Arsenal 2-2 Rangers: 3 talking points from pre-season draw

Two games down and no wins to show for it, in the end it doesn’t make squat for difference as fitness comes first and foremost in pre-season. Nevertheless, Arsenal winning is always preferred and after a 2-2 draw with Rangers the fans are still waiting.

A 2-1 defeat to Hibernian first time out ended a long wait for club action to return, and Arsenal concluded their mini-tour of Scotland with a trip to Ibrox before now returning to London ahead of jetting off to sunny Florida next week.

Mikel Arteta rang the changes as expected for Saturday’s clash with Folarin Balogun getting the nod up front and Nuno Tavares earning his first minutes in red and white.

Neither were culpable for the opening goal from Flo’s namesake, with Mohamed Elneny losing his marker at a corner and leaving Leon Balogun unmarked to glance a header beyond Arthur Okonkwo.

Arsenal 2-2 Rangers: 3 talking points from pre-season draw as Nuno Tavares scores on his debut and Aubameyang misses three glorious chances

Tavares ensured it would be a (non-competitive) debut to remember by drawing the visitors in front with a well-taken strike. Getting beyond his marker on the edge of the box the 21-year-old shifted the ball onto his right foot and fired home from a tight angle.

Arsenal dominated but missed numerous glorious chances before another poorly defended set piece put the hosts back in front. This time Cedric Itten had a free header inside the penalty box.

Numerous changes from the manager didn’t impact the Gunners’ flow and they had Rangers pinned back in their own third for long spells; their resistance was finally broken when Eddie Nketiah stole the ball in the penalty box, gathered his thoughts and wrong-footed Allan McGregor with a low drive in at the near post.

What to make of that, then? There were a few talking points to single out – most which need the obvious tempering of it being pre-season – as Arsenal tick off match two of their summer preparations, with the transfer window still ongoing.

1. Arsenal Have Work to Do on Set Pieces

Does anyone know if Andreas Georgson has already left London Colney? Was his flight to Sweden delayed at all?

Joking aside, that’s now three goals conceded from corners in two matches for Arsenal, having shipped just five throughout the entirety of the 2020/21 Premier League season.

Georgson has departed to mostly happy faces. He ensured Arsenal had the best defensive set piece record last term but some woeful routines and curious decisions in the opposition box meant Arsenal’s six goals scored from set pieces had them third bottom of the charts.

Is it a lot to be worried about? Slightly so, for sure, but Nicolas Jover has only just arrived from Manchester City to take up the role vacated by Georgson and will need time to embed his methods. It’s better to have the issue laid out nice and early so sessions can be dedicated towards them.

All three conceded so far didn’t appear to be systematic errors, more simple laziness: people losing their markers, being caught ball-watching, etc. It’s an area to keep an eye on.