenger has been giving all his defenders time on the pitch, and he’ll likely rotate in Jenkinson, Koscielny, Djourou, Squillaci and Traore.

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The game is available on Arsenal Player, or you can watch it on an ESPN channel or the new Al-Jazeera Sports, as well as Canal+. The New York – PSG game is earlier, at 6:15am Pacific (9:15am Eastern). If I can find a (gasp!) livestream I’ll get a game thread or liveblog up.

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Next game

On Sunday we face Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Red Bull New York. I’m guessing there will be tears, many appreciative chants, and plenty of hugging. Here is a beautiful goal he just scored this week:

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Injury updates

The big news on the injury front is that Diaby had ankle surgery and won’t be back until September. I’m gutted, really. No, really.

Walcott is also out with an ankle injury, though the latest is that he may only miss ten days. Wenger is hopeful. I’ve heard that before, but I’m also hopeful. Cesc, of course, is struggling mightily with a muscle injury of some kind and won’t suit up. I’m sick of it, and frankly getting pretty sick of him. Fabianski is back to full fitness and got some time against Cologne.

The latest on Craig Eastmond (broken ankle at the end of April) I could find was this tweet from a couple of days ago: “2day was a gd day bcos i had boots on while running soon ball work ” So, a while yet. Good luck to the lad.

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Category: Abou Diaby, Andrey Arshavin, Arsene Wenger, Cesc Fabregas, Friendly, Injury Report, Jack Wilshere, Pre-Season, Samir Nasri, Theo Walcott, Thomas Vermaelen