Wild American Gooner

When Sports Are More Than Just Sports

Category Archives: Arsenal


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The Red Sox Only Deserved the One All-Star, Arsenal Begin Pre-Season and a Thank You to Josh Radnor

Good morning, everyone. With another day before we get back to World Cup matches, I thought I’d take this opportunity to write about a couple different things.

I’ll be disappointed once the World Cup ends, but it’ll be nice to have time to focus on baseball again. The Red Sox seem hell bent on keeping fans away this summer though, as they continue to find ways to lose. Yesterday’s game was yet another in which the Red Sox showed glimpses of last year, this time coming back from a 6-1 deficit with a five run seventh. But yet again, all clutch hitting disappeared and the Red Sox fell once more in extra innings. The late-inning magic epitomized by Jonny Gomes that the Red Sox had an abundance of last year has not existed this year when it is needed. They’re a frustrating team to watch at the moment.

It seems fitting that our defending World Champions have only one all-star on the roster selected by their own manager. Jon Lester will be the only one donning the special all-star game hat next week in Minnesota. Reports say David Ortiz told John Farrell that he preferred time off this year, but really, was Ortiz even worthy of a selection?  While I do think Lester was deserving of a spot, he hasn’t exactly been the stopper his team have needed at times. He’s had a lot of games where he pitched well, but not well enough. For an ace to beat other aces, he needs to be almost perfect. And Lester has been far from that.

I made the case for John Lackey to be an all-star a few weeks back, but he’s cooled down a bit since then. The only other player I think should have made it from the Sox is Koji Uehara. It’s hard to believe there have been many relievers better than him this year, and I would have thought Farrell would have wanted to turn the ball over to his closer at the end of the game. Uehara’s success over the last 12 months certainly merited a spot, but ultimately, his team’s failure cost him his place on the team, as Farrell couldn’t give his Red Sox an extra spot they didn’t deserve. Hopefully Uehara gets in as a replacement, but I understand why there is only one Red Sox on the roster this year.

Maybe this announcement will serve as a wake-up call for Dustin Pedroia. The former MVP has seen a dramatic drop in production this year, and it seems like there’s no injury to blame this time. I’m sure Pedroia likes to think of himself as the best second baseman in the game, but he was not even close to making the American League roster this year. Even if the Red Sox don’t turn things around as a team, for Pedroia, a return to his best could help get next season’s team back on the right track.

On a different front, Arsenal’s pre-season is about to get under way. I love the World Cup, but I am dying to see Arsenal get going again. Personally, I really enjoy watching preseason games, as I like seeing young players like Chuba Akpom, Thomas Eisfeld and Kristoff Olsson get run outs. It’ll be fun to watch those guys get another few games under their belts to prove they belong at this level. The friendly against Boreham Wood on July 19th can’t get here soon enough.

But as pre-season heats up, the transfer sagas begin to get more important. It’s at this point that I, along with just about every other Gooner in the world, would like to see Arsene Wenger get something done. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a big slash yet, but I would just like to see some movement. There are a lot of signings needed this summer – backup goalie, right back, center back, holding midfielder, forward – and I would hate to see Wenger need to fill all of those on the last day of the window. Getting a signing out of the way now would help ease some pressure off of his overall load.

I don’t like to comment on transfer rumors because they rarely turn out to be anything more than letdowns for Arsenal supporters. But I will say that a certain Chilean attacker currently heavily linked with a move to North London would be an incredible signing – one that would legitimately put Arsenal squarely in next season’s title race. The other major link – the one with a certain French right back – would also be a useful signing. I’d like to see that deal get done in the next couple days to get things moving towards the new season. I won’t name any names until the signings get done, but these rumors excite me. It’s going to be a fun year.

And on a similar note to yesterday, I’d like to thank How I Met Your Mother star Josh Radnor for reading my post about HIMYM and favoriting my tweet. Little votes of confidence like that inspire me to keep writing, and I’m incredibly thankful for what Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas have done for me over the last few days. If I go on to become a writer full-time in the future, I’ll have them to thank.

As the How I Met Your Mother post has now nearly quadrupled the number of hits that any other post has gotten, I want to ask if anyone has any desire for further HIMYM content. If you have an idea of another piece I could do, put it in the comments or tell me on Twitter (@MrMcGinnis94). Writing a non-sports piece every once in a while would be a nice change of pace, and people seemed to enjoy the one I did. Hope your day is wonderful. And thanks for reading.

 


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Why Are So Few Arsenal Stars Shining in Brazil?

Well I was very wrong about that game. I knew France was the better side, but I didn’t expect them to be quite that clinical. I think it might have been closer had veteran Swiss defender Steve von Bergen not left with an injury in the opening minutes, but that isn’t excuse enough for the Switzerland’s atrocious defensive display. France has now put themselves in an excellent position and has to be tipped to make a trip to the quarterfinals, where they would likely run into Germany. If both France and Germany continue their impressive goalscoring form, that might be the game of the tournament.

It was good to see Olivier Giroud produce a great display in his slightly unexpected start. With him atop the field, and Benzema on the left, France looked dangerous every time they had the ball in Switzerland’s half. This might be a useful lineup going forward too, as I felt they looked more dynamic today than when Antoine Griezmann was on Benzema’s left. Paul Pogba will likely come back in for Moussa Sissoko, but this particular side obviously was quite impressive. Don’t sleep on the French as a potential title threat.

Giroud will be pleased that he contributed in more ways than one in his hour on the pitch. In addition to heading in a corner, he was effective receiving the ball deep and he even showed off his pace on the counter, putting Mathieu Valbuena in on goal for France’s third. I think whoever arrives this summer at striker for Arsenal will have a tough job holding off Giroud for the starting spot. He gets a lot of undeserved flak for all he adds to a side. And while Arsenal certainly needs another star frontman to compete for more silverware, Giroud will be a valuable contributor going forward as well. I’m not totally opposed to pairing Giroud with the new signing, whoever that might be.

On the Swiss side, seeing Johan Djourou cheaply give away a penalty brought back memories of his rapid demise at Arsenal. It would be easy to forget that for a long period in 2011, Djourou was first choice for Arsene Wenger in the back. He was useful at times too, helping Wojciech Sczcesny keep some clean sheets in some of the young keeper’s earlier starts with the first-team. But somewhere, it all went wrong. And now, he is an afterthought for most Gooners, sent away to Germany to keep him away from the squad. It was interesting that Arsenal has been tweeting good luck messages to Djourou all World Cup, even though he no longer plays for the club. Maybe they are reminding us that it could be a lot worse.

One thing that has been worrying me is that it feels like there have been a lot more former Arsenal players on the field in Brazil than current ones. It’s been nice seeing some of our old favorites, but isn’t it slightly concerning that so few Arsenal players are first choice for their countries? Wouldn’t we all like to think Laurent Koscielny is a better defender than Mamadou Sakho for example? It’s odd that the player representing the club the best so far is Joel Campbell, someone who’s never played a minute for the club, even in pre-season. Maybe not having players on display will help the fitness-levels for the season, but Arsenal have remarkably few stars in Brazil right now. Really only Per Mertesacker is an automatic starter for his country, with Mesut Özil not even guaranteed a place. I hope that’s not cause for concern.


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Analysis of Arsenal’s Fixture-List

In what was the game of the tournament so far, the Socceroos nearly upset the Netherlands in a thrilling 3-2 loss earlier today. This game had everything you could want from the neutral standpoint. It had spectacular goals, an inspiring underdog, near-misses, and a little controversy. The swing from Australia nearly going up 3-2 on one end to Memphis Depay’s goal for the Netherlands on the other was brutal for those hoping for the upset. It was an impressive effort from the Socceroos, one that will endear them to millions of people across the world, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.

The other news this morning is the arrival of the Premier League fixture-list. The reveal of the schedule is a sign that the next campaign is nearly upon us. In just a couple weeks, teams will be traveling across the world for their pre-season preparations. Usually this should be an exciting day. But in World Cup years, this particular day holds less intrigue. But at least it gives us an excuse to discuss something about Arsenal other than silly transfer rumors.

There is a lot to like about Arsenal’s fixtures. Unlike last season, there aren’t entire months in which you look at the schedule and say we’re one injury away from four straight losses. The big games are nicely spread out this time, with the only exception being a four game stretch in late September and early October that includes Manchester City and Tottenham at the Emirates followed by Chelsea away.

With all of the players at the World Cup needing an extra break this summer, they might not be completely ready for the first couple games in August. That’s why hosting Crystal Palace in the opener is ideal. A weaker Arsenal side might still be able to cope with Palace, whereas a trip to Anfield, as it was suggested might happen yesterday, would have been especially tough. Knowing there will also be a Champions League tie to play in late August, easier fixtures will be nice. Everton away might prove tough though in the second match.

April will be a big month for the Gunners, with Liverpool and Chelsea coming to the Emirates. Hopefully there will be some Champions League games to play then as well, so that could be a important stretch. A trip to Old Trafford in the second to last week of the season could also hold massive importance, but finishing at home against West Brom should see Arsenal finish the year with a win.

The other thing about the schedule that stands out to me is the Christmas/New Year’s stretch. I know there are always a lot of games to play in a short stretch then, but having to play two games in three days (QPR at home on Boxing Day and West Ham away the 28th) is asking a lot of these players. Having lost Aaron Ramsey to an injury during this period last year, Arsene Wenger will have to be extra careful to give his players the necessary rest to avoid injuries. Younger players could very well see valuable playing time in December.

While the release of the fixture-list isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, it does officially tell us that we are now 59 days away from the season opener. August 16 vs. Crystal Palace. Get ready.


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Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen Problem

Two summers ago, Thomas Vermaelen was heading towards being one of the world’s best defenders. Already a regular in Belgium’s side, one that seemed to have a golden generation arising, Vermaelen had locked down a place in Arsenal’s back four after some injury problems and was awarded the earned the Arsenal captaincy. But just twenty-two months later, Vermaelen has seen his career come to a crashing halt, both for club and for country. As he sat on the bench and watched his Belgian teammates struggle for much of their 2-1 win over Algeria today in the World Cup, Vermaelen had to be wondering where it all went wrong.

When Robin Van Persie left for Manchester United, Arsene Wenger didn’t have an obvious successor in his squad for the role of Arsenal captain. It’s a big job, as the player must take on added pressure both on and off the field as the official spokesman for the players. Wenger’s choice of Vermaelen seemed smart, if a little unexpected. A leader on the pitch, and a well-spoken gentleman off it, the Verminator  seemed well suited for the job.

But as the 2012-2013 season wore on, Vermaelen’s form took a serious dip. Having kept Laurent Koscielny out of the side for months, Vermaelen struggled to defend suddenly. His marauding runs up the field were unwanted, as they left the slower Per Mertesacker exposed behind him. Long known for timely goal-scoring, Vermaelen also stopped finding the net. So when Arsenal traveled to Bayern Munich for the second leg of the Champions League tie that year, it was no surprise to see the captain left on the bench along with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny after a series of poor performances. But while Szczesny won his job back after a few weeks, Vermaelen did not.

Last year was an awkward one for Vermaelen. Still the Arsenal captain, he rarely saw the field. He had some minor injury issues, but those weren’t the reason he wasn’t playing. And as he watched, the duo of Koscielny and Mertesacker were hailed as Arsenal’s best in years. While this was going on, Belgian coach Marc Wilmots dropped Vermaelen due to his lack of playing time, and on account of the quality in that side, Vermaelen hasn’t won his place back.

Thomas Vermaelen is now at a pivotal moment in his career. Still 28, he should be in the prime of his career. But after an  empty year, he needs a new start. This World Cup should make him realize that if he hasn’t already, because he could be a huge part of this dark-horse Belgian side were he in better form. However, Arsenal won’t let him go easily, because they need a third center-back in the squad, having lost the versatile Bacary Sagna to Manchester City. Needing a right-back, a forward and a winger, finding another center-back to replace Vermaelen is not a priority for Wenger, and until he finds cover, he shouldn’t let his captain go.

I’ve always admired Vermaelen for how he handled his being left out of the side. Knowing he wouldn’t play against Bayern, not many players would have been as professional as he was during his pre-match press conference that day. And last year, he hardly complained, doing his duties as captain while acting as one of Arsenal’s biggest cheerleaders. He got to lift the FA Cup last month as Arsenal’s captain, and you could see the joy in his face as he raised it. Clearly, he loves Arsenal, which is part of what made him such a great choice for the captaincy.

But for his sake, he needs a new start. I would hate to see this wonderfully talented player lose multiple years of his prime, and that is how it would be if he stays. Wenger should try and negotiate a swap-deal for another center-back to make his job easier in finding a necessary replacement, but he owes his captain a chance to see the field this year. If that’s not going to be at Arsenal, Wenger must let him find somewhere else to play. Ideally, he wouldn’t join a rival, and Wenger shouldn’t let him do that. But if Vermaelen wants a new start, he should get one.

What do you think of the Arsenal captain? Please comment below.


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Give the Kid a Chance

For all the talk about Arsenal needing to buy multiple strikers this summer, Arsene Wenger would do well to give Joel Campbell a chance to prove himself at his parent club. Loaned out to various clubs around Europe since he signed for Arsenal in 2011. The story about the first loan out was that they’d failed to obtain a work permit, but as he is now almost 22 years old, it is now looking like the Costa Rican youngster might never get a chance at Arsenal.

Having only seen him play once with Olympiakos this year, I’ve always given Wenger the benefit of the doubt for not keeping Campbell around. But watching him play against Uruguay today, I firmly believe that he merits a squad number next season. At the very least, he needs to be around the first team during summer preparations, getting a feel for how Arsenal plays. His talents could prove useful in that he offers something different from all of the current Arsenal strikers.

In a strong first half against Uruguay, he was effective dropping deep to receive the ball. He was then able to turn and be direct with his subsequent play on the ball. He also showed once again he is capable of hitting an accurate shot from distance, something I’ve rarely seen Giroud or Sanogo do. His second half was even more impressive, as he showed off his passing and even some strength in the corner at the end of the game in addition to the goal. Tell me Arsenal couldn’t use a few goals like the one he scored to tie the game.

He might be a little small for a Premier League forward, but in certain games that ability to drop back and receive the ball might be a welcome change for the Gunners. Playing next to Walcott or Oxlade-Chamberlain, he’d be able to release their pace by dropping deeper and sending them on diagonal runs towards his vacated space. I noticed that Costa Rica do not even have him in the box on their corners because of his lack of height, but Arsenal do not necessarily need that from him.

I know many people think that if Wenger brings him in, it might be at the expense of buying someone else. But I’m not advocating for that. If Ryo Miyaichi is good enough to train with the first team, I would like Wenger to welcome Campbell to London this summer, giving him the fall to make an impact in the Capital One Cup. Should he fail, then loan him back out in the winter. But at least everyone could find out whether or not he could be useful. It would be unfortunate if this full international never got a chance at Arsenal. I’d rather have Campbell back than waste time on the return of Carlos Vela.

Do you want Campbell to get a chance next season? Is he good enough to play for Arsenal? Please comment below.