Di Maria Shows Promise, Tactical Questions For United

Manchester United will have to wait a bit longer for their first premier league win in the new campaign.  The Red Devils drew 0-0 to an organized Burnley side at Turf Moor today, bringing their tally to just two points from three relatively easy games.  

The man of the moment was Angel Di Maria who made his Manchester United debut wearing the club's beloved #7 shirt.  Di Maria impressed for the most part in the first half.  Many speculated he would play in an advanced wide role, but the Argentine started deep and delivered some fantastic long balls over the top.  

He created three good scoring chances for Manchester United in a central role during the first half, then moved to a more advanced position after halftime.  Di Maria’s movement off the ball was excellent, offering an outlet for the under-pressure defensive line.  

His willingness to drop deep along with his exceptional vision make him a viable option in central midfield.  His work rate is impressive, but was certainly a little out of his depth in the overwhelming speed and physicality of the league.  He will adapt, as all great players do.  

In Louis Van Gaal’s new system, everyone is still acclimating to both the tactics and more importantly each other.  It remains to be seen if he will change his formation, but regardless United must get on a better wavelength.  

Burnley captain Jason Shackell was outstanding in defense, making several key interventions and all the while keeping the back unit tightly knit.  Danny Ings impressed too, harassing Phil Jones and Jonny Evans into a few early mistakes.  

Again, all three center backs for United were guilty of making errors which could have easily led to a concession.  The first two minutes alone saw Jones and Evans make two glaring errors, making a case for Van Gaal to go with four in the back.  The arrivals of Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind will aid either formation.  

Both players are extremely versatile, and fill needs at multiple positions.  Blind made the left wingback role his own in Brazil and was Erividise player of the season as a defensive midfielder last year.  Rojo, as I’ve mentioned before, can play both center back and left back with athleticism and stamina.

In terms of fitness, The Red Devils’ substitutions were indicative of where their star player are at physically.  Di Maria was running on fumes by the 60th minute, while Robin Van Persie and Juan Mata were also looked tired as they left the pitch.  

A point away to a hungry bottom-feeder team isn’t the worst thing to happen, but United still have a long way to go.  After four games, Van Gaal is still in search of his first win and is still answering tough questions every day.  I do believe, however, that a healthier and more cohesive Manchester United team will look much, much better.  

Chelsea Set For Everton Test

Jose Mourinho has had the luxury of facing two premier league newcomers in Chelsea’s first two premier league fixtures.  After a brief scare against Burnley, the Blues have gone on to dominate both games, winning comfortably in the end.

To make matters even better for Mourinho, he saw his team draw by far the easiest group of any English team in the Champions League yesterday.  This weekend Chelsea will face their first real test of the season when they travel to Goodison Park and face Everton.  

The two blue-clad clubs dueled to offsetting 1-0 home wins last season, leaving no doubt that tomorrows fixture will be hotly contested.  Everton have a pair of Chelsea strikers facing fitness battles before the weekend, but anyone who claims Samuel Eto’o isn’t out for revenge to some degree is kidding themselves.  

Eto’o, the ever confident Cameroonian who recently retired from international duty after 56 goals in 118 appearances, will have his former manager's comments about the strikers age in the back of his mind.  However, he has been with the team for less than a week, and his inclusion will likely be limited to a substitute appearance should he be available.  

Regardless of Eto’o’s fitness status, Romelu Lukaku will lead the line for the Toffees.  A year ago, Lukaku declared that he would score more goals in the premier league for Everton than any Chelsea strikers while on loan.  He came through on his promise, netting 15 goals and eventually earning a permanent contract with Everton.  

Lukaku will show the determination to prove himself under the watchful eye of Jose Mourinho, who sold the Belgian earlier in the summer.  Ross Barkley is still sidelined with injury, as are Steven Pienaar and Bryan Oviedo.  Roberto Martinez still has plenty of quality players at his disposal however.  

The midfield duo of Gareth Barry and James McCarthy has been excellent in the past year, while fullbacks Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines are a mainstay on either flank.  John Stones could deputize anywhere along the back line should Martinez need a late replacement.  Muhamed Besic has yet to make his first premier league start, so I wouldn't rule out Martinez sending him out there in front of the holding pair of Barry and McCarthy with confidence.  

Chelsea will have their hands full going into a hostile environment, but will have a full squad to choose from.  Diego Costa had a brief injury scare midweek, but has passed a fitness evaluation this afternoon and will likely lead the Chelsea line.  

Mourinho has fielded an attacking lineup in the two previous matches, but could opt for a more defensive starting XI and deploy the tireless Ramires next to Nemanja Matic in the middle.  

This would mean either Oscar or Cesc Fabregas would be sacrificed to the bench, something Mourinho is not afraid to do in big games away from home.  Ramires could also feature on one of the wings, since defending the flanks is never easy against Everton.  Whoever Mourinho selects on either wing must have a tactical understanding and help out against the marauding Coleman and Baines.  

As they did last weekend against Arsenal, Everton will likely come out aggressively.  However, Mourinho will not allow his team to go down 2-0 as Arsene Wenger did.  He has to be wary of how dangerous Everton can be when the run of play favors them and at times will be forced to play behind the ball.  

For Everton, it is imperative that lessons be learned from last weekend’s result against the Gunners.  For 75 minutes, Everton defended excellently and took their chances extremely well.  They took advantage of a sluggish Mertesacker and a weak defensive midfield, but must know the team they face tomorrow will be tougher and more organized.  

If Everton grab the lead, they mustn’t so deep in the dying moments as they did against Arsenal and allow Chelsea to mount a comeback.  Chelsea will probably play relatively simple and compact for the first portion of the game and Jose Mourinho will adjust as he always does.  

If Mourinho can sustain a defensive presence and assess how to improve the squad he has on the pitch at halftime, Chelsea could sneak away with a win.  However, the big game mentality that Roberto Martinez instills in his players will reign supreme over Mourinho’s methods.  I’m predicting Everton to snatch their first win of the season in what is sure to be a heavyweight duel, 1-0.  

Ward-Prowse Poised to Make an Impact

Arguably the story of the summer in the premier league was the fire sale from the doorstep of the St. Mary’s Stadium.  Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Calum Chambers, and Dejan Lovren all left Southampton for a combined 92 million pounds.  To add insult to injury, manager Mauricio Pochettino also bolted for White Hart Lane.  

From a Southampton fan’s point of view, the summer couldn’t have gone much worse.  From a more neutral point of view, Southampton have managed to keep hold of their brightest young star in James Ward-Prowse. 

The 19 year old, who joined the Saints’ academy at just eight years old, is already entering his third season as a full-time member of the first team.  It goes to show why over two years ago, then manager Nigel Adkins had the faith in the 17 year old Ward-Prowse to give him his premier league debut in midfield against defending champions Manchester City.  

Up against Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Samir Nasri, David Silva, Yaya Toure, and Vincent Kompany that day, Ward-Prowse earned the high praise of his manager in 65 minutes of impressive two-way football.  Since then, Ward-Prowse’s rise has been steady but relatively undetected.  

With the aforementioned Saints now having moved on to new clubs, now is Ward-Prowse’s time to shine.  It remains to be seen if he has the toughness and desire to deliver with added pressure on his young shoulders, but I wouldn’t bet against him.

He is a technician in the mold of Steven Gerrard, with less of a physical presence but possessing superior speed and quickness.  Also reminiscent of the Liverpool skipper, Ward-Prowse is outstanding in dead-ball situations and can spray the ball to any corner of the field with accuracy and vision.  

He has yet to score in the premier league, but his strengths are not illustrated in his goal tally.  In the 2013/2014 premier league season, Ward-Prowse had a better pass completion and average pass length than both Ross Barkley and Jack Wilshere, England’s two most promising playmakers.  

Furthermore, the young Saint also averaged more key passes and chances created per 90 minutes than both of his countryman last season.

Internationally, Ward-Prowse has experience at the U-17 through U-21 levels, most recently representing England in the 2014 Toulon Tournament in France in May.  His only goal of the tournament was a breathtaking free kick against Brazil, which was eventually voted goal of the tournament.  

He was also voted one of the best three players of the tournament, which is a showcase for the best young talent in the world.  In my humble opinion, he was robbed of a spot on Roy Hodgson’s recent squad he named for the upcoming friendly against Norway and the Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland, but his eventual inclusion in the Three Lions is a formality.

After a summer in which England were eliminated so swiftly and with such ease from the World Cup, Ward-Prowse gives hope to a Three Lions team in desperate need of a new star.  With Gerrard and Lampard deciding to hang up their boots, Ward-Prowse will certainly challenge Wilshere, Barkley, Adam Lallana, and Jordan Henderson for playing time in central midfield.  

Here and now however, James Ward-Prowse’s focus will be on the premier league, while more viewer focus should be on him individually.  Down the road it is a formality that he will move on for a very hefty transfer fee, but for now Southampton fans can rest easy that they still very much have a star to watch.

Defenders for the Future

The future is bright for these stars, some of whom have already featured in the top flight, but some who you may not be familiar with just yet.

Kenneth Omeruo, 20, Chelsea

Kenneth Omeruo probably has as much international experience as any 20-year old in the world.  The Nigerian started all four games for Nigeria in the World Cup, as well as every game in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, a competition the Super Eagles won for the third time.  

Omeruo, on loan at Middlesborough, was bought by Chelsea in 2012 and has yet to feature for the first team in England.  In addition to wonder-kid Kurt Zouma, Mourinho has two physically dominant center backs at his disposal for the future.  

Hector Bellerin, 19, Arsenal

Arsene Wenger always has a plan, and it’s easy to see how he envisions Arsenal’s future at right back.  With the departure of Bacary Sagna, Mathieu Debuchy was brought in to replace his compatriot as the first-choice right back.  However, Debuchy is 29 and merely a short-term replacement.  

Enter Bellerin, who is certain to feature for Arsenal in the coming years.  Bellerin recently claimed the ‘fastest gunner of all time’ title after beating Theo Walcott and Thierry Henry’s 40-yard mark, and impressed both defensively and in attack at the Emirates Cup.  The La Masia Academy product is flying through the ranks at Arsenal and could appear in the premier league much sooner than anyone expects him to.  

John Stones, 20, Everton

Some reckoned John Stones had an outside shot at making the plane to Brazil this summer, but we can definitely assume he will be in the mix four years from now.  As an understudy to premier league veterans Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka, Stones has improved on his already immense pedigree since joining Everton.  

Stones can also deputize for Seamus Coleman at right back, making him a versatile asset capable of filling a number of roles (he more than filled this role when Coleman was sidelined last year).  Roberto Martinez deserves all the credit in the world for plucking him out of Barnsley last summer, and the sky is the limit for this multifaceted young man.  

Calum Chambers, 19, Arsenal

Similar to Stones, Chambers can play both center back and right back.  It wouldn’t be a far reach to predict that the two youngsters could be England’s first-choice center backs one day, but like Stones, Chambers can also play wide right.  

Chambers was bought for 16 million pounds by Arsenal this summer, a hefty fee for a teenager with just 22 premier league appearances under his belt.  However, he has impressed thus far while Per Mertesacker regains fitness and Laurent Koscielny battles though an achilles injury.  

Matt Targett, 18, Southampton

Southampton endured a long and difficult summer in the transfer market, one which saw them lose half their starting lineup as well as their managar.  Similar to what Arsenal did, Southampton brought in short term cover at the left back position vacated by Luke Shaw.  Ryan Bertrand joined on a two year loan from Chelsea, but the future lies with Matt Targett.  

Targett joins Gareth Bale and Shaw as the latest of left backs to come up through the South.  A Southampton supporter born into a Southampton-mad family, Targett has incredible pace and explosiveness going forward.  Ronald Koeman has reportedly taken a liking to the teenager who impressed in a preseason which saw him earn a pair of starts at left back.  

Eric Dier, 20, Tottenham

Two weeks ago, I would have looked like a genius for putting Eric Dier on this list.  Now, it’s a formality.  Dier’s story is one of the more unique ones in football.  Born in England, Dier moved to Portugal at age ten with his mother when she was offered a catering job for the 2004 European Championships.  

After impressing in none other than P.E. class, Dier was referred to Sporting Lisbon scouts by his school instructor soon after moving there.  In 2010 at age 16, Dier, loyal as ever, turned down Arsenal, Tottenham, and Manchester United to stay in Portugal and play for the club who schooled him.  Now, the Englishman has returned to England and certainly made his presence felt with goals in each of his first two appearances for Tottenham.  Even as an Arsenal fan, Dier’s story puts a smile on my face.  

Chelsea Lucky, Familiar Foes for Arsenal, City

Arsenal

A familiar foe for Arsenal in recent history, Borussia Dortmund join the Gunners in Group D.  Group mates in three of the past four seasons, Arsenal and Dortmund won their respective away games against each other last year.  Even with the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich, Dortmund are still an extremely dangerous team in this competition.  

However, the bottom half of the group is much easier for Arsenal than the likes of Napoli and Marseille were last season.  Anderlecht, having won the Belgian championship three years running, will likely be the whipping boys of the group; they have only progressed past the group stage twice in their history.  Galatasaray, under new manager Cesare Prandelli, will look to play spoiler here, but it’s difficult to imagine them upsetting either Arsenal or Dortmund.  

Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers will be happy with Liverpool’s favorable draw in Group B.  Sure, they’ll have Ronaldo and the boys to deal with twice against Real Madrid, but advancing past the likes of Basel and Ludogorets should be a formality.  Expect Liverpool to finish second in this group, with an outside chance of ruining Los Blancos’ expected finish atop the group.  

Bulgarian side Ludogorets will be happy taking any points from this group, but Basel have adequately played the spoiler role in the Champions League in recent years.  However, I see Brendan Rodgers having a lot of success in European competition in years to come.  Rodgers is such an excellent tactician, partnered with his shrewd business in the summer.  Many of the players he has signed have Champions League or Europa League experience and are comfortable in the European game.  

Manchester City 

The Citizens finally progressed past the group stages in last years competition, but were disposed of rather easily by Barcelona.  This year, the draw isn’t much easier, but Manuel Pellegrini will expect his team to go through and perhaps even challenge Bayern for the top spot in the group (assuming his math is correct this time ‘round).

CSKA Moscow and Roma round out the bottom half of the group, both of which are respectable Champions League opponents.  Traveling to Moscow is never easy, while Rudi Garcia continues to build an impressive foundation at Roma.  Pellegrini has added more depth to his team in the summer, showing he is ambitious to make some noise in the Champions League this season.  However, this is probably the hardest group in the entire competition, so don't count on chalk here.    

Chelsea

By far the easiest draw of any premier league side, Chelsea should have no problem not only advancing but winning this group easily.  Jose Mourinho has depth at every position, and could feasibly change all 11 starters from a premier league game and be fine against these teams.  

Sporting Lisbon look a dangerous side with Nani in the fold, but last year was truly a revelation in the Portuguese league and I don’t expect them to hit the same form again this season, especially if William Carvalho leaves before Monday.  Maribor impressively eliminated Celtic, but will be the bottom-feeders in this group.  Schalke have a good record in European competition, but with the emergence of Bayer Leverkusen will be happy to just be back in the Champions League next year and likely focus on the Bundesliga.  

Weekend Preview: United Badly Need This One

Under-fire manager Louis Van Gaal is not finding life simple in England.  After the 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the Capital One Cup this week, one would assert that things couldn’t get any worse for the Dutchman and Manchester United.

Well, cheer up Louis, because even though it’s away from home, you’ve got Burnley this weekend, a side who also suffered defeat to a lower-division side in the Capital One Cup this week.  However, anything less than three points would mean the support calling for your head and probably another awkward meeting with Ed Woodward. 

It could be worse for United in that they are lucky they don’t play a nightmare fixture following two already rather lenient games to start the season.  Manchester United have to take it one match at a time, and regardless of their recent form, should take care of business at Turf Moor on Saturday.  

As I mentioned earlier, Burnley were stunned by Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup in front of a lackluster crowd at Turf Moor.  Even thought it was just a cup game, you would think the supporters would turn up to support their side.  On Saturday, don’t expect a half-empty stadium, but know that the support for the recently-promoted club is not what it should be.  

A week one defeat to Chelsea was almost a formality, but last weeks fixture against Swansea was hotly contested.  Although Nathan Dyer scored the only goal of the game in the first half, the second period was dominated by the Clarets.

From a Burnley perspective, this fixture could mean a great deal to them.  If they were to grab a point or perhaps stun Manchester United as bottom-feeder clubs are so accustomed to, it could be a springboard for them.  

If they lose, it's far from the end of the World...they're Burnley, not Manchester United after all.  The Clarets will come out and attack, with Danny Ings leading the line against a United side seriously lacking confidence.  

On the other side of the ball, Van Gaal will likely have Argentinian signings Marcos Rojo and record signing Angel Di Maria available for selection, and if that’s not a boost to the club I don’t know what is.  

Di Maria led La Liga by a wide margin with 17 assists last year, and was man of the match in the Champions League final.  His impact for Argentina in the World Cup was immense, while his injury absence from the semifinal and final were noticeable.  

Di Maria’s offensive prowess is well-documented, and people have been comparing his new role to that of Arjen Robben under Van Gaal.  What makes Di Maria better than the Dutchman is his willingness to defend at times, something which earned him starts in the middle of the pitch last season after Gareth Bale was bought from Tottenham.  

As for Rojo, he immediately becomes arguably Manchester United’s best defender.  Rojo starred under Alejandro Sabella in Brazil, also showing he can play on both sides of the ball to devastating effect.  However, he is just one player, and his impact can only be felt at one position.  

Rojo’s versatility will make him an excellent tool in Van Gaal’s constantly changing tactical scheme, but with the recent run of injuries to almost every midfielder at the club, the focus of concern is slurring between defense and the midfield.  

Finally, it remains to be seen how United will line up with their new star player in the fold.  United have a wealth of attacking talent in Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, and now Di Maria.  The key will be integrating Di Maria while maintaining a defensive presence in the back.  

Against MK Dons, Manchester United were made up of either untested academy players or men Van Gaal is phasing out of the club; hardly a side with any motivation or confidence.  

Right now, Van Gaal doesn’t have the luxury of selecting his best players with all the injuries.  It is imperative that the Dutchman instill it in all eleven players on the pitch that laziness or complacency will not be tolerated.  I expect United to take three points from this game, but it will not be easy at all.  United will grab the early lead, Burnley will fight back, but come up just short.  2-1 Red Devils.  

Fernando Simplifies Things For City

It was a roller coaster of a campaign for Manchester City last season.  In Manuel Pellegrini’s first season at the Etihad, City won two trophies and displayed some dominant displays of football.  What almost saw the Citizens lose the title however, was their inconsistent defending in the middle of the park.  

Particuarly away from home, Manchester City were too susceptible to the odd counter attack and poor run of play.  They would go missing for extended periods of matches, lacking the ability to defend in the middle third.  

Fernandinho is an excellent central midfielder, as is Yaya Toure.  However, as the year went on, it became clearer and clearer that both prefer to get forward more than track back.  

After two league games, Manchester City new boy Fernando is already panning out as the clubs most impactful signing of the summer.  Since Nigel De Jong left in the wake of their 2011-2012 championship, the Blues have been missing a steely defensive midfielder.  

Fernando fills this void, and although Fernandinho played alongside Yaya Toure for much of the year to great effect, the Brazilian was at fault for a lot of City’s positional indiscipline last season.  

In the big games, Pellegrini has the option to play the more defensive Fernando next to Toure, while Fernandinho would offer more going forward if he prefers an attacking side.  As we have seen in the first two games, Fernandinho can replace a forward from the bench and provide even more cover.  

In both instances, Pellegrini has done this to protect a lead, and in both instances Manchester City have closed out the game properly.  The chances of coming from behind against this team are even slimmer now.

Although he shows no signs of slowing down, Yaya Toure is getting old.  Fernando is the type of player who complements the Ivorian best, especially at this point in his career.  Liverpool, playing just one holding midfielder, ought to look at what Pellegrini does with his two central holders and think about fielding more support for Steven Gerrard.  

Poetically enough, Fernando is a much simpler player than Fernandinho.  They share a name and a starting position, but the latter is more flamboyant in both aspects.  With Fernando in the fold, Pellegrini has a means to simplify things on the pitch, which so far he has done after just two games.    

Alexis Opens Account, Questions Remain

The relief amongst Arsenal fans is at a fever pitch right now, having just seen their team squeeze out a Champions League playoff tie against Besiktas.  Alexis netted his first competitive goal for the club, but Mathieu Debuchy was sent off with a quarter of an hour to go, making for a nervy ending in North London.  

For the sake of tradition however, Arsenal managed to make it to the group stages of the Champions League once again.  Arsene Wenger will be ecstatic that his men have hurdled this early season test, but questions still remain as to how he should set up his team, especially with the long-term absence of Olivier Giroud.  

Arsene Wenger confirmed after the match that he intends to play Alexis as the main striker while Giroud is on the sidelines.  This will not be enough to appease the fans, since the Everton game illustrated how the Gunners need a physical presence to lead the line at times.  Wenger did say after the match that he will pull the trigger on a striker ‘if he is good enough’ (in other words, he’s ready to spend).  

Credit to Alexis though, who harassed and chased the Besiktas back line for 90 minutes, had some flashes of brilliance with the ball at his feet, and most importantly scored the goal.  My dissertation of Alexis when he joined Arsenal was that he is a player with winger-like qualities, but striker-like instincts. 

The finish today was not a flashy one but it was almost a mirror image of the opportunistic goal he bagged against Brazil in the World Cup.  Arsenal fans will definitely appreciate the Chileans effort as well.  The relief on Alexis’ face after the goal was noticeable, and seeing him collapse after the full-time whistle was indicative of his work-rate and emotional investment in the club.  

The man of the match, however, was Jack Wilshere.  With Aaron Ramsey out following his red card in the first leg, Wilshere was tasked with filling the Welshman’s void in the middle of the park.  The 22 year old more than delivered, showing he isn’t ready to take a back seat to Aaron Ramsey at Arsenal.

In the dying moments of the game, there was one instance where the midfielder received the ball at the edge of his own box, turned beautifully through two Besiktas players, scampered past another two, and eventually found himself with the ball on the edge of the opposition’s box.  This kind of play is what we expect to see from Wilshere more often, but can he co-exist with Ramsey?

Wenger has a lot of thinking to do after this game.  Mesut Ozil was marooned on the left for most of the match, and looked far more effective in his visits to the the middle.  Santi Cazorla and Wilshere on the other hand, were placed more centrally and had better games as a result.  Ozil still had an impact on the game, delivering the assist for Sanchez’ goal, but one has to wonder why the club’s record signing is constantly being played out of position.  

This is something Wenger must figure out, because although Cazorla and Wilshere were both effective today, 42.5 million pounds should not be utilized on a player who will only see the field out of position.  With Theo Walcott back in the fold, I expect to see Ozil take up his familiar central role, while Cazorla will likely be surrendered to the bench

Now that Arsenal have seen their qualification to the group stages, Arsene Wenger has to deliver in the dying days of the transfer window.  A guarantee of Champions League football will boost their chances of signing a top player or two, but the Frenchman must figure out how to use the players he already has at the club.

Room to Improve for Liverpool

An early season loss at the Etihad Stadium these days is far from the worst thing that can happen to a premier league team.  Brendan Rodgers will make sure his players know this all too well and will use the Manchester City game on Monday as a barometer for what Liverpool must improve on.

Defensively, all three of Manchester City’s goals started from the left side of the pitch.  Stevan Jovetic was easily the man of the match, and aside from his two goals he was a constant thorn in the side of Liverpool’s defenders.  Usually taking up a position behind Edin Dzeko, Jovetic worked in the channels on either side of Gerrard to great effect.  

Alberto Moreno was not quick enough to clear from inside his own penalty area and allowed Jovetic to fire home the opener off of a loose ball.  Then, Jovetic again broke down Liverpool’s left side with a deft flick to Samir Nasri who stormed into the penalty area past Moreno and delivered the assist to the Montenegrin.  

The introduction of Jesus Navas was the last thing Moreno needed, as the wide-man delivered an inch-perfect through ball for Sergio Aguero to send home the third and final goal.  Moreno was excellent for a majority of the game, but has probably found out that he has to be at the top of his game at all times to keep his place in the side.  There’s no doubt in my mind that he is a fantastic player, and away to City is as hard as it gets in a premier league debut.  

Lovren was not as sharp as he was against Southampton in week one, but that’s going to happen against a team like City.  Glen Johnson on the other hand, is running out of excuses for his increasingly poor and lazy performances.  Johnson, a fullback who loves to get forward, was caught upfield several times by the efficient Blues counter-attack.  If Manchester City had targeted Johnson as they did Moreno and Lovren, this game could easily have been much worse.

It's never nice to see fans cheering when a player gets injured, but that's exactly what's happening right now in Liverpool-clad households around the world.   Jon Flanagan’s return cannot come sooner for the Reds in my opinion, as he is the most well-rounded fullback in the squad.  He should feature at the weekend given Johnson’s injury, but I would play him regardless of his fellow Englishman’s fitness.  

Up front, the biggest impact by a Liverpool player was made by Rickie Lambert, who scored in a substitute appearance.  It is becoming more and more clear that Liverpool play best with a midfield diamond and two strikers, which is what they played primarily throughout last season.  With Mario Balotelli joining the Reds, we could see a drastic change from how Liverpool have started out in the first two games of the season.

Given Daniel Sturridge’s desire to roam the front line in search of the ball, it’s imperative that Rodgers has another striker in there to occupy the box when Sturridge makes these runs.  Lazar Markovic should figure in the conversation to start as well, his impact a positive one in his late appearance on Monday.  

Perhaps the most intriguing player ready to make his return is Adam Lallana.  Brendan Rodgers made the Englishman his top transfer priority in the summer and paid top dollar for his services.  Lallana should challenge Coutinho for the keys to Liverpool’s attacking midfield, but we could very well see both players line up at the same time.  

It seemed as if Rodgers would revert to his favored 4-3-3 formation after the departure of Luis Suarez, but it’s beginning to look more and more like the 4-4-2 diamond will be the most effective.  Rickie Lambert, not a world-class striker by any means, changed the game after coming on.  This is indicative of the fact that tactically, Balotelli should fit nicely.  

If Liverpool are to play with one holding midfielder, and if that one player is going to be 34 year old Steven Gerrard, things must change on Merseyside.  I feel like a broken drum when I say Emre Can would be ideally placed alongside Gerrard, but part of it is also the fullback play.  

Liverpool need more out of their wide defenders if they are to give their captain more help, Glen Johnson the main culprit.  If Rodgers can optimize his formation, Liverpool will be an excellent side as they were last year.  There’s no doubt that Luis Suarez has been replaced adequately by the Scot, so an early season loss to Manchester City should be the least of supporters’ worries. 

Greatest Moments In Sports History

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Be Patient With Van Gaal

Upon his arrival at Manchester United, Louis Van Gaal brought an aura of confidence and optimism with him following the World Cup.  I asserted that Manchester United fans should be encouraged by the Netherlands’ success in Brazil, and that Van Gaal showed the qualities necessary to turn things around at Old Trafford.  

Weeks later, Manchester United are now out of the Capital One Cup courtesy of League One side Milton Keynes Dons, who ruthlessly bludgeoned the Red Devils 4-0 today.  After a poor start to the premier league, Van Gaal was the first to tell us that things would get worse before they would get better.  Well, the Dutchman was right, and things are now worse…or are they?

One of the things I love about Van Gaal is his willingness to put promising but unproven players on the pitch in competitive matches.  Marnick Vermijl and Saidy Janko were given their debuts for the club, a sign that Van Gaal is looking toward the future.  Besides, is this not what explicitly what Van Gaal promised in his first press conference at Manchester United?

Being eliminated from the competition altogether negates the likeliness of these players seeing more chances, but first-team players should nonetheless be wary of Van Gaal’s affinity for fresh blood.  Reece James, Tyler Blackett, and Michael Keane have featured heavily in preseason and in games against Swansea and Sunderland, and are likely to stay in contention for roles in the squad.

The presence of new faces from within will only push the likes of Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, and Jonny Evans.  Van Gaal will instill it in his players that no one is assured a spot in the team, and that a younger, hungrier player will always be waiting in the wings should someone become complacent or lazy.

In the long run, getting these players on the field will benefit the club, and don’t be surprised to see more unknowns make their debuts for the club this season.  Van Gaal said after the game that he is here to build a new team, a feat impossible in such a short amount of time.  He’s right, and United fans have to maintain their patience with the accomplished Dutchman.

Meanwhile, Anderson, Nick Powell, Shinji Kagawa, Chicharito, and Danny Welbeck all failed to impress.  One can only wonder if any of these men have played their final game in a Manchester United shirt.  In the end, seeing these players play such a horrible game collectively is a blessing in disguise since players more likely to feature in the years to come will see more opportunities.   

The worst thing that can happen at Manchester United right now is for the supporters not to be 100% behind Louis Van Gaal.  He is not David Moyes, and he has won handfuls of trophies over the years.  One of the conditions of his arrival was that he would be given time, and time is definitely still on his side.

Ed Woodward knew of the imminent departures of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, and Patrice Evra, but did nothing to soften the loss of three quarters of United's best back line for years.  It isn't just that Woodward hasn't replaced them by now, it's that he didn't do it years ago.  Van Gaal implied his displeasure at the lack of work done already when he arrived, calling his new team a 'broken squad.' 

On a final note, I will reiterate how important Van Gaal has been to the shape of football since his first coaching role with Ajax in 1991.  Wherever he has managed, Van Gaal has injected previously unknown talent into the spotlight.  By no means are Reece James, Michael Keane, or Saidy Janko destined for super-stardom, but here are a few reasons to still be positive if you’re a Red Devil fan.  

At Ajax, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, and Patrick Kluivert all saw their first-team debuts.  The Dutch national team consequently enjoyed high degrees of success in the late 90’s.  

Over two stints in charge of Barcelona, Van Gaal integrated Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and Victor Valdes into the Catalan squad, two of those men spearheading three major tournament wins for Spain.  

Most recently at Bayern Munich, Van Gaal installed first-team players Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller, and Holger Badstuber.  All three are integral to both club and country, and have enjoyed the highest success at both levels.  

Giroud Injury Further Complicates Things for Arsenal

Just when the criticisms of Olivier Giroud were reaching a boiling point, the Frenchman proved how much he means to Arsenal in a second half appearance at Goodison Park.  Excitement was at a fever pitch heading into the opening kickoff, with new signing Alexis slated to take up a center forward position.  45 minutes later, it was evident that it wasn’t going to be the Chilean’s day, and Giroud was summoned from the bench.  

It was expected that many would criticize Arsene Wenger’s decision to take off the 35 million pound man for a striker who is enduring a poor run of form.  Wenger justified his substitution in his post-match press conference, citing the need for a physical presence up front.  He was right, and Giroud’s impact earned the Gunners a resilient point against Everton.  

The happiness generated from the valiant comeback win was suppressed not long after with the news that Giroud could be out for weeks with a chance of missing as much as three months.  In a way, Arsenal are lucky to some degree that this injury didn’t happen ten days later.  

With less than a week left in the transfer window there is still time for Arsene Wenger to add a striker.  Then again, the injury at face value will only prompt the Frenchman to rue his failure to secure the services of an out-and-out striker already this summer.  Everyone in Europe is aware of the Gunners’ now desperate situation, and will likely squeeze Arsenal for every dime in any attempt to sign a striker. 

Today, Everton signed Samuel Eto’o for free in addition to the permanent capture of Romelu Lukaku.  Yesterday, Manchester City showed that they could lose two of their best strikers and still field another two top players up top.  Without Giroud, Arsenal have no instinctual number nines with a knack for goal.  

Yaya Sanogo earns praise for his work ethic and effort, but if that was what Arsenal were looking for they would have kept Marouane Chamakh around.  Alexis can play center forward, but Everton laid the blueprint on Saturday for how to slow down the Chilean.  Joel Campbell is unproven, Theo Walcott is unfit and likely to feature on the wing, and Lukas Podolski has not proved he can play through the middle effectively.  

At this point, there’s no excuse for Wenger not to act fast in the transfer market.  He will have to pay top-dollar, but that is nothing more than a consequence for not acting sooner.  Danny Welbeck has been named as a possible candidate, but his addition to the Emirates will not appease fans.  

With that being said, don’t be surprised if Arsene Wenger is forced to unload more of his checkbook in the closing days of the window as he did last season.  The difference, however, is that Mesut Ozil was not needed like a striker is needed right now.  

Eto’o would have been an acceptable addition, certainly better than nothing.  Arsene Wenger reportedly turned down the chance to sign Loic Remy, something he probably shouldn’t have done.  Liverpool signed Mario Balotelli for just 16 million pounds, surely prompting Arsenal fans to wonder why Arsenal weren't in the race for the talented yet enigmatic Italian.   

Regardless, times are desperate at the Emirates, and after the Champions League game against Besiktas Arsene Wenger must do something fast.  It's clear that the club would like to add a defensive midfielder and possibly a defender, but now it's imperative that they move signing a striker to the top of their wish list.

The Latest Premier League Talking Points

Sophomore surge

Two of the biggest signings from premier league clubs last summer were Erik Lamela and Stevan Jovetic.  Neither of these men made their presence felt in their inaugural season in England, but after two weeks it’s clear these two are out to justify their steep transfer fees.  Jovetic bagged a brace against Liverpool, while Lamela has electrified the Tottenham attack with his pace and creativity.

Clueless Woodward

Years from now, people may still be talking about David Moyes’ solitary season at Old Trafford as if the debacle was entirely the Scot’s fault.  It’s beginning to look clear that Manchester United’s problems could stretch further than the Moyes effect, with director of football Ed Woodward running out of excuses for his abysmal handling of the transfer window time and time again.  Red Devil fans can only hope that Angel Di Maria doesn’t turn out to be as big of a flop as Marouane Fellaini...I wouldn't worry about that.  

Spanish feeder clubs?

It would be completely farfetched to declare Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid feeder clubs for the Premier League, but in the last 12 months Mesut Ozil, Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez, Felipe Luis, and now Angel Di Maria have joined the premier league.  This is no declaration of total supremacy, but the quality of players coming from Spain to England have been top-class in the last year.

Rodwell Freed

After his big move to Manchester City three years ago, much was expected from Jack Rodwell.  On Sunday, he scored against Manchester United, but it was with Sunderland.  Rodwell’s move to the Black Cats is great for not just the player, but also the league, because a talent like him needs to be on the field.  

Welcome to England

It isn’t just the big-money signings that have an impact on the premier league.  This season, a plethora of lesser-known World Cup stars will feature in the premier league.  Carlos Sanchez (Aston Villa), Mauricio Isla (QPR, loan), David Ospina (Arsenal), Giorgios Samaras (West Brom), Deandre Yedlin (Spurs), Muhamed Besic (Everton), Daryl Janmaat (Newcastle), and Christian Atsu (Everton, loan) should all feature this season in England, with maybe the exception of Yedlin.

Southampton should be OK

Any premier league fan with a soul couldn’t possibly wish any worse on Southampton this summer.  The Saints lost the likes of Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Calum Chambers, Dejan Lovren, and perhaps most importantly manager Mauricio Pochettino.  However, the club have shown signs of competitiveness in the first two weeks, and new manager Ronald Koeman will likely sign more players before the close of the window. 

Is Di Maria Worth It?

It has been one point shy of a nightmare start for Louis Van Gaal in the premier league.  Following a lackluster defeat to Swansea at home, Manchester United bagged a point in week two away to Sunderland.  Things cannot get much worse for the Dutchman, but with the addition of Marcos Rojo, and the imminent signing of Angel Di Maria, things are looking to improve.  

It is widely believed that Angel Di Maria will be unveiled as a Manchester United player Tuesday morning, having completed his move to Old Trafford for a fee in the region of 60 million pounds.  

This will break the English transfer record by 10 million pounds, so one has to wonder if Di Maria is worth the fee.  However, the way things are going at Manchester United right now, it’s a given that the club will have to overpay players of Di Maria’s pedigree to join.  

The 130,000 pound-per-week wage package given to Luke Shaw was heavily criticized by Jose Mourinho of all people.  These comments mean a lot coming from “The Special One”, who has spent more than any manager in the world since 2004 (now over 900 million euros) and would be better suited for the title “The Spending One.”  

Part dig at a rival club, and part truth, this accusation that United are overpaying for Luke Shaw is completely spot-on.  Mourinho justifies this by saying a deal that large for a 19 year old would derail morale amongst the older players, but United would not have the youngster had they not stumped up that amount of money.    

United are not in a position of leverage right now as they had been for decades under Alex Ferguson.  Liverpool are exiting their own era in which they had to overpay for players, while United are taking their turn dealing with the cruel nature of the transfer market.  Coming off a seventh-place finish in the league and no Champions League football to show for it, United are in the precarious position of being forced to pay top dollar for everything.  

Di Maria is no exception to this, but even so, the fee is very, very steep.  Paris Saint Germain were priced out of a deal for Di Maria a month ago, so Van Gaal must be beyond impressed by the Argentine to shell out this much cash for him.  

Di Maria showed his worth to Argentina in the World Cup, and was awarded man of the match in the UEFA Champions League Final against Atletico Madrid.  His pace is unquestionable, and although he has shortcomings defensively, Van Gaal will accommodate these with the team he puts on the field. 

However, it remains to be seen if Di Maria can be ‘the man’ for a team.  For Argentina, he always plays off of Lionel Messi, while Madrid have their own fair share of world-beaters to grab headlines.  Stepping out from under the shadow of these players will be a big step in the career of the Argentine.  

Di Maria impressed me greatly last season when he still managed a spectacular year with the arrival of Gareth Bale from Tottenham.  The Argentine played more through the middle than he had in years past and was a catalyst for both club and country with a more free role.  

If Di Maria can handle the rockstar-type media attention that will hover over him like a dark cloud, he could very well justify the 60 million pounds United are paying for his services.  Earlier in the summer, Di Maria turned down a lucrative contract extension, and given the arrival of James and the presence of Bale, it’s no surprise he has moved on.  

Coming off Champions League glory in Lisbon and a silver medal in Brazil, Di Maria easily could have signed a bigger deal and sat around in Madrid likely surrounding time to the likes of Isco, Modric, and James.  The winger’s desire is on full display right now; he has left the Galacticos in favor of spearheading a rebuilding project.  

The Argentine is stepping out from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo and taking it upon himself to be ‘the man’ at Old Trafford.  In fact, it is rumored that Ronaldo had to do with Di Maria's decision to join United.  It would be poetically just if the Argentine brought back the same flair that has been missing from Old Trafford since Ronaldo left.  

Power Rankings: City Snatch the Top Spot

1. Manchester City (2): Manchester City earn the top spot following their 3-1 win over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.  Stevan Jovetic threw his own premier league coming-out party, further adding to the lethal stock of forwards Manuel Pellegrini has at his disposal.  Liverpool made their mistakes, but for the most part were simply outplayed by the champions.  

2. Chelsea (1): Business will start to pick up for Jose Mourinho's men who will visit Goodison Park next weekend after two routine wins to start the season.  Diego Costa now has two goals in two games, a sign of promise for the East Londoners.  Next weekend will be a stern test for the Blues.  

3. Tottenham (5): Have Tottenham finally found a manager they can keep for a whole season?  Mauricio Pochettino is finding life at White Hart Lane easy so far, the North Londoners registering six points from six in two games.  Eric Dier scored again, while Erik Lamela could finally be living up to his price tag.  

4. Arsenal (4): Arsenal were slow out of the gates in their first away game of the season.  Everton were by far the better team, but the spirit the Gunners showed in their comeback was outstanding.  Arsene Wenger hailed the comeback effort, which saw Olivier Giroud prove his worth in a result-changing appearance at halftime.  

5. Liverpool (3): Liverpool scored an astounding 48 goals on the road last season, much of it having to do with Luis Suarez.  In their 3-1 defeat to Manchester City, Liverpool were less opportunistic than they are accustomed to being with the Uruguayan in the lineup.  Alberto Moreno was asleep for Jovetic's opener, and will need time to acclimate himself with the speed of the league.  Even more reinforcements are on the way for Liverpool, who played under the eyes of new signing Mario Balotelli today.

6. Swansea (7): Gary Monk proved he belongs in charge of Swansea after sustaining the form showed last weekend at Old Trafford in a 1-0 win over Burnley.  Monk will not be pleased with how his side were outplayed in the second half by the new boys Burnley, but a clean sheet and a win won't keep the Swansea manager up at night.  

7. Southampton (6): Still recovering from the exodus of players out of the South, the Saints were put to the test by a stern West Brom defense.  Even though the match ended 0-0, one has to be optimistic that Ronald Koeman knows what he is doing and will see the club out of such a stressful transfer window.  Expect this squad to keep improving as the new players integrate.  

8. West Ham (17): The biggest leap in the rankings belongs to West Ham this week, who scorched Crystal Palace 3-1 away from home.  Sam Allardyce delivered an impressive performance when he needed to, taking advantage of the shellshocked Golden Eagles who are still in the hunt for a new manager.  

9. Sunderland (12): Earning two points from a road game to West Brom and a home game to United bodes well for Gus Poyet and the Black Cats.  Sunderland look comfortable playing at the Stadium of Light, and new boy Jack Rodwell scored the equalizer for the first goal of his career under Poyet.  

10. Everton (9): Roberto Martinez will be ecstatic for how Everton outplayed Arsenal for most of the game.  Two late defensive errors allowed the Gunners to steal a point at Goodison Park, but the form Everton showed in the first half is indicative that this team should be just fine without Ross Barkley for now.  

11. Manchester United (8): Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo are both excellent additions, but how much do they really improve Louis Van Gaal's squad?  The away point to Sunderland isn't the worst thing that could have happened on Sunday, but there is still much work to be done in the transfer market and on the training field for the Red Devils.  

12. Hull City (10): Steve Bruce has to be happy with the start 1-0-1 start in the premier league, but were unlucky not to have six points after Sunday's controversial draw with Stoke City.  Steve Bruce was furious after the game, and rightfully so; the mid-table clashes are most important for teams like the Tigers.  

13. West Brom (16): The away point at Southampton will be an important point for the Baggies in the long run.  Southampton, who impressed in their opening loss at Liverpool, couldn't break open the stout West Brom defense who limited the Saints to only a few chances.  

14. Aston Villa (11): One would have expected more at home from Aston Villa, who could only manage a 0-0 draw against ten-men Newcastle.  Carlos Sanchez made his debut in a substitute appearance, and "La Roca" should add a security blanket in front of Paul Lambert's back line.  

15. Burnley (18): Burnley still have yet to register a point in the top flight this season, but the second half against Swansea was more than encouraging for the Clarets.  They travel to Old Trafford next week, but the unforgiving premier league schedule gets easier for the new boys on the block.  

16. Newcastle (14): Really not much to see from the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, with Michael Williamson sent off for the Magpies.  In another poor performance, Alan Pardew's men have yet to appease St. James park, regardless of the loss of several key players in the offseason.  

17. Crystal Palace (13): Surely things will turn around for Crystal Palace who are still manager-less after last week's media firestorm with Malky McKay.  A club who fought so hard last season and retained so many key players over the summer deserves better, especially coming off an impressive performance at the Emirates in which they were lucky not to see any points.  

18. Leicester City (15): Kasper Schmeichel logged an excellent shift in the face of Chelsea's stellar attack, and Leicester City shouldn't be too discouraged from losing 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.  One has to give credit to the newly-promoted club, but it remains to be seen if they can knick points off the mid-low table teams.  

19. Stoke City (19): After a home loss to Aston Villa, the Potters put in an equally flat performance at Hull City.  The Potters had a man advantage for 76 minutes and were lucky to have escaped with a point after a controversial equalizer from Ryan Shawcross.

20. Queens Park Rangers (20): Harry Redknapp's return to White Hart Lane was not a pleasant one, the QPR manager seeing his Rangers' side walloped by an impressive Tottenham side.  It's imperative that Redknapp doesn't let morale slip any lower for his side who have put in two embarrassing performances thus far.  

 

Can and Moreno Would Help Liverpool

Manchester City have achieved the ultimate level of stability.  This summer, coming off a title triumph, they managed to not lose any significant contributing players and have strengthened the areas of concern.  Equialim Mangala joins the Citizens and makes an aging defense more youthful, while Fernando impressed in his premier league debut last weekend.  

Liverpool have had similar fortune in the transfer market, securing the services of many young talents in the wake of Luis Suarez’ exit from Anfield.  What gives Manchester City the advantage apart from the obvious Etihad effect is that they didn’t lose their best player this summer.  

Don’t expect Liverpool to struggle as Tottenham did in the months following Gareth Bale’s mammoth move to Real Madrid.  However, questions still remain as to whether or not Liverpool are at the level they were last season.  Suarez contributed with and without the ball, and was loved unconditionally by the Anfield patrons.  

Losing such a mercurial talent and personality typically puts a dent in a squad’s level of play, but Brendan Rodgers has done an exceptional job at replacing his impact.  Two names who could feature at the Etihad Stadium today are Emre Can and Alberto Moreno. 

In a performance that lacked steel in the midfield last weekend against Southampton, Lucas looked way out of depth.  Emre Can, as I speculated last week, could be an inclusion for the Reds who will bring more physicality and energy to the midfield.  Can’s influence would decrease the duties of Steven Gerrard but more importantly inject inspiration into a midfield who will certainly need reinforcements in a longer season.  

Similarly, Alberto Moreno should feature for Liverpool and make his premier league debut.  Moreno was unlucky not to be on the plane to Brazil with La Roja this summer, but that should only encourage the Spaniard to elevate his play further.  Javier Manquillo struggled against Ryan Bertrand and Dusan Tadic and could make way Glen Johnson, who started on the left last weekend, or Jon Flanagan.  

Fernando’s holding presence in the midfield should further allow Fernandinho and/or Yaya Toure to push forward and contribute to Manchester City’s already impressive attack.  His positioning was on-point against Newcastle in the opening premier league fixture and atoned for his embarrassing stumble against Arsenal in the Community Shield.  

Sergio Aguero should be back to full fitness, and David Silva looked a menace in midfield against the Magpies.  The question for Liverpool will be whether or not they can handle such an attack in a hostile environment.  Dejan Lovren is already proving to be a huge upgrade but the second center back position remains a question for the Reds.  

If Martin Skrtel can stay disciplined alongside Lovren, Liverpool could have a chance to take points away from today.  It’s almost inevitable that City will put goals on the board, so Liverpools speedy attack must be on point when they are granted chances by the Blues’ defense.  

Even in such a massive fixture, it’s still early in the season and should bear much determination on the title race.  Then again, earning points is a priority for both sides.  I would be surprised if Manchester City didn’t earn three points at home, but won’t rule out a resilient performance from Liverpool in which Emre Can and Alberto Moreno star.  3-2 Blues in this one for me. 

Weak Arsenal Escape With a Point

After 45 minutes Arsenal looked to be in for a long afternoon at Goodison Park.  Everton commanded the entire first half, putting two simple goals past Wojciech Szczesny, but Olivier Giroud replaced Alexis at halftime and provided the 90th-minute equalizer.  Giroud’s introduction came with a customary outrage on twitter, but his hold-up physical play changed the game.  

However, Arsenal left this game with more questions than answers.  Mathieu Flamini put in his usual hard shift in the midfield, but his late booking exemplified why Arsene Wenger cannot count on his countrymen to produce consistently.  With Mikel Arteta still out, the length of his injury not disclosed currently, Wenger would be wise to add another combative midfielder in the next week, while Giroud's performance shouldn't hinder any desire to add another striker.  

Mesut Ozil was sluggish in his season debut but still managed to create several chances in a game where he rarely featured in the middle of the pitch.  Alexis, meanwhile, only managed one touch in the opposing penalty area in the first half.  The Chilean put his tenacious pressing qualities on display and made several excellent runs off the ball, but the odds were never in his favor against such a stout defense.  

Speaking of defense, Per Mertesacker still has one foot on the airplane home from holiday, and Calum Chambers made some errors that were expected of such an inexperienced player.  It was arguably his worst performance in an Arsenal shirt, but the 19 year old still has a long way to go.  Laurent Koscielny, sidelined by an achilles injury today, would have helped the Arsenal defense greatly.  

As for Mertesacker, his two mis-timed challenges on Lukaku allowed Everton two gaping chances, one of which was converted by Steven Naismith who was in a clear offside position when the ball was played to him.  Regardless, Arsenal deserved to concede a second goal.  There was way too much standing around in the first half, and not enough communication on the pitch.  

Arsenal should look to how Everton conduct themselves on the field during games; Gareth Barry and James McCarthy are in constant communication, and Tim Howard is never shy to make himself heard.  Ozil was caught sleeping on the first goal, indicative of the German’s lazy nature on defense.  Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere had mixed afternoons, the former netting Arsenal's first goal and the latter combining nicely in the center of the park.

Then again, playing Ozil on the left limited his ability to influence the game.  This was probably by design, as he probably cannot bear the load of the engine room just yet.  As he regains fitness, Ozil will improve but today his movement was less impactful than it usually is.  Credit to Arsenal, who looked awful for 75 minutes before mustering up two late goals.  However there is much work to be done if they wish to compete with the title contenders.