5 things we learnt from Arsenal's pre-season tour

Arsenal just ended their pre-season with a 2-1 loss at the hands of Sevilla in the Emirates Cup, which they won despite losing the game as they had scored more goals that the La Liga outfit - who were tied on 9 points with the hosts.

It was a pre-season tour of mixed emotions, with the Gunners recording a penalty shootout win over Bayern Munich, while being annihilated by Premier League champions, Chelsea.

Arsene Wenger's side played 6 games in total during their pre-season tour, winning 4 out of these, while losing the other 2. Many believe that not much should be read into the pre-season performance of a team but it surely gives some early indications of what lies ahead.

Here we look at the 5 things we learnt from Arsenal's pre-season tour:

---

#5 Fans unrest still bubbling under the surface

The club record signing of Alexandre Lacazette may have helped in subduing the massive protests by a section of fans towards the end of last season but the signing has, so far, proved to be just papering over the cracks by the Gunners.

Arsenal have stagnated under Arsene Wenger and require a massive overhaul if they ever wanted to challenge for top honours once again. The club have made some changes, the appointment of fan favourite Jens Lehmann in the backroom is one of those but it is visible for all to see that the North London outfit are far from ready to be challenging for top honours next season.

Such is the volatile relationship between the fans and the club, that a meltdown and subsequently protests are not more than an opening day defeat away. With Arsenal winning the FA Cup, the opening day fixture happens to be against Chelsea in the FA Community Shield.

#4 Reiss Nelson

The England Under-18 international was a constant threat on the right-wing, having been deployed as a right wing-back

Arsene Wenger’s propensity to hand game time to youngsters in Arsenal’s pre-season has allowed many a footballers to leave a long lasting impression on the Emirates faithful. Reiss Nelson is the latest to join the fray.

The 17-year-old was handed a start in the Emirates Cup game against Benfica after impressing during the club’s pre-season tour of China and Australia, and the youngster made most of his chances.

The England Under-18 international was a constant threat on the right-wing, having been deployed as a right wing-back in the Gunners’ new 3-4-2-1 formation. The youngster caused problems for his opposite number with his pace and direct running, while also being surprisingly good at crossing the ball, as and when required.

His pace was also crucial as Arsenal looked to hit Benfica on the counter-attack and it is something that Wenger will be looking to use later on in games against tired defences.

Arsenal fans would be hoping that the 17-year-old goes on the realize the enormous potential he exhibited during the pre-season and not become one of those, who are oft hailed as one game wonders.

#3 Arsenal need more depth in their squad

Do Arsenal really have the strength in numbers to compete with the best of the best?

Arsene Wenger opted to start Mohamed Elneny in the heart of a 3-man defence against Sevilla. The Egyptian did well for himself, given it was the first time in his Arsenal career that he had been used in this position.

Wenger was quick to deny in the post-match press conference that Elneny will be seen in defence during the season but it raises a few red flags nonetheless.

Do Arsenal really have the strength in numbers to compete with the best of the best?

A quick look at the squad will show that the Gunners have quite a few players on their pay roll but a whole bunch of these are expected to leave in the ongoing transfer window.

In defence alone, Wenger has Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Shokdran Mustrafi, Gabriel, Callum Chambers and Rob Holding to choose from. Out of the six and Nacho Monreal, who will be vying for the three spots in defence, only 3 or at best 4 are of the required quality to start in a big game.

Mertesacker had a legendary FA Cup final against Chelsea but despite that, there was a good reason that despite being fit, he didn’t make it to the starting lineup for a good few months before it.

Callum Chambers was on loan at Middlesbrough, and although he had a decent season, there is nothing much to write home about and it is looking increasingly certain that he will be allowed to go out on loan to further develop his game.

Mustafi, Koscielny and Monreal are the three you can really count on, while Holding hasn’t done much wrong to be ignored either. One out of these 4 is a full-back and it won’t be long when his positional awareness – or the lack thereof - will be exposed by a world class attack.

#2 Has 3-4-2-1 really improved Arsenal?

Arsene Wenger’s side were carved open at will by Chelsea and to an extent by Sevilla

There is a raging debate on social media between Arsenal fans on whether the Gunners’ shift to three-at-the-back has actually improved the team, or has the team been just lucky?

Well, such is the topic that it needs a lengthy analysis on its own, and so it shall have at a later point in time but for now we will try to touch on the topic.

The new system may have helped improve the Gunners’ attack but they look just as vulnerable on the counter as they did with their previous system – 4-2-1-3. Arsene Wenger’s side were carved open at will by Chelsea and to an extent by Sevilla as well and it suggests that the 3-man defence will struggle against the big teams.

Of course, the Emirates outfit can still improve their gameplay as they slowly complete their transition to this new system but until then, the jury is out on whether 3-4-2-1 has actually improved the team.

#1 Alexandre Lacazette’s lack of chemistry with the team

2 goals in 6 games is not as bad as it looks

Arsenal’s club record signing may have netted two goals during the pre-season, including the one he scored against Sevilla – his first in front of the home fans at the Emirates Stadium.

2 goals in 6 games is not as bad as it looks, considering it is just the pre-season but it may have given us a glimpse of what to expect in the nascent stages of Lacazette’s Arsenal career.

The Frenchman has made a name for himself as a deadly finisher, having produced impressive numbers for Lyon season-in and season-out. However, going by how lost he looks during the games right now, it is safe to say, it will be a good while before he gets accustomed to the playing style of the Gunners and establishes a sense of understanding with his teammates.

Such is his current chemistry, or the lack thereof, with his teammates that one of my friends couldn’t help but point out, that the 26-year-old’s movement is currently only understood by Olivier Giroud at Arsenal – a man he is expected to be an upgrade on in the starting line-up.