Well done to the Gunners on winning their own annual pre-season tournament. I watched both games in the pub despite being within a stone’s throw of the stadium on both days, so I won’t over-analyse the games. Firstly because watching a game in a bar is hardly ideal for the concentration, but mainly because pre-season is exactly that. You can get hints of things, but it’s meanlingless for the most part. Stuff like learning Toure can do a job at centre back as was discovered during the Invincibles pre-season is the exception. I have a memory of one of the games being a friendly at Ibrox. To refresh it, I just looked this up. I love this site for trawling through Arsenal’s recent history, the only problem is they don’t archive all the news stories, although I am sure they probably still have them on their server. Anyway, minor gripe. Six years ago Arsenal outclassed Rangers on their patch too. Wonder if the current mob will go on to enjoy an undefeated 38 matches…

Over the course of the weekend, Arsenal at times looked devastating in attack, and Jack Wilshere showed why he is a far more important player for the club’s future than the rested Theo Walcott. The manager now has to integrate him more into the real thing, on the basis that if he’s good enough, he’s old enough. No-one’s asking for him to be burnt out in the Michael Owen way, just that we see more involvement than last season, more appearances from the bench, the occasional start. There is a balance to be found between protecting the lad physically and holding back his development. I think Fabio Capello might like to take a closer look at him soon enough, and possibly wondered why he wasn’t involved in the summer’s under-21 squad.

Andrey Arshavin also confirmed his class, and it was pleasing to see Tomas Rosicky play another 45 minutes. Going forward, the team looked good. At the back, nothing much has changed. The return to fitness of Gallas is a boost, but at times, especially from set pieces, the team looked vulnerable and rode their luck. The philosophy seems to remain, no matter what the opposition does, we’ll rely on our own goal threat to win the matches, and it worked at the weekend. Is there a fallback position for the spells when attacking form takes a dip?

That is where the stories about Patrick Vieira’s return are exciting Gooners. Perhaps the manager has realised that killing the development of Song, Denilson and Diaby is actually a better option than killing Arsenal’s potential of being involved in the Premier League title chase. Although the idea that bringing in experience should harm the careers of players that are crying out for basic guidance as to how to play the central midfield position is a total nonsense.

I don’t believe Wenger will bring Vieira to the club, although if he does, it will probably be because Le Boss can’t currently afford the type of player Vieira was in his best days at the club. However, I hope he brings him on board for the simple reason that he will be a very positive influence. As for his age and fitness, all I will say is that Tony Adams made a total of ten league appearances in his final season at the club. Arsenal won the double that year.

With Philippe Senderos reputedly going to Goodison, it would appear that a centre-back will be arriving soon. I haven’t kept up with the papers over the weekend, but now apparently Micah Richards is a possibility to end up at Arsenal (with Lescott going to Eastlands to complete the triangle). That would make sense if Emmanuel Eboue was to be shipped out, as Richards can fulfil a role at right back as well as the centre of defence. Whether he has the discipline to play in the latter role is open to debate, although as he would be partnered with either Gallas or Vermaelen, one hopes he could be operated on strings. I’d still prefer Brede Hangeland though. Whichever, a centre-back with the physique of this type is very necessary, and in tandem with Vieira would make the side’s chances of clearing aerial balls at set pieces much better.