Van Gaal Will Learn From Sunday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Injury Concerns for Liverpool

Tuesday was a monumental moment in recent history for Liverpool.  It had been 1,742 days since the men in Red had heard the Champions League anthem, and the display Anfield put on for the return of Europe’s flagship club competition was nothing short of spectacular.  

Liverpool marked their return to the Champions League with a 2-1 win over minnows Ludogrets on Tuesday, and travel to Upton park to take on Sam Allardyce’s struggling Hammers squad.  

However, the injury concerns continue to mount for Brendan Rodgers.  Albeit his squad remains deep, injuries to critical players mean new ones will have to step in big games.  

Daniel Sturridge looks read to return to full training next week, but there’s no guarantee that will be the case.  The club is in desperate need of some stability leading the line, so now is the time for Mario Balotelli to step up.  

Balotelli’s goal in his Champions League debut for Liverpool was well-taken, controlling a cross in the box and calmly slotting home to give the Reds a late lead they would eventually squander, but regain on a Steven Gerrard penalty.

Coutinho’s form has been subpar so far this season, unable to replicate the dazzling displays he put out in preseason.  Between Sturridge’s injury, Luis Suarez’ defection to Barcelona, and the Brazilian #10’s recent dip in form, three out of four of Liverpool’s incumbent goal-creators are all either out of form, out of the country, or out of fitness.

It’s imperative that whoever Liverpool play up front take their chances, whether it be Balotelli and Sterling, Sterling and Lambert, or just one of them.  Last week’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa was a far cry from the goal-happy home fixtures we are so accustomed to seeing, so new faces have to step up. 

Even more concerning for Liverpool is news of the long-term injuries to Joe Allen and Jon Flanagan.

I would rate both Allen and Flanagan as two of the more underrated big-game performers in the league.  Flanagan plays the fullback position as good as anyone at the club; he can play on both sides of the pitch, and on both sides of the ball.  His inclusion was a mainstay in big games last season, and has yet to feature in the premier league this year.

Javier Manquillo is unproven and has yet to show proper positional discipline.  Meanwhile, the return of Glen Johnson to the squad is a frightening concept to Liverpool supporters who are fed up with his lazy defending and spineless long-range attempts on goal.  Regardless, one of them must step up and make it hard for Rodgers to pick the other.  

Rodgers made a point of signing Allen from Swansea upon his arrival to Anfield from the Welsh club.  Last season, Allen was often deployed in place of either Raheem Sterling or Coutinho in big games, showing the confidence his manager has in him.  Like Flanagan, he is a reliable footballer with excellent work-rate and versatility.  

Emre Can would be a capable replacement for Allen’s void in midfield, but the German has been ruled out until October.  Thus, the time is now for the new boys to step up and prove their worth. 

If last weekend yielded a chance for Mario Balotelli, this fixture with West Ham is surely more of an exam since he has had another full week to acclimate himself with his teammates.  If the likes of Balotelli, Coutinho, and whoever else gets the nod up front can produce, Liverpool will bounce back with ease.  

Arsenal Must Improvise

Do what you can, where you are, with what you have was always an idea instilled in me growing up.  The transfer window closed two weeks ago, yet what seems to be the biggest concern among Arsenal fans still is the failure to sign a defensive midfielder.  

Rather than sit in front of a computer and find a creatively profane way to berate Arsene Wenger, Ivan Gazidis, or Mesut Ozil on twitter, one must look at what the club have available to them at this exact moment.  

Yesterday’s game against Borussia Dortmund was indicative of the fact that Mikel Arteta is not the answer at the base of midfield for Arsenal.  Arteta appears to be getting slower by the fixture, and his once sharp ball-retention isn't what it once was.  

Anyone who watches the Gunners knows that Mathieu Flamini is just as subpar of an option.  His intensity and work rate are outstanding, as is his on-field leadership.  Like Arteta though, he is slowing down physically.

Per Mertesacker and Laruent Koscielny have not been as sharp as they were last season thus far, but there is hardly any cover in front of them.  Arteta’s listless display showed a change is absolutely necessary, but since buying a top player is not an option for a few months, the Gunners must improvise.  

It wouldn’t be so farfetched of an idea to try and play Aaron Ramsey out of position at the base of midfield.  The Welshman has endured a poor start to the season, and albeit he has scored some clutch goals late on in matches, his overall quality cowers to that of last season’s.  

Ramsey is a tough tackler, an excellent passer, and his work rate is outstanding.  Arsenal fans will point to the fact that his offensive game lifts the team, but right now the Gunners are so thin in front of their back line that other needs must be addressed.  

Ramsey’s struggles are not as well-documented as those of Mesut Ozil, but they are arguably just as bad at the moment.  Dropping him into a deeper role may not be the flashiest move in the public eye, but who else does Arsenal have right now?

Ramsey would, of course, have to improvise as well.  His license to streak forward would have to be suspended, as would his affinity for audacious moves with the ball at his feet.  In the long run, it’s a stretch to say Ramsey’s future is in the defensive midfield.  But, that’s what Arsenal need right now and over time a simpler approach will benefit the Welshman’s overall game.  

People tend to forget that when Mikel Arteta was purchased from Everton, he was a #10, and not a steely midfielder.  Arteta has logged a few decent performances since Wenger moved him to a deeper role, but he doesn't have enough gas left in the tank to be the player Arsenal need.

For all the offensive weapons Arsenal have in midfield, they can afford to temporarily play someone out of position who has the quality to succeed there.  Jack Wilshere is another option, but he isn’t in the same physical mold as Ramsey and has a history of poor temperament. 

Calum Chambers is also an idea, and probably the best immediate solution.  However, Chambers’ talents right now need to be allocated to covering the thinnest back line in the premier league, especially given the fitness of Mathieu Debuchy and Nacho Monreal.  

The idea of Ramsey being utilized where Arteta currently is wouldn’t be a proper utilization of the Welshman’s talents.  However, it is a temporary solution, and could very well be the best one for Arsenal.  

Arsene Wenger will be keen to sign a defensive midfielder in January, but until then sacrifices must be made with what pieces are already at the club’s disposal. 

Power Rankings: Chelsea's Reign Continues

1. Chelsea (1): No surprises that Chelsea have claimed the top spot for the third time in four weeks.  Diego Costa now has seven from four games, and if he keeps this up Chelsea can get away with the odd defensive error that they are culpable to commit.  Loic Remy also got in on the action, scoring his debut goal for the Blues.  

2. Manchester City (3): Manchester City are given the second spot by way of a hard-fought draw at the Emirates and the shocking home defeat to Liverpool.  With Fernando out, City lack steel guarding the back line, but like Chelsea, this team can score in bunches.

3. Southampton (5): Graziano Pelle is turning out to be one of the buys of the summer for Ronald Koeman, whose stock is soaring at the Saint Mary’s Stadium these days.  The spirit at the club couldn’t be stronger at the moment, with Southampton netting seven from their last two outings.  

4. Arsenal (6): New boy Alexis turned in an outstanding performance on Saturday, but the man of the hour was undoubtedly Jack Wilshere.  So often criticized for his performances for both club and country, the 22 year old Englishman hit back at his critics with a near perfect display anchoring the Arsenal midfield with his tenacity and driving runs.  A collision with Samir Nasri typified Wilshere’s toughness and fearless approach.  

5. Aston Villa (8): Take a bow, Paul Lambert.  Aston Villa pulled off one of the upsets of the season on Saturday, as they snatched three points in front of a stunned Anfield crowd.  Fabian Delph’s inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s latest England squad is a testament to the entire club’s body of work early on in the season.  Tom Cleverly was impressive…there, I said it.  

6. Swansea (4): Swansea were not shy in their clash with league-leaders Chelsea, but the Blues proved too much for Gary Monk’s men.  Swansea have much to be proud of after their gritty performance at Stamford Bridge, and are looking like the 2013/2014 Southampton of this season in the early goings.  

7. Liverpool (2): Liverpool take the biggest plummet in the rankings, as they were left searching for an answer to Daniel Sturridge’s absence.  Perhaps losing their talismanic front man had something to do with it, but resting an in-form Raheem Sterling was a blatant mistake by Brendan Rodgers.  

8. Manchester United (9): Much has been said about how good United looked in their 4-0 dredging of QPR on Sunday.  However, beating arguably the worst team in the league at home should be a formality.  Nonetheless, new signings Angel Di Maria and Daley Blind collectively proved their worth and offered a glimpse into the future for Manchester United fans desperately seeking piece of mind. 

9. Everton (11): Romelu Lukaku impressed in the away victory at the Hawthornes.  Rather than squander a two goal lead as they did against Arsenal, Everton locked down defensively and kept a clean sheet ahead of their home clash with a sputtering Crystal Palace side.  

10. Tottenham (7): It has been a tale of two pairs of outings for Tottenham.  The first two games couldn’t have gone better for Spurs, while the last two are definitely ones to forget.  However, I expect them to learn from last season and do better this year.

11. Leicester City (16): Leicester impressed in their second consecutive fixture with a win at the Brittania Stadium.  Leonardo Ulloa’s winner earned Leicester their first win at Stoke in 10 years.  

12. Burnley (13): Burnley wasted an opportunity to snatch an improbable three points from Selhurst park.  Sean Dyche still searches for his first premier league win as a manager following Burnley’s promotion from the Championship.  

13. Hull City (14): Hull City’s home fixture against West Ham was a riveting contest, and Mohamed Diame haunted his former club with a goal.  New signing Abel Hernandez also netted for the Tigers, but an own goal from Curtis Davies spoiled the win for Hull City.  

14. Stoke City (10): Stoke City were unimpressive in their loss to Leicester at home.  Mark Hughes has to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to add some offense to this side.  

15. Sunderland (15): Gus Poyet’s side benefitted from a late Harry Kane own-goal in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham.  Their performance was subpar, with Christian Eriksen carving up the midfield several times.  The Black Cats will head to Burnley next weekend against a team desperate for three points.  

16. Crystal Palace (12): Crystal Palace had a chance to take three huge points from a fixture involving two winless teams.  Julian Speroni saved a penalty late on, and the Eagles were lucky to end up with just a point in a game that featured lots of poor finishing.

17. West Ham (17): West Ham earned a solid point in one of the more exciting games of the season to this point.  Enner Valencia’s first league start culminated in a stunning goal, hopefully a sign of things to come for the Hammers.

18. Newcastle United (16): Alan Pardew’s job is surely in jeopardy now.  Underdogs going into the fixture against Southampton, the Magpies hardly showed up to play and were subsequently thrashed by Ronald Koeman’s revolutionary side.  Pardew needs results or he’ll join David Moyes in the unemployment line.  

19. Queens Park Rangers (19): The bottom two spots in the rankings stay the same for another week.  Queens Park Rangers were subjected to a coming out party at Old Trafford for several big signings.  Realistically they were never going to get points from this fixture, but a 4-0 shellacking is never good for morale.  

20. West Brom (20): West Brom had a chance to steal a point at home from Everton but were promptly dispatched by Romelu Lukaku and the Toffees.  They show organization for much of their games, but unforgivable gaffes at the back have cost them in recent weeks, Saturday in particular.  

King Courtois' Reign Begins

Thibault Courtois is one of those athletes who makes a lot of us think “what am I doing with my life?”  At 22, the Chelsea shot stopper is already established as one of the finest goalkeepers in the world.  

Often the forgotten player in the historically brilliant transfer window that was Chelsea’s summer, Courtois is commonly overlooked in favor of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.  The midfielder and the striker have been integral to Chelsea’s perfect record, but the young Belgian keeper will be a mainstay in the Blues' starting eleven for a very long time.  

The age of King Courtois has officially begun in England.  This morning, Courtois signed a new 5-year deal that keeps him at Stamford Bridge through the 2018-2019 season.  At his youthful age, the keeper has already won La Liga and played in the Champions League final to cap an impressive three year loan spell at Atletico Madrid.

A few weeks later, Courtois anchored a Belgian defense that gave up just three goals in five games at the World Cup.  Not only does he boast in impressive repertoire of accomplishments.  The 22 year old declared himself one of the best goalkeepers in the world during his spell in Madrid.  

He oozes confidence, commands the box like a general, and at 6’6 shows flashes of freakish athleticism.  Albeit he could have kept out at least one of Everton’s goals in the 6-3 thriller, his reaction save to deny Kevin Mirallas later on was brilliant.  

Petr Cech, one of Chelsea’s most loyal servants and perhaps one of the best five keepers in the world, has already been usurped by Courtois at Chelsea just a few weeks into the Belgian's tenure at Stamford Bridge.  It remains to be seen if Cech will stay glued to the bench for the entirety of the season, but for now Courtois has a firm grasp on the starting role.  

Many speculated that Courtois would start on the bench while Cech carried out his duties as the incumbent holder of the #1 jersey.  Cech would of course be on a short leash, but one could argue he earned the right to start the season in goal.  

This speaks to the mild-mannered Belgian’s abilities and the confidence his manager instills in him.  Cech is still just 32, and definitely has more miles left in the tank.  However, he may be looking for a new job in the next few windows, for unseating Courtois will be exceptionally difficult.  

The Van-Gaalacticos

Now that the dust has settled on their record summer, Manchester United look ready to earn their first victory of the season when they play host to Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.  At this point in the season, no game is a must-win, but surely that’s what it must feel like for the Red Devils.  

Unless he were truly the most unappreciative employee in history, Louis Van Gaal has to be pleased with transfer kitty Ed Woodward provided him for the summer.  It resulted in the Dutchman completely re-shaping the United first team.  Here is the result of the biggest shopping spree in league history:

Ander Herrera, 25, 28.85m pounds

Already an established star in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao, Herrera joined the Red Devils for just under thirty million pounds.  The Spaniard is a complete midfielder, equipped with size, skill, and a creative knack for precision passing.  He is a technician in the mold of Frank Lampard, always looking for the ball and taking very good care of it when in possession.  Herrera went off injured on opening day against Swansea, and his return to full fitness coincides with the capture of three more signings for United.  

Luke Shaw, 19, 30m pounds

The most expensive teenager in league history and the only Englishman purchased by Van Gaal, Luke Shaw brings a difficult-to-believe level of maturity with him to Old Trafford.  His reputation as the next electrifying young fullback in the league speaks for itself, as he is already a fantastic player.  Jose Mourinho questioned the judgement to give Shaw such a big contract, but that’s the way of things for United right now.  They may have overpaid for his services between transfer fee and wages, but Shaw’s talent is undeniable and has the potential to be the best two-way fullback in the world.  

Marcos Rojo, 24, 16m pounds

Rojo is the second of four left-sided players to join Manchester United this summer.  Easily the most controversial transfer of the summer, the Marcos Rojo deal is a testament to the problems posed by third-party ownership.  Nonetheless, he is also an excellent footballer, as he showed in Argentina’s run to the World Cup final.  One of the things I’ve always liked about Rojo, which he has in common with Shaw and Daley Blind, is his ability to defend.  His left foot is ferocious going forward, but his reliability across the back line was more of an asset to Argentina in Brazil.  

Angel Di Maria, 26, 59.7m pounds

The premier league’s record signing has been impressive since his move to Old Trafford.  He was by far the Red Devils’ best player on the pitch against Sunderland, but lacked match fitness and was the first to be subbed off.  A man of the match performance against Germany over the international break only reinforced how talented this player is, while the backlash in Madrid is a negative one following the sale of fan favorite Di Maria.  Even though he is the most expensive player ever to join the league, there is much less weight on his shoulders than one would assume given the sheer number of recruits joining over the summer.  

Daley Blind, 24, 13.8m pounds

I would argue that Daley Blind may be the signing of the summer from a value perspective.  He is versatile on the left wing and excellent in a deep-lying midfield role, so expect him to feature quite often this season.  A favorite of Louis Van Gaal, Blind’s coming-out party was in Brazil, but his body of work prior to this summer was under-the-radar to say the least.  The Dutchman is the reigning player of the season in the Eredivisie, and is the son of Danny Blind, who is set to take over the Oranje following the 2016 Euro in France.  I would compare his reliability to that of Ramires; you know exactly what you’re getting out of him each time he steps on the pitch.  

Radamel Falcao, 28, loan

Ironically enough, Falcao is the shortest of all Manchester United recruits at just 5’10.  Then again, this doesn’t matter when you’re one of the top strikers on the planet.  Falcao’s exclusion from the World Cup because of injury was quickly forgotten due to the exploits of James and Juan Cuadrado, but his class is unquestioned.  Since I need not talk about how ruthless of a striker Falcao can be, this deal gives me the chance to voice a concern over the parameters of financial fair play.  

A buy option was included in the loan deal, set at just over 43 million pounds.  The loan deal is nothing more than a gambit designed to thwart the influence of fair play regulations, since United will likely trigger the permanent deal unless something extraordinary happens (torn ACL?).  Do Manchester United need Falcao?  No.  Will he improve the overall quality of the squad?  Absolutely.  However, this deal is a head-scratcher, with the likes of Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney already at the club.  

Premier League Hurts the Three Lions

Football is on the rise in the United States.  Interest in the World Cup was at record highs, with a hefty handful of American Outlaws making the trip to Brazil, the rest of us opting for a rowdy viewing party or the comfort of our own couches (I opted for option b to avoid such crowds).  

Meanwhile across the Atlantic Ocean, England are in dire need of some new blood and a reinvigorated spirit.  Being outperformed by the Americans in the last two World Cups is not only embarrassing, it just plain shouldn’t happen.  

People looking at such failures instinctively point their fingers at the less-than-energetic Roy Hodgson.  Hodgson, stubbornly unwilling to deviate from his favored 4-4-2 formation, is not entirely to blame for these failures.  

The problem with the Three Lions lies in the premier league.  As Hodgson pointed out on Tuesday, Danny Welbeck’s move to Arsenal is not only good for the player but also for the national team.  As I wrote yesterday, Welbeck will feature centrally for Arsenal, his preferred position that he seldom was placed at in his tenure at Manchester United.  

Against Norway, Welbeck replaced new captain Wayne Rooney and changed the game for the final 20 minutes.  His pace and work rate were impressive, while a player with his mobility and skill set could be deadly at the tip of an attack.  

Hodgson also argued that young English players aren’t getting the proper chances and exposure they deserve.  This summer, 530 million pounds was spent on foreign players joining the league, and it’s hard to argue with the manager in this case.  

The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, and Southampton have laid a rather slim platform for England, but it's better than nothing.  Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are established members of the squad, as are Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson.  More recently, Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Calum Chambers, and John Stones have also joined the fray.  

Players like Theo Walcott and Ross Barkley are unavailable because of injury.  England surely miss them, but what they should miss more is the presence of an English core at the other big clubs in the league.

Clubs who consistently spend the most money on foreign players are doing absolutely nothing for the national team.  Manchester City only have two England internationals in Joe Hart and James Milner, neither of whom have been particularly excellent for the Three Lions, nor will they have a major impact on the future of the team.  

Of the six players Manchester United bought this year for a kings ransom, just one of them is English in Shaw.  However, he will not feature at Old Trafford as much as he did for a very good Saints squad with the presence of fellow left-siders Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo in the fray.  

Players like James Wilson, Reece James, and Tyler Blackett are options for the Red Devils, but it’s not likely than any of them will see significant playing time from here on out with the arrivals of the new signings.  Phil Jones was granted a start, but his performances with Manchester United have been inconsistent to say the least.  

The aforementioned Rooney has the support of his teammates in his new captain's role, but his exclusion late in the game signaled a change in which England were far more dangerous with Sterling in the middle.  

Chelsea have done little to contribute to the national team, but this is probably not very high on Jose Mourinho’s list of priorities.  With the exits of Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, John Terry and Gary Cahill are the lone Englishmen left in the first team, neither of whom contribute to England’s brave new world.  

Cahill will be 32 by the next World Cup, and Leighton Baines will be 33.  In the short term, Hodgson needs these players, but will eventually need to cut ties with his loyal deputies in favor of a fresher team.

John Stones and Calum Chambers have impressed for their clubs at center back, giving promise to the future of the back line that could also feature Shaw, Kieran Gibbs, Steven Caulker, and Jon Flanagan, Gibbs being the oldest at 24.  

Arsene Wenger has taken it upon himself to implement a strong English core at the Emirates.  Roberto Martinez has locked down Ross Barkley in a long-term deal, and will be integral in the rise of both him and Stones.  Brendan Rodgers prioritized Adam Lallana in the transfer market, and has mainstays in the lineup in Daniel Sturridge, Sterling, and Henderson.  

If Hodgson wants to see results with the national team, he has to find it in himself to grant Sterling a position in the middle, but more importantly he has to pray that the pool for English players gets deeper amongst the big clubs in England.  It’s rare for a young English player to get a chance to play at a big club, part of the reason Welbeck’s move to Arsenal will benefit England.  

It’s a flawed system, in which an imported player with a big price tag is more likely to see the field then an academy player who has been with the club since boyhood.  The premier league is considered by many to be the toughest league in Europe from top to bottom, but the strengthening of the league has an equally negative effect on the performance of the Three Lions.  

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.  

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.  

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.