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.  

Round Five: Leicester, Palace, Hammers Rise

1. Chelsea (1): Perhaps unhappy to have not capitalized on the sending off of Pablo Zabaleta, Jose Mourinho will still be satisfied with one point at the Etihad Stadium.  Diego Costa's goal output is impressive but his temperament could cost Chelsea if it doesn't subside.  

2. Southampton (3): Ronald Koeman is manager of the year so far without a doubt.  This week, it was Victor Wanyama’s turn to play the hero, as the Nigerian came off the bench to sink Swansea on the road.  Roll on you Saints.  

3. Manchester City (2): Frank Lampard has proved his worth in each of his two appearances.  The former Stamford Bridge man looked embarrassed and apologetic after equalizing for the Citizens, but his last farewell to the Chelsea traveling fans would put a smile on even Fabio Capello’s face.  

4. Arsenal (4): On a weekend where Liverpool, City, United, Everton, and Tottenham all dropped points, Mesut Ozil stamped his influence on a three-goal outburst in the same amount of minutes.  The North London Derby beckons on Saturday. 

5. Leicester City (11): Enough cannot be said about Leicester’s resurgence in the top flight.  Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa led a stellar line of direct football against Manchester United.  Nigel Pearson’s unorthodox positioning up above during matches looks to be paying off for the Foxes.  

6. Aston Villa (6): There were plenty of positives to take from Aston Villa’s 3-0 loss to Arsenal on Saturday.  Had a nasty bug not taken hold of several players slated to play, this one could have been closer.  Paul Lambert cannot let his club slip into obscurity after just one bad day at the office.  

7. Swansea (6): On a weekend which saw Chelsea and Manchester City duke it out, England boss Roy Hodson’s attention was on this fixture.  Players like Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge, and Fraser Forster were unjustly denied a better opportunity to impress the England boss by Wilfried Bony’s overzealous pair of fouls on Maya Yoshida which resulted in a rightful sending off.  

8. Hull City (13): The purchase of Mohamed Diame is looking like one of the bargains of the summer, while the rest of Steve Bruce’s vast crop of recruits are settling in nicely at the KC stadium. 

9. Crystal Palace (16): A major, major result for Neil Warnock, who earned his first win as the Golden Eagles’ new boss.  Mile Jedinak’s leadership and the uncharacteristic errors of Tim Howard aided Palace to a much-needed victory at Goodison Park.  

10. West Ham (17): A fantastic atmosphere and an even better win will cool the critics regarding Sam Allardyce’s future.  Enner Valencia is looking to be an excellent signing, while former top-club players Stewart Downing and Alex Song impressed.  

11. Liverpool (7): Another spineless performance from Steven Gerrard allowed West Ham to snatch victory from the Reds at Upton Park.  Daniel Sturridge’s return could not come any sooner on Merseyside.  

12. Stoke City (14): Mark Hughes was denied a chance to exact total revenge on his former club Queens Park Rangers in a 2-2 draw.  Peter Crouch, who played for QPR as a youngster, scored for both teams in a game which twice saw Stoke surrender the lead.  

13. Everton (9): Tim Howard was strangely vulnerable in the home loss to Crystal Palace, misjudging a punch and failing to communicate with young Jon Stones on the second Palace goal.  The Toffees showed flashes of brilliance, but unforgivable errors at the back ultimately cost them.  

14. Tottenham (10): Since their two wins to start the season Tottenham have struggled.  A home loss to bottom feeders West Brom won’t do Spurs any favors, but shouts for the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino are ridiculous.  

15. Manchester United (8): Another plummet in the rankings for a disorganized and undisciplined United squad.  They showed how capable they are going forward but must do something about their gaping exposure at the increasingly unfit back line.  

16. Burnley (12): Sean Dyche missed a terrific opportunity to notch his first premier league win against Sunderland at Turf Moor.

17. West Brom (20): West Brom rebounded from a day at the Hawthorns with Everton which ended with the home fans booing their team off the pitch.  The Baggies were unlucky not to have won a first-half penalty, but a 74th minute James Morrison strike was the only goal in an uplifting win for a struggling club.  

18. Sunderland (15): Ashley Barnes’ late drive off the crossbar was the difference in what could have been another disappointing result for Gus Poyet.  Emmanuelle Giacherrini was a threat in an otherwise lethargic Black Cats team.  

19. Newcastle United (18): Alan Pardew avoided all-out anarchy on Tyneside when he saw his Magpies come back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a point.  His job is safe for now, but his leash must be running very thin.  

20. Queens Park Rangers (19): QPR’s start to the season, although not as terminally awful, is mirroring that of 2012/2013.  Harry Redknapp’s side dropped more points at home, not the best rebound to the 4-0 thrashing they endured at Old Trafford.  

Pace is the key for Arsenal

Manchester City have had a curious start to the season.  After thrashing Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, City turned around and lost to Stoke City on the same field a week later.  Arsenal have been mediocre at best, taking five points from two easy fixtures and an away trip to Everton.  

Similar in table position, Manchester City and Arsenal did not have similar summers.  Since the deadline-day purchase of Mesut Ozil just over a year ago, Arsenal have put the rest of Europe on alert as a club willing to part ways with loads of money.  

In the latest edition of the transfer window, 35 million pound man Alexis along with Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina, Danny Welbeck, and Calum Chambers have joined for considerable amounts of money.  

Dissimilarly, Manchester City had a quiet summer in the transfer window.  Bacary Sagna and Frank Lampard, former servants of Arsenal and Chelsea respectively, joined on frees, while prolific front-man Alvaro Negredo left the club for 27 million euros.  

Eliaquim Mangala rounds out the summer recruits, but for the most part the usually trigger-happy Citizens holstered their guns for once.  This is an interesting matchup of two clubs moving in different directions, but the right directions.  

Arsenal are joining the party of clubs which part ways with large sums of cash, while City are coming down to earth from a spending point of view.  Thus, it should be a tight contest between two top teams who have endured mixed results so far.

One thing Arsenal bring to the pitch that they didn’t necessarily have for all of last season is pace.  His pace was one of many reasons Alexis was signed, Danny Welbeck brings a new dimension to the Arsenal forwards, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain impressed for England with his speed and driving runs.  

It would be a surprise to see new boy Mangala make his debut in such a big game on the road, so Vincent Kompany will likely line up next to Martin Demichelis.  Sagna has never been the quickest fullback, but he is always reliable to put in a good shift.  

Again however, pace is where Arsenal can expose Manchester City the most effectively.   The few days in training that Danny Welbeck has had to gel with his new teammates are crucial to the Gunners success, as will be Mesut Ozil’s attempts to crack the Manchester City defensive midfield.    

Aaron Ramsey may not be fit for the contest, and Mathieu Flamini’s combative style of play should earn him a spot in the holding role.  In big games, Flamini is disciplined in his positioning, and often the midfield leader without the ball.  

That leaves Jack Wilshere to line up in the center as well.  Wilshere’s habit to holding the ball on his boot and drawing in tackles is something that still hurts his game fitness.  In order for him to play in a more sustainable style, he needs to be confident in his long passing and keep his head on a swivel when he makes his driving runs.  

Coming off a very disappointing loss at home to Stoke City, Manchester City will line up with two of Fernando, Fernandinho, and Yaya Toure.  A crowded midfield with Arsenal is always a must in order to win, but the pace Arsenal can field in the absence of Giroud could throw a wrench in that strategy. 

If Arsenal can utilize their pace and try to be move through the wing and be direct in the final third with Alexis, Chamberlain, and Welbeck, they can beat City.  If City can stay organized defensively and do what they do best, which is turning defense into lightning quick offense, they can spoil the Gunners return to the Emirates.  

Blind, Welbeck, Alderweireld, and Falcao Join on Deadline Day

Daley Blind, Manchester United

This one just had to happen.  It made too much sense for it to not happen.  Daley Blind bid farewell to his boyhood club Ajax and arrived for a fee in the region of 16 million pounds.  Pound for pound, Blind is United’s best value signing of the summer.  He plays two positions excellently, and playing under Louis Van Gaal will undoubtedly see him integrate smoothly with the system.  

Danny Welbeck, Arsenal

One of those deals that benefits all parties, but for Welbeck this is an enormous chance to prove himself.  Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last week or so, you’ve probably heard about Olivier Giroud’s issues.  Welback arrives with one job, and one only; play center forward.  Supporters will applaud his work rate, and aged only 23, the Englishman has a chance to re-vamp a sputtering career on the bench at Old Trafford.  

Toby Alderweireld, Southampton

Ronald Koeman was a deciding factor in the 25 year old’s decision to join Southampton.  Alderweireld can play center back or right back, and has won trophies at Athletico Madrid most recently.  After losing Dejan Lovren, Calum Chambers, and Luke Shaw in the summer, Koeman needed a proven versatile defender at the right price.  He got exactly what he wanted in Alderweireld.  

Falcao, Manchester United

The summer of 2014 has seen Nani, Shinji Kagawa, Danny Welbeck, and Chicharito leave Old Trafford among others.  A bizarre deal to me, Falcao earns roughly 350,000 pounds per week, 200,000 of which will be paid by United.  I would have thought Van Gaal needed a hard man at the back more than a striker, but Falcao is undoubtedly world-class.  Falcao and Rooney? Falcao and Robin Van Persie? Or boring old Van Persie and Rooney?  Ed Woodward may have gotten this idea from playstation, but it definitely makes United more dangerous in the final third.  

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.

Ozil Returns at the Right Time

Arsenal sat atop the premier league table for more weeks than any other team last season.  They proved to be steady against mid-low table teams, but the biggest setbacks always came against the title contenders.  Arsenal were promptly routed away from home by Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool as their title hopes faded along with the fitness of several key players.

After a busy summer in the transfer market, Arsene Wenger still has time to complete more business.  The task at hand right now is a visit to Goodison Park on Saturday which will be a formidable early season test for the Gunners.  It's imperative that Wenger gets it right with his struggling team this weekend so as not to show early-season vulnerability.

Mesut Ozil sounds ready to rejoin the side, as do Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker.  Similar to last season, Ozil joins the Gunners belatedly, this time the reason being Germany's triumph in Brazil.  Arsenal looked sluggish against Crystal Palace and were lucky to survive with three points, then drew 0-0 in Turkey with Besiktas on Tuesday.  The Gunners are hardly looking in form as of yet but the addition of the German could be a huge lift for the squad.

Alexis' form will likely improve in time as well as with the return of the Ozil, also allowing Aaron Ramsey to sit a little deeper and conserve his energy.  Then again, a stoppage time goal against Palace negated the need to worry about Ramsey's short-term fitness.  In the long run however, less ground covered will equate to a longer season for the Welshman.

Ozil will be immediately tasked with penetrating Everton's defensive core of James McCarthy, Gareth Barry, Sylvain Distin, and Phil Jagielka.  Even without Ross Barkley, Everton are an exceptional team with outstanding defenders.  The key for Ozil will be his movement off the ball and whether or not he combines well with Alexis and whoever else will feature up front.

Olivier Giroud will likely get the nod over Yaya Sanogo as the former continues to find consistent form in front of goal.  If Giroud could be a little more precise with his finishing, it could mean the difference for Arsenal against Roberto Martinez' men.  Santi Cazorla had a much better game on Tuesday, but Gunner fans wouldn't be too disappointed to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain get the nod.

It will also be interesting to see if Calum Chambers makes an appearance at a position other than center back.  With Mertesacker back in the squad, Chambers could see time at either defensive midfield or right back.  Chambers could negate the need for an extra defensive midfielder, but it remains to be seen if he has the steel to consistently disrupt play with physicality.  Arsenal will need to good showing from whoever plays alongside Ramsey.

With all things considered, this could be Ozil's chance to make a splash in the league from the get-go as he did last season.  His cutting-edge creative abilities are undoubted, but it's his work rate in league play that needs to improve the most.  That, along with his long-term durability in the premier league are what people will be most keen to criticize.  With Germany he showed more hunger to chase the ball, and perhaps a taste of gold will elevate Ozil's desire for more trophies.

Wenger Would Be Wise to Consider Reus

The close of the transfer window draws nearer and nearer by the day, and Arsenal are looking more and more like they will once again be the last to complete their business.  Marcos Rojo has already signed for Manchester United and more signings are certain to be on the way.  Mario Balotelli joined Liverpool today, likely ending Brendan Rodgers’ transfer dealings for the summer.  

Arsenal on the other hand, have been quiet since snapping up Calum Chambers from Southampton for a cool 16 million pounds.  Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina, and Alexis has also joined the club, giving Wenger a formidable crop of new faces.  But given Olivier Giroud’s recent inability to make contact inside the six yard box, the Gunners’ situation has become more complicated.  

One option that has been relatively quiet for a few weeks now is the idea of bringing in Marco Reus.  It was reported that Arsenal had a deal in place to sign Reus before the World Cup but the German forward was subsequently injured in one of the final warmup fixtures.  Thanks to Bayern Munich, the world now knows that there is a 25 million euro release clause in Reus’ contract with Borussia Dortmund.  

If this is true, Arsenal should strongly consider bringing in the German forward.  Even with his recent injury layoff, Reus is still a world class talent.  Furthermore, at that price, Arsenal would be given more flexibility to add a defensive midfielder or center back.  It’s starting to look like Calum Chambers could feature heavily at center back, so bringing in a steely midfielder is probably still top of Arsene Wenger's wish list.  

When the opportunity presents itself to add a talent the level of Reus however, making the purchase should be a no-brainer.  In a similar position last summer, Arsenal added Mesut Ozil to a team already stocked with a large supply of attacking midfielders.  Wenger justified the transfer fee by stating he couldn’t pass up the chance to sign the German, and he is now has a similar chance with Reus.  

Reus would fill more of a void than Ozil did at his position, and would be a huge step up from Olivier Giroud.  Reus is a center forward by nature, and while Giroud’s holdup play has been excellent, the quality of his finishing is below par with strikers at the other top teams.  Reus plays winger regularly for Borussia Dortmund, and just like Alexis he can play anywhere in the attacking third.  

It would be a perfect storm if Arsenal managed to sign both a quality defensive midfielder and a top striker, but signing Reus would be more than an increase in talent at the club.   Arsene Wenger will likely wait until the final few days of the window to complete his business for the summer, something Arsenal fans are all too familiar with.  Activating Marco Reus would be a top, top signing, and is an option the North London club needs to strongly consider.  

Will Mario on Merseyside Work?

Luis Suarez’ exit from Anfield signaled a major change for the Merseyside club.  Personnel-wise, a crop of new signings litter the training ground nowadays, and the polarizing presence of the Uruguayan is no more.  However, the antics-driven media fracas which hung over Liverpool like a cloud (literally, it’s always cloudy on Merseyside) is back with the arrival of Mario Balotelli from AC Milan.  

18 months ago, Balotelli was sold to his boyhood club by Manchester City and Roberto Mancini, who after years of trying to tame the young Italian’s mercurial personality, threw in the towel.  Balotelli was instrumental in the 2011-2012 premier league title, but was known more for making the wrong sort of headlines.  

The stories go on and on about the striker, about how he drove his car into a Brescia women’s prison, how he once set his house on fire with fireworks, and how he inexplicably showed up at an Inter Milan press conference to congratulate the club on hiring a new manager with cameras rolling and all.  Thus, one has to wonder if life at Liverpool will be any simpler than it was for him in Manchester.

Is he a rotten egg or is Mario Balotelli in the mold of ‘misunderstood genius’?  His behavior off the field has been nothing short of bizarre, but on the field his talent is unquestionable.  It is expected that Brendan Rodgers will utilize his new striker next to Daniel Sturridge, reverting to the two-forward formation the Reds played in with Saurez.  

Balotelli will pick up a chunk of Suarez’ absent goal output, but the issue will be finding enough playing time for everyone.  When Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic return, Liverpool will have a plethora of attacking options.  Keeping Balotelli happy is a must however, since his discontent could derail a title challenge altogether as it did in 2012-2013.  

However, it will be easier to keep Balotelli happy in England than in Milan. Balotelli is desperate to play on a contending squad, and there is hardly a racist presence in England.  The best book I’ve read this year has to be I Think Therefore I Play, which is Andrea Pirlo’s autobiography.  

Pirlo, a very well-spoken individual in his own right, sees Mario as a symbol for the fight against racism in not just Italy, but the entire world.  Pirlo puts Balotelli’s life struggles into perspective, how he just wants to be loved and play football.  I felt I had made up my mind on the striker years ago, but listening to what Pirlo says about him sways him toward the ‘misunderstood genius’ crowd.  

Being one of the only African-American Italian players in Serie A, Balotelli’s stints in Italy have been marred by improper fan conduct and hateful gestures directed at him.  For me, Balotelli is going into a very positive situation at Liverpool.  At Manchester City, players are not loved as they are at Anfield.  He had the bad-boy-for-hire image at the Etihad, and while the home crowd cheered him, they didn’t adore him.  

Even through all the turmoil he insinuated at Liverpool, Luis Suarez was still loved by home fans until the day he left (well, you know…).  It should go the same way for Balotelli who, for what it’s worth, has never bitten another player on the pitch.  At 24, it is time for the Italian to become more a leader, something Brendan Rodgers will make crystal-clear to him.  

With talents like Raheem Sterling, Coutinho, Adam Lallana, and the presence of Steven Gerrard, Balotelli is in a place to succeed, but only if he puts his situation into perspective.  At Liverpool, the team won’t be built around Balotelli; he will be the one who has to adapt, but it is also him that could be the final piece in the post-Suarez Liverpool era puzzle.  

His work rate has always been in question and doesn’t share the same knack for hunting the ball down like Luis Suarez does.  Even so, it was a no-brainer for Rodgers to bring in Balotelli at that price.  His age almost guarantees that his value won’t dip given his abilities, and he could even feature as early as Monday against Manchester City (what a debut that would be!).  

It seems we’ve been saying it for years now, but Balotelli has all the potential in the world.  Of all the clubs Balotelli could have gone to, Liverpool may be the best choice for him.  Brendan Rodgers proves time and time again that he is an excellent man-manager who gets the most out of his players.  As long as he keeps the Italian happy, Suarez could be a forgotten name in Liverpool in a few months’ time. 

Can Everton Survive Without Barkley?

Considered by many to be the answer to England’s problem at the playmaker role, Ross Barkley looked ready to further improve his star status in the 2014/2015 season.  His injury which could sideline him for months is an unfortunate one, not just for the Toffees but the entire league and the Three Lions too.  

After a disappointing 2-2 draw at Leicester City on Saturday, Roberto Martinez is under even more pressure to deliver a result against Arsenal at the weekend.  However, the Spaniard was coy on the prospect of bringing in a replacement for Barkley this week.  He does point out that even with the idea of a grueling European schedule, Everton have enough depth to cope with the loss of such a scintillating player.  

Martinez admitted that Everton cannot replace Ross Barkley, and he’s absolutely right.  I say that because Barkley has such high value and given the club's commitments to both him and Romelu Lukaku, I can’t imagine the Toffees spending anymore money this summer.  

Thus, other players will take their turn stepping into the 20-year old’s shoes in the attacking midfield.  Leon Osman has been a loyal servant to the Merseyside club, but Steven Pienaar, Steven Naismith, and Kevin Mirallas will platoon the position as well.  As I wrote the other day, Muhamed Besic has yet to feature for the club and may very well be an excellent replacement.  

At the weekend, Everton will host a sluggish-looking Arsenal.  The Gunners haven’t impressed since their 3-0 romp of Manchester City in the Community Shield, but Mesut Ozil will likely return to the lineup.  In his first appearance, whether it be off the bench or in a starting role, I don’t expect the German to be at his best, but the prospect of him joining the Arsenal attack is scary for Everton and will boost the performances of his teammates.  

James McCarthy and Gareth Barry must put in a good shift in the defensive midfield if they are to slow down the creative players for Arsenal.  Per Mertesacker could also return for Arsenal, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the impressive Calum Chambers features again alongside Laurent Koscielny.  

Some may look to this fixture as a must-win for both teams, but I would argue it is more of a must-win for Arsenal.  Arsenal have to establish confidence against good teams this early in the season, while Everton are under much less pressure to deliver a title-challenging campaign.  

Long-term, I wouldn’t worry too much about Everton.  Roberto Martinez’ reputation precedes itself, and this is a good enough team to the point where losing one player, albeit their best player, won’t bring them down.  Seamus Coleman will probably be fit for the Arsenal game, a big boost for a club in need of one.

Martinez has shown he is adept at overcoming challenges, and even with the absence of Barkley they should be able to create chances and defend well like they always do.  Lukaku will be fit soon, while Everton can always count on loyal performers at the back like Leighton Baines, Sylvain Distin, Phil Jagielka, and Tim Howard.  

If Everton were to not pick up three points against Arsenal, it would be far from the end of the world.  Away to a newly-promoted club and home against a top four club is never an easy tandem of fixtures to begin a season with, but the schedule lightens for the Merseyside club in the coming weeks.  Under the pragmatic Roberto Martinez, Everton should be fine with the vacancy left by Ross Barkley. 

Transfer Twilight Time at Arsenal

With less than two weeks until the close of the transfer window, many teams in Europe are still in the market for first team players.  Manchester United are definitely in the market, and Liverpool could still be too.  In London, Arsenal are in a similar predicament to that of United, but not as severe.  

With the injury to Mikel Arteta who could be sidelined for months, as well as Aaron Ramseys looming UEFA suspension, Arsenal are now desperately in need of an excellent defensive midfielder.  When fit, Arteta lacks the steel and energy to hang with premier league attacks.  Also, on for the pitch just five minutes, Mathieu Flamini picked up a yellow card today as well.  

Not that that’s anything new from Flamini; it only reaffirms that he cannot consistently play and not be booked.  Thus, Arsenal need to act fast and secure at least one more big signing before the window closes.  Arsene Wenger hinted that the North London club is still in the market for a player at that position, while many are speculating that Arsenal’s top target is center back Kostas Manolas.  

However, Arsenal need the most help at defensive midfield.  Calum Chambers is proving to be a phenomenal addition along the back line, and Per Mertesacker is close to reuniting with Laurent Koscielny.  Nacho Monreal is currently providing exceptional cover for the injured Kieran Gibbs, while Hector Bellerin could be a surprise feature in the first team this season.  Even so, Arsenal could still yet add a center back, but that's not what they need most desperately. 

Aaron Ramsey isn’t a true defensive midfielder, as he grows more and more confident going forward.  Jack Wilshere is in a similar mold, but hasn’t shown form anywhere near the level of Ramsey.  Arsenal would have a much more balanced midfield if they could add a defensive midfielder with positional discipline and consistency.  

William Carvalho is a name that has surfaced from time to time, with reports that a bid from Arsenal was turned down a month ago.  Sami Khedira could still be an option as his exit from Real Madrid seems imminent.  Daley Blind, a Manchester United target, would be a surprise signing, as would Lars Bender.  

Even Cheick Tiote has emerged as a possible target, but I wouldn’t expect Wenger to go for a player so rambunctious.  Chambers did captain the U-19 English team as a defensive midfielder, but he’s more of a holding type player and less of a physical one at this stage in his career.  

With that being said, there’s really no telling how Arsene Wenger will finish the transfer window because that's always the nature of things.  In January, it seemed a formality that Arsenal would strengthen their side with an attacking player.  Instead, they ended up with Kim Kallstrom, an already injured defensive midfielder.  

Wenger already has secured several signings, but hasn’t addressed his squad needs as well as Liverpool or Chelsea have.  Another striker would be nice for the Gunners, however even if Arteta didn't pick up an injury today Wenger would still need a defensive midfielder.  

Arsenal's Turkish Test

Arsenal face an early season test in Turkey tomorrow, as they face Besiktas in the UEFA Champions League playoff which leads into the group draw.  Arsenal handled Fenerbahce nicely last year in the same playoff, but this year will likely be more difficult.  

Arsenal were far from a polished product on Saturday, albeit they won the game against a scrappy Crystal Palace side.  Arsene Wenger will take no chances in this game, since departing the competition at such an early stage would set an awful for the season.  

I expect the Frenchman to name a strong starting XI for this tie, regardless of the fact that the squad is still recuperating from World Cup duty.  None of the German trio will feature for the Gunners, while Kieran Gibbs picked up an injury against Crystal Palace and could miss several weeks.  

Nacho Monreal could help the Gunners approach, since at times Gibbs and Debuchy would both be caught well up the field.  Monreal, more of a defensive fullback than Gibbs, is a very capable deputy while the young Englishman recovers. 

Laurent Koscielny appears to have recovered from the achilles injury he picked up in training last week, but with Mertesacker still regaining fitness and Thomas Vermaelen now in Barcelona, Wenger will again turn to Calum Chambers who has proved himself to be an excellent acquisition early on.   

Mathieu Flamini should feature in the middle of the park, his tireless work ethic and energy being the reason.  Mathieu Debuchy will likely feature again, but don’t sleep on Wenger throwing Hector Bellerin into the mix in a big game, as he did with Yaya Sanogo against Bayern last year.  

Mikel Arteta’s leadership would be missed if Flamini were to start, but Aaron Ramsey is taking it upon himself to adopt a more significant leadership role and that shouldn’t be a problem.  Ramsey will likely get the nod ahead of Jack Wilshere in midfield, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain possibly earning the start. 

Olivier Giroud should be guaranteed a start after watching the first 60 minutes from the bench Saturday, while Santi Cazorla could be one of the players who won’t start consecutive games for Arsenal.  Cazorla looked rusty on Saturday, definitely not at his sharpest and lacking fitness.  To add insult to injury, the referee’s malfunctioning vanishing spray can decided to erupt like a fireman's hose in the Spaniards face.  

Alexis will likely feature in this big game for Arsenal, and although I’m not nearly as harsh as Steve Nicol in my criticisms of the Chilean after Saturday, there is definitely room for improvement from the new boy.  Alexis needs to get on a better wavelength with his new teammates, while surely the German reinforcements on their way are encouraging to the winger.  

Away from home, Arsenal were very good in the Champions League last year, but also the year before when they beat trebel-winners Bayern 2-0 at the Allianz Arena.  Mentally, Arsene Wenger will have his men ready for the early season test. 

It all seems rather routine that Arsenal would advance, but in Europe there are never such guarantees.  An away game in the Champions League is never easy, let alone in the hostile Besiktas environment.  It will be an intense contest, but I still see Arsenal earning a similar victory to last years 3-0 win at Fenerbahce.  2-0 Arsenal here.