Arsenal vs Rangers: 5 things we’d like to see in pre-season clash

Arsenal haven’t enjoyed the brightest start to pre-season life. Only one game in and it’s total meltdown as Mikel Arteta’s side embarrassingly lost 2-1 to Hibernian in a match that meant so much and has rightfully resulted in calls for the manager to be sacked.

Oh behave.

On the flip side, the game shouldn’t have gone ahead with Arsenal fielding 12 players on the pitch after Willian turned up as two. That’s against the rules, right?

In all seriousness though, pre-season matches mean nothing. They are fitness exercises streamed filmed on camera. That’s it. One need only look at the starting lineup containing one, maybe two, Arsenal players who will be a regular feature in the coming Premier League season to know that.

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Arsenal vs Rangers: 5 things we’d like to see in Saturday’s pre-season clash at Ibrox with debut for new signing Nuno Tavares

Arteta and Edu have not completed anywhere near the amount of transfer business they or the supporters would have liked by this stage and as a trip to the Florida awaits there looks like being only two new faces on the plane – along with the likes of Sead Kolasinac, Hector Bellerin and Eddie Nketiah.

There is mitigation to the lack of sales which carries over into signings but with no international football to use as a distraction it’s time we started seeing some action in the market. As Chris Tarrant would declare when the big money came around on Who Wants to be a Millionaire: ‘serious business’.

Which is why it’s a positive distraction to be playing the Scottish Premiership champions on Saturday. What better way to shift the focus than a trip to Ibrox?

Having laid out how mostly meaningless the scoreline is in these matches, it doesn’t make losing fun. Even if it was Hibernian, it’s still not nice to be on the wrong end of the scoreline despite it being the best time of the year to be an Arsenal fan as the losses leave no lasting scars.

Rangers won’t be an easy tie, either. They did just lose to Tranmere, which is quite funny, but at Ibrox they’re a different kettle of fish and the work Steve Gerrard has done deserves all the praise he’s been given.

So for round two of the pre-season tour, here’s what we’d like to see from the game.

1. Arthur Okonkwo Getting Another Start

This will make for an interesting call. We do know Arthur Okonkwo will feature, though.

"“It was his debut, he was so excited,” Arteta said of the keeper. “He has earned his place in the first team with everything he has done at academy level. And unfortunately, that happened. But things will get better, he will have another chance on Saturday. “So hopefully he can be better. He’s confident in his relationship with his teammates and everything. It’s time to support him, he’s our goalkeeper and we need to give him confidence.”"

Fans would like to see the 19-year-old get minutes from the start. It’s likely Arteta will rotate at half-time as he did against Hibernian but even if it’s pre-season and so early into the summer it could send the wrong messages to not hand Okonkwo a start.

Close to being the least ideal debut he could have hoped for, building him back up and keeping his confidence high is vital, although the errors he made were uncharacteristic of him and can be solely put down to a combination of nerves and excitement.

Karl Hein could get a run out in the second half, especially with Brighton interested, while there is a chance for James Hillson to get minutes too.

2. Folarin Balogun to Start for Arsenal vs Rangers

Does it make all that much difference if Folarin Balogun gets the first 45 minutes against Rangers or the second 45 minutes? Not especially.

However seeing the half-time changes made against Hibernian, the team that came out after the break more closely resembled the side that will start against Brentford in the season opener – it was still some way off the starting lineup – and putting Flo in from the start will grant him the opportunity to make an impact from the off.

Eddie Nketiah won’t be here next season in whatever capacity after he turned down Arsenal’s contract extension. Whoever comes in to buy him would like some assurances of his ability but the occasional pre-season flirt won’t make a considerable difference to their interest.

It’s unlikely that he’ll be moved on before the USA tour. That is a shame since Arsenal need to start shifting players out for upfront fees to build a squad with the right atmosphere and to inject the money needed to strengthen elsewhere.

Balogun should be getting all the minutes that Nketiah is getting this summer but until he moves a balance has to be struck.

Nonetheless, while mostly meaningless, Flo getting a start on Saturday with experienced bodies around him would make for fun viewing. He’s officially a senior player now and seeing that rewarded would with a spot in the starting lineup at Ibrox would constitute his first start in the senior team, despite it being non-competitive.

3. Nuno Tavares to Make His Arsenal Debut vs Rangers

Can it actually be classed as a debut? Any appearance in pre-season comes with the ‘non-competitive’ prefix to specify the level but regardless of that, fans want to see Nuno Tavares in action.

Expecting to do so against Hibs, Arteta revealed a administrative issue prevented the 21-year-old from making the squad.

"“He didn’t have all the paperwork necessary to be involved today,” the boss said after the defeat. “But hopefully, that will be all ready to go and he can have his debut on Saturday against Rangers.”"

Will that be from the start? Funnily enough, Sead Kolasinac was one of the Gunners’ better performers in the first half against Hibs, playing as a wide target man despite lining up at left-back and being further ahead of Willian for most of the half.

That’s a role that could suit Tavares since the main concerns over his arrival at north London were surrounding his defensive positioning and awareness. Given it’s only pre-season there is no reason for him not be make some of his bursting runs and dribbles to build his fitness up, and with Pablo Mari likely to start alongside him he’ll have someone who can speak Portuguese and coach him through the game.

It’ll be interesting to see whether his first minutes are spent full of nerves or bursting with energy.

4. More Minutes for Hungry Hale End Stars

Minutes for new signings and less minutes for deadwood are always ideal in pre-season. Of course, those in need of selling have to be in the shop window and you can only play new signings if, y’know, you’ve actually bought some.

But there is so much more to pre-season to get excited about. Perhaps most enjoyable of all is the minutes handed out to academy stars getting their chance to impress alongside the more seasoned professionals.

The Hibs defeat saw Arteta dish out minutes to a host of young players, including midfielder Jack Henry-Francis who was brought on in the 75th minute. As far as cameos go, the 17-year-old made a fine impression at Easter Road, keeping hold of possession well and breaking up play as Hibs tried to counter.

Omari Hutchinson came on as the same time and was fielded at left wing-back, also looking hungry and sharp and winning a free-kick late on.

Okonkwo’s replacement, Karl Hein, didn’t really put a foot wrong after his introduction and could have done nothing about the goal he conceded. There was one impressive save he made and he was a vocal presence throughout his 45 minute spell.

In front of him both Harry Clarke and Omar Rekik had tidy afternoons with composure in possession, although neither were overly tested by the Hibs front line.

The same group will be hoping for more minutes at Ibrox and if you had to pick one that looks most exciting, it would probably be Henry-Francis.

5. Kieran Tierney’s Unwelcome Return to Ibrox & More

Kieran Tierney cutting his holiday short and meeting straight up with the Arsenal team in Scotland? Why on earth would he do that…

It’s obviously because he is a consummate professional and outstanding example to young footballers around the world, but it also definitely without doubt has something to do with playing Rangers, doesn’t it?

Unlikely that he’ll actually feature at all due to having only trained for a couple of days, he’ll make sure Ibrox knows he’s there and there is no doubting that he’s asked Arteta to give him a few minutes at the end. Should be feisty.

We’d also like to see Thomas Partey score. That’s twice now he’s hit the frame of the goal in Arsenal colours and seeing the bend and direction he put on his free-kick against Hibs hints that maybe there is someone to finally take over the rancid free-kick duties from David Luiz.

Nicolas Pepe was the best performer at Hibs and seeing the contrast of the Ivorian, who looked sharp and in good shape, compared to Willian was extremely saddening. Only 45 minutes down, therefore it’s a small sample size, if Pepe is in this condition come next term we’re going to have some player on our hands.

Of all the matches between now and the end of next season, the one where you expect the worst fitness is the first game of pre-season. There were no signs of that with him.

Finally, we’d like to see Willian make a 20 yard sprint. Please. For the memes if nothing else.