Arsenal won't change their tactics in spite of new additions

Firstly, with a 3-0 win we saw that Arsenal were much the stronger side on the day. The main reason for the victory was the amount of possession which Manchester City conceded to Arsenal in the first half which effectively lost City the tie by half-time. Arsenal are a team renowned for playing possession football, but in recent years have struggled to implement the tactic to effect against the stronger sides. However, this was not a Manchester City even close to the calibre that won the league last season with some high profile omissions. Arsenal were confident in possession and this often worked to their benefit, but at times they were overly confident and this left them caught high on the break, which if it were Aguero benefitting may have led to more than just a good chance. It was also evident that new additions Debuchy and Chambers had not been exposed to such counter attacks which Arsenal often concede and will need to become aware of this being a common consequence of Arsenal's style of play. On the plus side Arsenal will continue to implement their trademark tactics to much effect next season providing confidence is high, however, the challenge for them is to prevent the stronger teams from capitalising on their tendency to get caught going forward.

Ramsey primed and ready for another fine season

The next thing to notice from the match is how Aaron Ramsey seems to be continuing this season in the same way he ended the last. Ramsey had a breakout season last year, following a leg break which could have been enough to hamper the progress of even the best players. Ramsey returned from injury and made an instant impact as he likes to get involved in everything from winning back the ball to scoring goals, which he did on numerous occasions during the season. The Welsh midfielder was unfortunate not to gain the sort of experience many of his teammates this summer by going to the World Cup, but it was really a blessing in disguise. Ramsey was struggling throughout the season with injuries and staying home meant the midfielder could get back to training early, but also manage his fitness properly. The isolation from international football meant Ramsey could make appearances in every friendly for Arsenal this summer and could focus specifically on club for the season to come. This preparation has shown dividends as Ramsey scored one and set up another during their 3-0 win over Manchester City and he looks far fresher than most players still a week away from the season opener.

Vermaelen departure leaves Arsenal bare

One very pressing issue to notice from the match is that Arsenal are desperate for a centre-back. Since the departure of Vermaelen, Arsenal only have two natural central defenders and meant Wenger had to rely upon Monreal and Chambers to occupy the role. Chambers has previously played centrally for Southampton and Monreal is adequate cover in a Community Shield match, but when the games increase in importance, for example Champions league fixtures, the two full-backs will struggle to effectively cover the position. Arsenal are only days away from the season and currently will have to look to Chambers for their opener as Mertesacker returns to fitness. Arsene Wenger said before the match that there were a few options on the radar despite choosing to disclose names, however, in his usual fashion Wenger failed express the kind of urgency expected from a manager with no recognised centre halves to cover the position.

New signings fitting in nicely

A very positive thing to take from the match was that all the new signings who featured have integrate well into the team. Chambers, as stated previously, was covering as a central defender for a third time and was very impressive on all occasions. The defender looks comfortable despite his slightly unfamiliar role, was rarely caught out and only made the odd small mistake expected from most 19-year-old footballers. Debuchy was placed on the right in his natural position and displayed the typical traits of a typical Arsenal full-back who can effectively attack and defend, also performing the most tackles of the match with six. In front of Debuchy was the new marquee signing, Alexis Sanchez. Alexis unfortunately didn't make the kind of performance he would have liked, but still displayed the sort of technique and desire which should be a sign of more to come. The Chilean is also further from full match fitness than most of the other starters and once he finds full fitness is sure to prove effective as he looks the most comfortable of the new signings with Arsenal's style of play.

Arsenal will improve on last season's poor opener

Finally, the main thing to take from the match is that Arsenal look ready for their opening match more so than in the season prior. Last season they started their campaign against Aston Villa and were emphatically beaten 1-3, despite going ahead in the first five-minutes looking un-organised and lethargic throughout. The match with City has shown that this campaign will kick off with more assurance and preparedness, thanks in part to the fact key additions have been made in ample time, leaving the players more confident in the squad strength along with the club's ambition for the season. The late addition of Ozil on deadline-day last season seemed to galvanise the squad and give them a real boost, but as the marquee signings have been made with another likely to come, the whole club from players to owners have a more positive vibe and will take that confidence into their opener against Crystal Palace and beyond. As we saw last season the Community Shield is by no means a precursor for success, but with such a solid team performance and the German contingent along with a few injured players to return the team look in good shape to make a more convincing and sustained run for the title.

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