Arsenal Face a Different Test

March 22, 2014- What should have been a day of celebration for Arsene Wenger ended in humiliation when Arsenal were trounced by Chelsea 6-0 at Stamford Bridge.  The Frenchman was celebrating his 1000th match in charge, and one could argue that sunny day in East London was the worst of them all.  

With Lukas Podolski and Tomas Rosicky patrolling the wings, Arsenal were stagnant and pedestrian in the face of a Chelsea thunderstorm of attacks.  To make matters worse, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took a wild swing at Eden Hazards shot heading wide, made contact, and was unjustly mistaken for Kieran Gibbs.  

Gibbs was subsequently sent off, Chelsea converted the penalty to make it 3-0 inside 17 minutes played, Laurent Koscielny was injured and subbed off at half time, and Arsenal’s three substitutions (Mathieu Flamini, Thomas Vermaelen, and Carl Jenkinson) pretty much summed up the nature of the match for the Gunners.  

Regardless, the men left on the bench included Kim Kallstrom, Yaya Sanogo, and Serge Gnabry, so glory for Wenger on his big day was never an option.  Sunday, Arsenal return to Stamford Bridge in hope of snatching a point, or perhaps even three.  

Wednesday’s 4-1 dismantling of Galatasaray gave fans a glimpse into perhaps a new formula for success at Arsenal.  Aside from the obvious lack of personnel with which they faced Chelsea last season, Arsenal were without any pace on the field, something they added in the summer by signing Danny Welbeck and Alexis.  

Together with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the pair constantly ran behind the Galatasaray defense and gave Mesut Ozil runners with which to aim his lovely passes at.  Welbeck’s hat trick grabbed the headlines, but Alexis and Ozil were almost as impressive in their all-around displays.  

Coming off such a successful outing, Arsenal fans will be inclined to ask for more of the fireworks from their Champions League outing on Wednesday.  Chelsea, however, are not Galatasaray.  This Arsenal squad is furlongs better than the one that travelled to Stamford Bridge in March, and so is Chelsea’s.  

Enough cannot be said about the impact Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa have had at Stamford Bridge.  Coupled with Jose Mourinho’s flexible and pragmatic tactical approach, Chelsea have the best record in the league and are showing no signs of letting up.  

The goal creators and scorers grab the headlines, but Chelsea’s biggest strength is their defense.  John Terry’s performance on Tuesday was imperious as ever, as was Branislav Ivanovic’s.  With Nemanja Matic providing the cover that Arsenal’s back line so desperately needs, Chelsea’s foundation complements their creative attackers.  

Thus, It will be a surprise to see such a positive lineup on Sunday when Arsenal play Chelsea across London.  If Mesut Ozil and Alexis are to be relied on defensively, Chelsea will no doubt score goals.  Santi Cazorla, positioned ahead of Mathieu Flamini but behind Ozil, put in a yeoman’s display on Wednesday, but his inclusion there would surprise me.  

Jack Wilshere, so often picked in big games by Wenger, will likely start next to Mathieu Flamini in a midfield duo after a weeks rest and a quick run out against Galatasaray.  Arsenal’s hopes will lie on the shoulders of these two, who imperatively must protect the back four and stay disciplined in a hostile environment. 

Being the conservative tactician that he is, Wenger likes to stick with lineups which yield results.  Given the magnitude of Wednesday’s result, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Wenger field the exact same XI.

This is Wenger’s biggest flaw each year, since top teams adjust and know exactly what to expect when they play Arsenal.  Wenger’s stubbornness prevents him from coming out with a steely attitude of buckling down defensively, but that stubbornness is only indicative of the faith he has in his attacking players.  

It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see Arsenal and Chelsea open the floodgates and take part in a free-flowing goal frenzy of a match.  Then again, Jose Mourinho will also be weary of Arsenal’s momentum after Wednesday’s win and may fancy a risk-free gameplan.  

Like Germany did to Brazil in July, Chelsea have that ability to soak up pressure and lure the opposition in, only to pounce with a quick blitzkrieg counter attack.  Regardless, Arsene Wenger should proceed with caution on Sunday, a point being a terrific result in the first of many premier league road tests this season.  

English UCL Roundup

Liverpool

After an unconvincing win over Ludogrets at Anfield, Liverpool were sluggish again in Switzerland as they fell 1-0 to Basel to further complicate Brendan Rodgers’ current situation.  Basel have now gone unbeaten in the Champions League against English opposition for seven games, adding to their resume of wins over Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham. 

With Real Madrid looming in three weeks, Rodgers will be happy to see Daniel Sturridge rejoin the starting XI by then, but collectively the entire team is in a funk.  Even Raheem Sterling, whose form has been encouraging for Liverpool, looked sluggish and was not his usual scintillating self.  

The most concerning issue with Liverpool right now though is their leaky defense.  With Mamadou Sakho relegated to the bench, Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren have to give more for all 90 minutes.  Today, the pairing was solid for most of the day, but lack of communication with Simon Mignolet and a momentary lapse in concentration cost the Reds dearly.  

Chelsea

England desperately could have used the services of John Terry in Brazil.  Terry put in his customary dominant performance at the heart of the Chelsea defense, commanding the defensive third and always being in the right place at the right time.  The star of the show however, was Nemanja Matic.  

Sitting next to the less defensive-minded Cesc Fabregas, Matic was happy to break up play time and time again in the first half, and was gifted a lovely headed goal for his efforts.  Matic is a key cog in the Chelsea midfield, and his value to Jose Mourinho only grows. He will play a key role in Sunday’s London Derby, and will only further prompt Arsene Wenger to rue his inactivity in the market for a defensive midfielder.  

Oscar’s performance was noteworthy too, his well-weighted balls for Andre Schurlle, Eden Hazard, and Diego Costa constantly causing problems for the Lisbon defense.  Times remain free and easy for Chelsea.  

Manchester City

Manchester City followed their competition-opening loss in Munich with a disappointing draw against visitors Roma on Tuesday.  Manchester City’s chances for qualification into the knockout stages took a big hit, and City’s recent dominance in England is no barometer for how this team plays in Europe.  

Gael Clichy was constantly out of his depth tracking the aging Maicon, while Fernandinho and Yaya Toure were stormed in the middle by Pjanic and Keita.  It is becoming too familiar of a theme for City to do so poorly in the European competition, something Manuel Pellegrini’s addition promised 16 months ago.  

The two bright spots for City were their English players Joe Hart and James Milner.  Milner came on for Jesus Navas at halftime, and was effective on both the right and left wings.  Hart, meanwhile, put to rest doubts about his grasp on the #1 jersey, stopping Gervinho from scoring on multiple occasions.  

Arsenal

Danny Welbeck scored a hat trick on Wednesday against Galatasaray, something he failed to do in his entire tenure at Manchester United.  Nonetheless, the Englishman is enjoying life in North London, with six goals from five starts.  

Arsene Wenger will be more pleased with the all-around effectiveness of all his attacking players.  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who got the nod over Alexis in the North London Derby, justified his inclusion in the last two fixtures.  Alexis was his usual self, always up for a chase or a trick.  Mesut Ozil, surrounded by three players with exceptional pace, was gifted the middle of the park and was at the middle of every move in the attacking third.  

Mathieu Flamini’s inclusion made Arsenal fans nervous, but the Frenchman redeemed himself today with a solid performance in front of the back four.  The lone blemish for Flamini was his booking, although one can hardly blame him for lunging in after seeing several of his teammates hacked down, particularly Alexis when Felipe Melo should have been sent off in the first half for an utterly inexcusable two-footed challenge.  

Power Rankings: Palace on the Rise, Liverpool Fall Again

1. Chelsea (1): Another easy win for Chelsea who dispatched of Aston Villa easily at home.  Diego Costa now has eight from six premier league matches, and Jose Mourinho celebrated his 250th match in charge of the club.  Chelsea will look to take advantage of Arsenal’s injury troubles next weekend and replicate the last meeting between the two London clubs.

2. Southampton (2): Since losing at Anfield on opening day, Southampton are undefeated in all competitions (seven matches), riding the high of Ronald Koeman’s brilliant philosophies.  Graziano Pelle’s strike could be the goal of the season already, and Ryan Bertrand looks keen to jump ship from Chelsea permanently.  

3. Manchester City (3): The top three remains unchanged here, given Southampton’s form in September.  City won 4-2 at Hull City, but made it harder on themselves than necessary; Eliaquim Mangala will want to forget this day which saw him conceded a penalty and put one in his own net.  

4. Arsenal (4): Arsenal only stay in the top four of the rankings by virtue of the four teams behind them losing.  Saturday’s North London Derby was a disappointing result for the Gunners, with fans scratching their heads wondering why Alexis started on the bench.  The Chilean has been Arsenal’s best player in the young season, and his introduction changed the game late on.  A full 90 from Arsenal’s big signing could have seen a different outcome.  

5. Crystal Palace (9): Crystal Palace’s rise in the last two weeks has been meteoric; two wins in six days an a recent home victory over talk-of-the-town Leicester will put to rest any doubts about Neil Warnock’s pedigree for now.  Mile Jedinak continues to log impressive shifts in the middle for Palace; there are probably a host of top teams wishing they had a player of his solidarity.  

6. Leicester City (5): Leicester couldn’t continue the blistering pace with which they dispatched of Manchester United last Sunday, and subsequently fell to Crystal Palace 2-0 on the road.  Nigel Pearson is a manager who, however, ‘gets it,’ and they should look to impress more moving forward. 

7. Aston Villa (6): That’s two losses from two for Aston Villa, but this one won’t sting like last weekend’s 3-0 home loss to Arsenal.  Chelsea are in a different class, and it’s important for Paul Lambert and Roy Keane to refocus their efforts toward more winnable fixtures ahead.  

8. Swansea (7): For the second week in a row, Swansea drop a spot in the rankings.  Lukasz Fabianski was a busy man on Saturday, and also for the second weekend in a row Swansea ended the game with 10 men.  This time it was Angel Rangel who received his marching orders, but credit Sunderland for making it very difficult for Swansea to find chances throughout.  

9. Everton (13): Everton stood firm in the season’s first edition of the North London Derby.  Phil Jagielka’s pile-driving effort assured a point for Roberto Martinez, but today’s here for Everton was American Tim Howard.  Howard had a disastrous outing last Sunday, making two unforgivable errors.  On Saturday, Howard was Everton’s best player, making several impressive saves even while falling victim to Steven Gerrard’s brilliant free kick.  

10. Stoke City (12): Another club on the rise for the second week in a row, Stoke City easily dispatched of sputtering Newcastle United.  This could be the last nail in the coffin for Alan Pardew.  

11. Hull City (8): Steve Bruce will applaud his side’s resilience after going down 2-0 so early, but won’t be happy with some of the lazy marking which allowed Sergio Aguero to open the scoring.  Had it not been for Eliaquim Mangala’s day to forget, it could have been much worse for the Tigers.  

12. Manchester United (15): 19 year old Paddy McNair was handed his debut by Louis Van Gaal, more papering over the cracks than a must-see first start.  However, credit the debutant for holding his ground and managing a near-physically impossible clearance down the stretch from a dangerous West Ham cross.  Wayne Rooney’s sending off only adds to the laundry list of questions directed toward the Red Devils’ captain.  

13. Liverpool (11): Liverpool missed an opportunity to springboard into a run of excellent form, as they did last year when they dismantled Everton 4-0 at Anfield.  Brendan Rodgers’ side took 37 or the next 39 available points after that, and a team struggling to find it’s post-Suarez identity won’t look to this one for any encouragement.  

14. Tottenham (14): Tottenham scored against Arsenal, something they didn’t manage once last season, so that has to be a huge positive coming away from this one.  

15. West Brom (17): West Brom dismantled Burnley, thanks to a brace from Saido Berahino.  Berahino’s impressive start to the season continues, and Fabian Delph’s call-up gives the youngster hope of seeing action in Roy Hodgson’s England squad.  

16. West Ham (10): Taking a closer look at this game, West Ham missed an opportunity to snatch a point from Old Trafford.  Enner Valencia blasted wide from a Daley Blind error, United capitalized on a terrible error for their second and game-winning goal, and Wayne Rooney's sending off should have boosted the Hammers coming off their win over Liverpool last weekend.  

17. Sunderland (18): Sunderland are also still searching for their first win of the season.  A draw to Swansea isn’t the worst thing that can happen, but Gus Poyet may see pressure from above if he continues to go winless.  

18. Newcastle (18): If cats have nine lives, Alan Pardew surely has hundreds and is by now running out.  Newcastle lack inventiveness, organization, and fighting spirit.  Only a matter of time now until SackPardew.com can finally be deemed irrelevant, but while it’s not, check it out; lot of interesting facts about the Pardew era on there.  

19. Queens Park Rangers (20): The only thing keeping Queens Park Rangers out of the DFL zone is Burnley’s unworldly poor form.  However, had it not been for Graziano Pelle’s unworldly strike, Harry Redknapp could have walked away with a point from the South.  

20. Burnley (16): Ironically enough, Burnley had three bids for Michael Dawson rejected over the summer.  Dawson scored from Chris Brunt’s corner to only worsen the 4-0 defeated handed to them by West Brom, while Burnely are currently riding a 526 minute streak in which they have not scored a league goal.  

More Rooney Controversy, Arsenal Injuries, and Howard's Resilience

Is Rooney ‘Dat Guy?’

After last weekend I was very critical of Wayne Rooney’s reaction to Leicester City’s equalizer in the second half.  This week, it’s more of the same from Rooney, who this time almost cost Manchester United a home win with a reckless challenge on Stewart Downing.  It’s becoming more and more evident that Van Gaal may have made the wrong choice in handing the armband to Rooney, while it remains to be seen how his suspension will impact United.  If, and it is a big if, United appear the better side without their captain in the lineup, things could yet get more interesting at Old Trafford.  

The New Balotelli

In what was seen by many as a terrific risk over the summer, Liverpool paid a controversial 16 million pounds for the services of Mario Balotelli.  To his credit, Balotelli has not let any off-the-field issues that have plagued his career affect Liverpool.  In a face-to-face spat with Adrian last weekend, Balotelli kept his cool and was unfortunate to see yellow in an indecent clearly designed to wind the Italian up.  However, Balotelli has now scored just one goal in has last 20 premier league appearances, and although he is showing signs of maturity, the mercurial goal-scorer we all know is currently MIA.  

Arsenal Injuries Continue

Already without Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Debuchy, and Olivier Giroud, Arsene Wenger now has more fitness predicaments to navigate.  Aaron Ramsey picked up a knock that will keep him sidelined for a month (which, guessing by past experiences, could mean more than just a month), Mikel Arteta also came off injured, and the status of Jack Wilshere remains up in the air heading into key clashes with Galatasalry and Chelsea.  This could mean the return of Abou Diaby to the side, but more worryingly could spell trouble ahead for the Gunners.  Arsene Wenger may be rueing his failure to sign a top defensive midfielder right now.  

Southampton Steady

Word out of the South last week was that Southampton players refused a day off from Ronald Koeman, much to the dismay of Mrs. Koeman.  The Dutch boss reportedly gave the players the day off, but captain Jose Fonte informed Koeman of the recent development, forcing the manager to put plans with the wife on hold.  With each week, Southampton look more and more impressive, while the likes of Calum Chambers, Luke Shaw, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert, and Adam Lallana sit behind their former club in the premier league table.  

Chelsea Aiming High

If you don’t consider Chelsea favorites to win the league by now, shame on you.  Jose Mourinho is in a bit of a self-proclaimed pickle right now though with the fitness concerns of Diego Costa.  Costa has eight goals from six games in the league, but as the Champions League progresses Chelsea will need more out of their supporting forwards.  Right now, Bayern Munich and Chelsea look the strongest teams in the competition, so keeping Costa fit will be key for Chelsea.  If they can do so and get production out of Loic Remy and Didier Drogba in the league from here on, they have a chance for the treble this year.  

American Resilience

Aside from Phil Jagielka and his wondrous striker to steal a point from Anfield, Tim Howard was Everton’s finest player in the Merseyside Derby.  Following arguably his worst performance in the premier league, Howard put to rest any doubts about his age and current form for that matter.  Several huge saves aided the draw, particularly denying Mario Balotelli from point-blank range to keep the Italian searching for his first Liverpool tally in league play.  Howard continues to be a mainstay in the premier league, last week’s gaffes being an unusual deviation from his usual rock-solid self.  

England’s Surplus of Left Backs

The North London Derby was highlighted by Nacer Chadli’s opener, Alexis’ mysterious exclusion from the starting XI, and both sets of fans’ standard quota of pints and song.  However, two bright spots from he Three Lions perspective were the play of both Danny Rose and Kieran Gibbs at left back.  Rose limited Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s influence on from the right, and forced his countryman to find opportunities in the middle, which he ultimately did.  Gibbs had a similarly impressive match, although he spent much more time going forward.  The 25 year old has really come of age since Gael Clichy’s move to Manchester City, and both men are giving Roy Hodgson a lot to think about going forward.  

Alexis' Exclusion a Head-Scratcher

Saturday’s draw with Tottenham will do nothing to quell the frustration of Arsenal supporters who remain adamant that Arsene Wenger committed an unforgivable error in not securing a top defensive midfielder in the summer.  Mathieu Flamini’s error was what directly caused Nacer Chadli’s opener, but the exclusion of Arsenal’s most expensive signing of the summer is the bigger-picture question we’ll all be asking going forward.  

I see Arsene Wenger’s reasoning behind keeping Alexis on the bench.  Naturally, a player which such inventiveness and pace would be the ultimate substitute.  His inclusion for the final third of the match saw a change in directness and quality from Arsenal, while every decision has it’s reasoning that may not meet the eye.  

It is important to understand who Alexis is as a footballer.  Always second-tune to Lionel Messi and company at Barcelona, Alexis’ direct style of play and individuality are what saw him become surplus to requirements a the Nou Camp.  He gives the ball away more than one would fancy, but that’s the element of risk in putting him in.

James McNicholas put it best today in labeling Alexis as a ‘soloist,’ which sums up his body of work on the pitch.  Alexis loves to square up to goal with the ball at his feet and take defenders on fearlessly.  At Barcelona, they prefer the free-flowing style of tiki-taka, so giving the ball to Alexis didn’t necessarily bode well for their run of play.  

At Arsenal, Alexis is more of a focal point on the field than he was with Barcelona, so the risk in putting him in is only magnified.  As opposed to Danny Welbeck, Alexis is prone to giving the ball away.  Welbeck was included in the side not just for his impact on the score sheet against Aston Villa, but also for his outstanding ball-retention and passing skills.  

On the other hand, taking a step back from the situation and looking at the bigger picture really makes one wonder how on earth he wasn’t included.  As an opposing manager, it has to be a welcome sight to see Alexis start on the bench; that in itself could warrant the Chileans inclusion in almost every big match.  

Rumblings out of Arsenal’s London Colney training ground suggested Alexis has the stamina and ambition of a six year old chugging green tea.  Two days after playing 90 minutes against Southampton, Alexis had to be told by several of the Arsenal players to ‘take it easy’ on what was supposed to be his second day of recovery.  

The eagerness and desire is there with the Chilean; that is something no one will ever doubt, so why not include him in a game of this magnitude?  Of all the things that have gone wrong for Arsenal this season so far, Alexis has been the biggest bright spot.  

Finally, a summer which saw Arsene Wenger fail to address the squad’s biggest need makes it hard to warrant the exclusion of the 35 million pound man.  ‘As long as the club isn’t going to spend money on the right players, why not play the ones they actually spent on?’ is a question many Gooners will be asking themselves after Saturday.  

Perhaps Alexis was a little too psyched up, or there’s something we don’t know about.  Regardless, it’s inexplicable for a player of his quality and energy to not be included in a game which calls for both in bulk

Plenty on the Line in the Merseyside Derby

Two teams no one expected to start so poorly will face off on Saturday in the season’s first edition of the Merseyside Derby.  Between the two, Everton and Liverpool have amassed just eleven points in 10 games.  

Both teams will be eager to impress in this early season showdown with more than a place in the table on the line.

Both clubs have lost three of their last four premier league fixtures, and both are without key contributors.  Missing out will be Everton’s young star Ross Barkley, while Daniel Sturridge faces an uphill battle in order to be ready for Saturday.  For Everton, Romelu Lukaku is hard at work repaying the transfer fee they doled out for him.  

It’s imperative that the Belgian steps up in big games and shows more consistency than last season.  His price tag means he’s expected to lead Everton through thick and thin, and although he was at times unstoppable for Everton on loan last year, he endured multiple scoring droughts among injury concerns.  

Everton’s biggest threat in this contest is Roberto Martinez.  Everton have only amassed five points in the league, but they’ve played better than that number suggests.  They dominated Arsenal for 75 minutes before squandering a two goal lead, and were involved in the instant-classic 6-3 match against Chelsea.  

Martinez will make sure his players know they’re doing the right things, but they need to be more precise.  Saturday could be a historic day for the Toffees, who haven’t beaten Liverpool at Anfield in 15 years.  Surely this is an excellent chance to put up a fight and maybe snatch a win, so plenty is on the line for the Spaniard.  

It was a formality last season that Everton would be hard to break down, regardless of their opponent.  Things have changed with the form of their aging core of defensive players.  With Sturridge very questionable, Mario Balotelli has another chance to impose his will once again on England.  

Balotelli will be going up against Sylvain Distin whose age is taking a toll on him, and an uncharacteristically struggling Phil Jagielka.  Tim Howard’s issues are a whole different story, but Roberto Martinez put to rest doubts about the resolve of his American shot-stopper.  

Balotelli and whoever starts alongside have a chance to inflict the same irreparable damage Liverpool were so accustomed to handing out in bulk with Suarez in the side.  Raheem Sterling should play a big part in the Derby too, as he has been by far Liverpool’s best player this term.

Steven Gerrard is one player whose leash is running short with the supporters.  Rodgers made a mistake playing Gerrard three times in eight days, because by the time West Ham came around he was running on fumes, left to protect a back four struggling enough already.    

I would expect Martin Skrtel to make a difference in his return to the lineup, as he usually does in big games at home.  Thus, either Dejan Lovren or Mamadou Sakho will be dropped.  Lovren’s struggles came to a head last weekend, and Sakho’s inability to head balls out of his own area cause much concern. 

Brendan Rodgers was hailed in the summer window for his swift and aggressive strategy following Suarez’ exit.  It’s only five games into the season, but dropping points at home to Everton of all clubs would put even more pressure on a squad failing to produce results.  

A win would be a massive result, and Rodgers would feel very good about his club going forward if they put on a show like they have in the past at Anfield.  A tie though, let alone a loss, wouldn’t bode well with supporters who have been so critical of Steven Gerrard in recent days.  

As for Everton, a solid showing and any points at all could serve as a springboard off of which to catapult back into the top four discussion.  On what could be a historic day for the Toffees, Liverpool must be more organized defensively and get a good showing out of their forwards or face the wrath of the Anfield faithful.  

Case for Rooney Wearing Thin

England has not been kind to Louis Van Gaal.  The Dutchman, under such lofty expectations from the start, has failed to conjure any consistent form out of his expensive squad.  Angel Di Maria proves his worth with every appearance, Ander Herrera shines more and more, and Daley Blind ideally fits what United need.  

The results however, are not there.  Robin Van Persie has struggled with injury and poor form, Radamel Falcao has yet to open his account and improve his fitness, while Wayne Rooney is justifying his inclusion in the starting eleven less and less.  

10 years ago, Rooney was hailed by many as the next big thing in world football.  Rooney has been the face of the Three Lions for quite some time now, but that's not saying much considering the English' recent performances in major tournaments.  

Since he was named captain by Van Gaal, Rooney has struggled in his new role.  United are constantly losing focus for periods of time in matches, the Leicester outing being the perfect example.  

To his credit, Rooney was sprinting back to cover Marcos Rojo’s errant positioning in the second half on Sunday.  His reaction to the third goal however, was an indication of vulnerability and the Englishman feeling a lot of pressure.  

Rooney’s inch-perfect cross to Dean Hammond on the edge of David De Gea’s penalty area was what set up Cambiasso’s equalizer, and instead of shouldering the blame, Rooney erupted.  He is right to demand more out of his teammates, but blaming everyone seconds after shanking a clearance is no way to handle the captaincy.

It’s also evident that Juan Mata could be a better option beneath Falcao and Van Persie.  With the Colombian in the mix, Rooney is likely to find playing time in the playmaker role.  In theory, this would be ideal for the soon-to-be 29 year old.  He doesn’t have the explosive burst he once used to such great effect, but has always been an above-average passer.  

However, Rooney’s recent performances have made many question his appointment of leadership, let alone his inclusion in the side at all.  Mata, David Moyes’ 37 million pound signing, is riding the bench currently, and when put on the pitch is forced out on the wing.  

Mata is the better natural playmaker between the two, and if granted a central role would flourish.  Like Mesut Ozil, Mata is a 360 degree playmaker who prefers to have options from the middle.  His Spanish flair would suit Van Gaal’s style more than Rooney’s English heart.  With players like Di Maria, Herrera, and Falcao in the side, Manchester United are a changing club.  

The times are changing at Old Trafford; the Red Devils have their first foreign manager and a lineup now dominated by non English players.  Much has been said about Juan Mata’s poor defending and Rooney’s fastidiousness in pursuit of the ball.  Right now though, United need a change, and there is a perfectly good opportunity sitting on the bench.  

Rooney is over-applying himself and giving the impression that he is trying too hard, both in a leadership and a footballing sense.  Some time out of the starting eleven would benefit all parties involved at United.  Rooney would of course play, but not every game and not exclusively in the #10 role.  For now though, Juan Mata should be better utilized starting in the middle of the attack.  

Alexis' Playing Style Indicative of Upbringing

On June 28th in Belo Horizonte, Chile nearly spared Brazil eventual humiliation at the hands of Germany  but were cruelly eliminated from the World Cup on penalties.  Led by Arturo Vidal and Alexis, Chile were one of the main attractions in their four game stint, providing entertainment at every turn.

Following Chile’s unfortunate exit from the World Cup, Arsenal capitalized on the availability of Alexis and made him the most expensive Chilean player in history by signing him from Barcelona.  Since then, Alexis has drawn the adoration of the Emirates crowd, and has scored in each of his last four appearances.  

Alexis, known in his home country as ‘El Nino Marvailla,’ or ‘the Wonder Kid,’ has enjoyed a fine start to his Arsenal tenure.  Aside from his impressive goal output so far, the Chilean has put on regular clinics in perseverance off the ball, often leading the line of pressing high up the field.  

Coming from the boarding school-like environment of Barcelona, Alexis must feel like an absolute rockstar at Arsenal.  He is given positional freedom, he’s almost guaranteed a spot in the side, he doesn’t have to drive the same car as the rest of the team, and he’s scoring goals.  

Times weren’t always this easy for Alexis. 

The third child of four, he was born into poverty in Chile.  His father abandoned the family when Alexis was a toddler, leaving his mother to work multiple jobs in order to at least try and provide for her children.  She would clean fish for the neighbors and sell flowers in her spare time just so the family wouldn’t starve.

From the age of six, Alexis was always working.  To make whatever he could, the youngster would perform acrobatics and dance in the street for people’s spare change.  Sometimes the tough boy, known to his friends and family back then as ‘the Squirrel’ for his endless reserve of energy, would even box in the streets just to earn a small keep.  

When the family didn’t have food, poor Alexis would resort to knocking on the neighbors’ doors looking for a spare piece of bread.  They gave him what they could, but poverty was the norm in and around the entire city.  

Growing up in Tocopilla, which literally means ‘Devil’s Corner,’ Alexis knew he was destined to be either a fisherman or a miner…that was unless he could escape the hard life he was handed through football.  

Not unlike Ronaldinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexis honed his skills as a child in the muddy streets of his hometown.  Unable to afford boots, Alexis played barefoot; his remarkable ball control is a testament to the surfaces on which he learned to play football.  

Eventually, Alexis was discovered by Club Arauco youth coach Alberto Toledo, who insisted on bringing the youngster to the club.  There wasn’t a chance in hell Alexis could pay the club fees, but Toledo couldn’t turn down the chance to bring in a lad with such irresistible quality.  

One game, unable to find transportation to the match on time, Alexis arrived late to discover his team had already gone down 1-0.  Like Bobby Boucher arriving at halftime in the Bourbon Bowl, Alexis came on and scored eight goals, more than enough to atone for his tardiness.  

It’s no surprise Alexis plays with the conviction and heart that he does.  While at Barcelona, Alexis injured himself when Barcelona were down a man and out of subs; Pep Guardiola was furious for having to play with nine men, but how can you be mad at a guy for playing hard?  

The way he plays on the pitch is representative of a life of hardship.  Nothing has ever come easy for the Chilean, and he of all people knows hard work can get you everywhere in life.

The one thing every Arsenal fan can agree on is how impressive Alexis’ work rate is.  His upbringing molded him into this tireless superstar, and Arsenal should rest easy that they have a player of massive character at the Emirates. 

Van Gaal Will Learn From Sunday

It comes as no surprise that Manchester United’s re-vamped squad have netted seven goals in their last two league games.  Ander Herrera has two in as many matches, Angel Di Maria is orchestrating almost all the offense, and Falcao came within inches of opening his Manchester United account when he rattled a majestic volley off the cross bar on Sunday.  

Yes, Van Gaal has accomplished one thing; he’s brought back flashes of the fluid football going forward that Sir Alex Ferguson’s sides were so adept at.  However, his team’s issues are still massive at the back, and his late-game management must improve as I’m sure it will.

It’s still unclear what system Van Gaal will prefer in the long haul.  Rafael and Marcos Rojo played as if United started with three in the back, their surging runs forward causing problems but their lazy defending punished as a consequence.  The penalty Rafael gave away to Jamie Vardy was harsh, but the Brazilian should know better than to react to a no-call by lunging in like that.  

Vardy caused problems for Rojo as well, beating him down the line to cross on Ulloa’s first goal.  Rojo was again exposed after he overlapped Juan Mata and left him as the last line of defense down the entire left flank.  When Argentina clamped down defensively in the World Cup, Rojo was more understanding of his role.  After two games, Rojo is already living up to his billing as undisciplined.  

He is no doubt a wonderful player, and Rafael is a proven player in the league.  However, Daley Blind cannot cover that much space, and leaving Tyler Blackett exposed is the last thing United can let happen on the field.  With the injury to Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling’s struggles, Van Gaal may want to instruct his fullbacks to tuck in and defend more.  

With that being said, the work put in by Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria is impressive.  Right now, one could almost argue that the two wide midfield players in Van Gaal’s scheme are defending the flanks better than the two fullbacks are.  

The biggest error though, was taking Angel Di Maria off the pitch at 3-3 and replacing him with another attacking player, Juan Mata.  Taking Di Maria off was understandable; the game was headed toward an intense finish, and perhaps he still lacks match fitness.  The decision to replace him with Mata was what really did Van Gaal in for the day.

At this point, United were getting pummeled at the back and Leicester had just tied the contest.  Instead of buckling down in the midfield where Leicester were winning most of the battles, Van Gaal opted to go for it and put his most expensive bench player on the field.  

Darren Fletcher was much more appropriate in this situation, and this is an instance where the Dutchman’s arrogance failed him.  It was a blatant error, and everyone could see it.  Di Maria’s presence was immense, by far United’s best player.  Whenever he received the ball in midfield, the Argentine would storm the barn looking for an opportunity to create or surge forward.  

His exclusion in favor of Juan Mata did United in.  With the irresponsible Rojo making runs up field, Mata was left to patrol more than he is used to, and as a result Leicester scored a fourth with ease.  

With all things considered, labeling Louis Van Gaal as a failure already is unjust.  Like every manager new to England, he has to face baptism by fire when it comes to accumulating experience.  The recently promoted Foxes were underestimated and they made United pay, a testament to the difficulty and depth of the league as a whole.  

Manchester United also fielded five of their new signings on Sunday, which usually doesn’t produce consistent harmony in a team.  Van Gaal will apply his lessons learned from round five, while the players on the field will improve their own form or face the bench. 

Round Five: Studs & Duds

Studs

Frank Lampard, Manchester City: Don’t do a double take, that’s right, Frank Lampard plays for Manchester City now, at least for a few more months.  No one could have predicted this storyline a year ago, one which saw the former Chelsea man score the equalizer in a hotly contested match against the club he spent over a decade at.  His emotional goodbye to the traveling Chelsea supporters was a heartwarming sight, and his refusal to celebrate his goal showed his undeniable class.

The Leicester City Forwards: Leonardo Ulloa scored a booming header seconds after United extended their lead to 2-0, and later a spot kick after Jamie Vardy won the second of two penalties.  Vardy’s work-rate was inhuman on Sunday, while the eight million pounds Nigel Pearson paid for Ulloa is paying dividends.

Winston Reid, West Ham: Reid opened the scoring with a simple tap-in from James Tompkins’ flick off of an excellent Stewart Downing ball in.  Reid was constantly in the right place defensively, serving as a leader on the West Ham back line.  His goal was what started the momentum for the snatch-and-grab Hammers.

Ryan Bertrand, Southampton: Bertrand had expensive shoes to fill at the Saint Mary’s Stadium following Luke Shaw’s move to Manchester United, but the on-loan Chelsea man has proved his worth in the South.  Bertrand, billed as the successor to Ashley Cole a few years ago when he joined Stamford Bridge, is finally flashing the form we all expected of him back then. 

Mesut Ozil, Arsenal: “I don’t play to prove anything to anyone, I play for Arsenal.”  These were the words of Arsenal record signing Mesut Ozil in the morning papers, who silenced critics with a scintillating contribution at Villa Park on Monday.  Everyone points to the positional change as the reason for Ozil’s performance, but it’s nice to see the player confidently stand up for himself with both his words and his play on the pitch.  

Duds

Wilfried Bony, Swansea: Bony cost his side a chance to continue their strong start when he inexplicably earned himself two very bad yellow cards.  The second challenge on Maya Yoshida was unforgivable, and the suspension which follows the red card will further cost the Welsh club.  Credit to his teammates for keeping it close playing a man down for so long.   

Steven Gerrard, Liverpool: I called Gerrard’s display ‘spineless’ in my power rankings today, and after much contemplation, I concluded that this was not too harsh of a word to describe the former England captain.  Gerrard’s positioning as the only defensive midfielder doesn’t help him, but the one-club man’s influence is waning on Merseyside.  

Wayne Rooney, Manchester United: Rooney assisted on Di Maria’s mercurial tally in the first half, but otherwise struggled in the playmaking role for Manchester United.  The image of Wayne Rooney losing his head after Leicester tied the game won’t vacate twitter anytime soon, and neither will the speculations that Van Gaal chose the wrong man to captain his side.  

Tim Howard, Everton: It was unusual to see Howard make two such glaring errors.  First, Howard and Jon Stones had a collective brain fart, then the American missed his punch which led to Frazier Campbell’s goal.  As an American, I’m not used to seeing Howard make such awful mistakes.  

Liverpool Back Line: Between Manquillo, Lovren, Moreno, and Sakho, the Liverpool back line from Saturday’s horror show have one year of premier league experience.  Brendan Rodgers, known for his philosophies on the offensive side of the ball, may want to allocate more attention to his increasingly shaky back line led by a big-money signing who admitted to a lack in confidence early on.