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.  

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.

Five More Excellent Signings

Marcos Rojo, Manchester United (20m euros)

After a drawn-out transfer saga involving rumors, finger pointing, and apologizing, Manchester United finally have their man.  Marcos Rojo arrives as a much-needed reinforcement, and although he cannot feature this weekend against Sunderland, his impact will be very positive for the Red Devils as the season progresses.  

Mario Balotelli, Liverpool (undisclosed)

A terrific signing for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool.  Balotelli will contribute to some of Luis Suarez’ missing goal output and the Anfield crowd will adopt him unconditionally as they did with the Uruguayan.  It is this reason that I believe Balotelli will flourish at Liverpool, because rarely has the misunderstood 24 year old striker felt the love from the crowd.  

Giorgios Samaras, West Brom (free)

West Brom snapped up the Greek on a free transfer this week, adding a player with a bevy of Champions League, Europa League, and international experience under his belt.  Samaras is accustomed to playing in sides who hunker down defensively, and is effective roaming the pitch for the odd scoring chance.  

Leroy Fer, Queens Park Rangers (undisclosed)

Queens Park Rangers made an excellent signing in Leroy Fer, who joins from relegated Norwich City.  Fer featured at the World Cup and scored a goal for the Netherlands, and impressed with the Canaries last season.  He will be an excellent midfield engine from box to box and has room to grow at the age of just 24.  

Victor Moses, Stoke City (loan)

Stoke City looked slow offensively at home last weekend against Aston Villa in a 1-0 defeat.  Surplus to requirements at Chelsea, Moses will join Stoke City on a season-long loan and will definitely upgrade the Potters’ attacking options.  The Nigerian pitched in with some impressive performances at Liverpool last season and should see his opportunities increased at Stoke.  

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.