Arsenal Face a Different Test

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alexis' Exclusion a Head-Scratcher

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alexis' Playing Style Indicative of Upbringing

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

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

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

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

Times weren’t always this easy for Alexis. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Boys Shine Brightest

After weeks of wondering, pondering, hoping, and celebrating, the transfer window if finally closed.  Oddly enough, there were three rounds of premier league fixtures while the window was still open, a moot point, but a curious one. 

Nonetheless, the distraction of transfer talk is no more, and we can finally focus on football.  This weekend, it was the new boys on the block who shined the brightest.  

Diego Costa, Chelsea

Praise continues to be heaped on the Brazilian errrhmm…Spaniard.  It remained to be seen if Costa could handle the physicality of the premier league, but this is by no means an issue.  With seven goals from four games, Costa has enjoyed a historic start to life at Stamford Bridge.  

His goal record is indicative of his nature; he simply doesn’t miss when given the chance to score.  Chelsea is brimming with midfielders who make a living off of creating chances, so it’s no surprise Costa has been seeing the back of the net with such frequency.  With the addition of Costa, this could be one of the strongest Chelsea squads ever.  

Alexis, Arsenal

I was recently in a debate as to whether or not Arsenal needed the services of Alexis.  35 million pounds is a lot of money, but so far he has proved he is worth every penny.  The Chilean’s work-rate is ridiculous, and his injection of relentlessness into the lineup seeing Arsenal hunting the ball more effectively high up the pitch.  

His go-ahead goal was a thing of beauty, a perfectly timed side foot volley past a helpless Joe Hart.  The Emirates crowd is adopting Alexis as a fan favorite, a title he completely deserves.  He has now scored a goal in each of his last three appearances for Arsenal, but his performance against the Citizens on Saturday proves he doesn’t shy away from the big stage.  

Angel Di Maria, Manchester United

Di Maria was at the core of most of Manchester United’s attacking moves on Sunday.  His dynamism from a deeper role earned him a man of the match performance.  Had Robin Van Persie finished Di Maria’s sublime outside-of-the-foot chipped pass among other chances, the game could have been worse for QPR.  

As I said on twitter this morning, Di Maria is proving his worth.  His game is much more complete than people imagined, and as a fan of the sport it is always a treat to see a player of his quality develop even further.  Touted as a speedy winger, the Argentine has much more to him than initially meets the eye.  

Graziano Pelle, Southampton

In a way, Pelle is a poor man’s Diego Costa.  The Italian is proven physical poacher.  He takes his chances well, and is a big reason Southampton are in the position they are.  At 29, Pelle is by no means a ripe prospect, but that’s not what Southampton need out of their strikers.  

Pelle is similar to Rickie Lambert, in that he is an intelligent forward who is an exceptional header of the ball.  Ronald Koeman deserves a gold star for signing the Italian, who must prefer his new life in England to the dull nature of the Dutch league.

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.  

Assessing Arsenal's Window

It is not uncommon for Arsenal to scramble for signings in the closing days of the transfer window.  In years past, Arsenal have left nearly all their business to the last day, the most recent window being a change from the ordinary.

With a war chest of riches to spend, Arsene Wenger had the tools to do almost anything in the realm of possibility.  Early in the summer, Arsenal were one of the star clubs of the transfer window.  Signing Alexis from Barcelona improves the team at multiple positions, not to mention he is nothing short of a world-class player, as he showed in the World Cup. 

Arsenal did an excellent job of replacing the departed players which needed to be replaced.  David Ospina is an upgrade over Lukasz Fabianski, and Mathieu Debuchy started over Bacary Sagna in Brazil.  Furthermore, after loaning Carl Jenkinson to West Ham, Hector Bellerin proved he could produce quality minutes after his performances against Benfica and Monaco in the Emirates Cup.  

Calum Chambers was a bit of a surprise, but it’s now confirmed that he will be the third-choice center back this season.  Under the tutelage of Steve Bould, Per Mertesacker, and Laurent Koscielny, Chambers could pan out to be a top, top defender.  Then again, Arsenal are one injury away from having just two first-team center backs, although that was the case last season as well.

Arsene Wenger did a wonderful job of replacing those who needed to be replaced.  However, he did not add to the squad as so many fans wanted him to.  Last term, Arsenal were in dire need of a center forward to supplement Olivier Giroud and a tough-tackling defensive midfielder.  

Both deficiencies were brutally exposed over the course of a long season; several routs against top teams showed the need for steel in front of the back line, while Giroud could not handle the burden of leading the line consistently.  

Many fans were calling for a world-class center forward, but what people might not understand is that those kind of players don’t grow on trees.  Diego Costa was the only world-class center forward to join the premier league, and Danny Welbeck is a better signing than most would think.

At Manchester United, Welbeck’s goal output was unimpressive to say the least, but this can be attributed to two things.  First off, Welbeck was more often than not featured on the wing; he has the pace to fill that position, but his natural position is through the middle.  

Secondly, with the presence of Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie, Welbeck was far from first-choice, let alone in his favored position.  At Arsenal, Welbeck will likely be played through the middle almost exclusively, and given the absence of Giroud, this could be his chance to shine.  

Wenger is a perennial risk-taker, but the biggest risk still lies in defensive midfield this season.  Between Alexis, Welback, and Joel Campbell, Arsenal have options up top.  In the defensive midfield, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini will be tasked with much of the load, a scary thought for Arsenal fans.  

William Carvalho, Sami Khedira, and Morgan Schneiderlin were all seemingly available for the taking, but Wenger failed to pull the trigger on any of them.  In this area of concern, there is no excuse.  The funds were available, and even if Wenger overpaid for a player at the position, he would have been unanimously forgiven by fans.  

Arsenal were near perfect in the opening weeks of the window.  They replaced the players who needed to be replaced, and brought in a superstar attacker in Alexis.  However, I don’t see this squad as that much better than last year, and that is due to the lack of hard man in the middle.  

Offensively, Arsenal definitely improved, but Arteta and Flamini are both on the wrong side of 30 and aren’t getting any younger.  Between now and January, Wenger should make it a priority to negotiate some kind of deal to bring in a player who sits in front of the back four.

As I said before though, Arsene Wenger is a risk-taker; always has been and always will be.  However, the jury is still out on whether or not they can compete with the top teams, with their biggest deficiency still being a powerful midfielder, who they had two months to acquire.  

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.

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.

More Stars Yet to Feature

The opening weekend was undoubtedly an exciting one for premier league fans around the world.  Since the World Cup ended, it has been a long wait for the start of the season.  Many players made debuts for their respective clubs over the weekend, such as Dejan Lovren, Alexis, Ander Herrera, Fernando, and the impressive Dudan Tadic.  Here are some of the players who we have yet to see feature in the league.  

Emre Can, 20

I won’t hide the fact that Emre Can is one of my favorite signings of the summer for any team.  Upon seeing the Liverpool team sheet on my phone at 5:20 am Sunday morning, I was slightly let-down that Can didn’t feature for Brendan Rodgers’ side.  Can is physically imposing and will add steel to the midfield, a midfield where Lucas should no longer have a place.  

The Brazilian was wasteful in possession Sunday, and at times didn’t even put forth the drive and effort which probably earned him a role in the starting eleven.  It’s my opinion that Rodgers didn’t include more than Lovren and Manquillo in the squad so as not to take away the cohesion that last year’s group had.  Gradually, Liverpool’s new signings will see the field, but Can needs to sooner rather than later.  

Muhamed Besic, 21

Like Can, Besic will have to wait his turn to feature in the defensive midfield for his club.  Besic, a German-born Bosnian, starred for Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup in central midfield, but currently sits behind Gareth Barry and James McCarthy in selection for Roberto Martinez’ holding midfield roles.  

Besic brings more to the table offensively than either of the aforementioned midfielders, but away to Leicester City isn’t the ideal premier league debut for such a young player.  Besic could feature at Goodison Park against Arsenal at the weekend, but regardless should play a role in Everton’s plans this season.  

Ben Davies, 21

Given the carousel of left backs that Tottenham has been riding for the past several years, Ben Davies should be gifted a chance to succeed at White Hart Lane.  Davies had a fine season with Swansea last year, and was one of the many players to join bigger clubs over the summer.  

Gylfi Sigurdsson and Michel Vorm went in the other direction, quite the price tag for a 21 year-old fullback.  However, Davies already had 71 premier league appearances under his belt for the Swans, and is my pick to make the left back position his within the next few weeks.  It’s critical that Tottenham find an answer at left back; Jan Vertonghen is a terrific one, but he’s an even better center-back and should be utilized there, while the likes of Rose and Assou-Ekotto are far from adequate.  

Joel Campbell, 22

Another unused substitute at the weekend, Campbell impressed the world with his showing in Brazil.  Having spent the last three seasons on loan, Campbell has yet to make his premier league debut for the club that bought him three summers ago.  Campbell looked excellent in the Emirates Cup win over Benfica, and showed an improved work rate.  

I think Campbell will be well-suited for Arsene Wenger’s selection in big games; he can play on the wing, has the pace to counter-attack against heavy opposition, and his improved work rate bodes well for fullbacks.  Then again, it’s never easy predicting how Wenger will use his players, but seeing Campbell’s competitive debut for Arsenal is long overdue.  

Deandre Yedlin, 21

The only player on the list who wasn’t in his teams squad at the weekend, Yedlin wowed viewers and scouts with his blistering pace in Brazil.  He won't join Tottenham until January or June of 2015, but his presence is highly anticipated.  Deputizing for Fabian Johnson and coming on late in games to provide cover on the wing, Yedlin showed Tottenham enough to bring him in at the age of 21.  The American has the ability going forward and needs to improve his one-on-one defending in order to be a successful premier leaguer.  

Yedlin’s full debut for Tottenham in the premier league should be must-see tv for anyone who watched the World Cup here in the States.  Yedlin was one of the brightest stars for the stars and stripes, but it remains to be seen if he can compete in Europe.  If Yedlin were to become a breakout player for Spurs, it would be a huge boost to American academies and franchises in the transfer market.  

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. 

Messi's Relationship With England

It’s no secret that Lionel Messi is good, really, really good.  His stardom is what embodies Barcelona, and it’s no secret that his word bears some weight around the Nou Camp.  There is a notion that Barcelona is a place where attacking midfielders and forwards alike have a chance to succeed and play in a beautiful system which produces brilliant football.  

This, I would argue, is false.  In the summer transfer window, the premier league has seen Luis Suarez head to the Nou Camp, with Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez coming in the opposite direction.  For Suarez, a change of scenery and culture will probably help him, but when it comes to football he may be in for a bit of a surprise.  

Since joining Manchester City from Barcelona, Yaya Toure has kicked it into another gear, showing a more diverse and free all-around game at the Etihad.  At Barcelona, Toure was shackled by the constraints of the Barca way, but in the premier league is able to impose himself on the fast-moving and physical game that suits him the best.  

Players to join the Catalan club from the premier league don’t always find their way in Spain either.  Javier Mascherano has turned into a terrific center back, but his identity as a defensive midfielder shouldn’t be thrown under the table as he proved in Brazil for Argentina.  Alex Song is another example, for he has rarely started and is often played out of position at center back too.  

Cesc Fabregas was given the ultimate freedom at Arsenal to roam the pitch from box to box and create chances.  At Barcelona, due to the presence of Xavi, Sergio Busquets, and Andres Iniesta, Fabregas was too often played as a winger or false nine in the absence of Messi.  

Fabregas was still a good player for the Catalans, but his return to the premier league should be an exciting one for the creative midfielder.  At Chelsea, Fabregas will surely feature more centrally alongside Nemanja Matic or Ramires.  His positional dilemmas he experienced at Barcelona should be a thing of the past, because Jose Mourinho will put him on the field where he is the most dangerous.  

After just one premier league game under his belt, the praises are already being laid upon Alexis, who looks freed from his sidekick role to Messi in Barcelona.  The Chilean showed in the World Cup he can be devastating when given positional freedom, and has made a good impression on the Arsenal fans so far with his tricks, marauding runs, and creative awareness.  

The balance of power in La Liga is very different from that of the premier league, and it’s a testament to Barcelona's commitment to their star player that so many top-class players are cast into his shadow.  Luis Suarez was in a perfect situation at Liverpool; he was a rockstar, and now at Barcelona he arrives highly coveted but with a black cloud of shame over his head.  

With Messi already the incumbent rockstar with his young sidekick Neymar at his side, Suarez is in danger of being shackled at Barcelona, just as Alexis, Fabregas, and Yaya Toure have been.  Ultimately, the premier league is probably a better (and probably safer) place without the Uruguayan, but from a football point of view it’s a shame to see players limited so much when they move to the Catalan giants.