Wild American Gooner

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The Best Midfield in England – Grading Arsenal’s Midfielders

After looking at the forwards on Tuesday, I turn to the midfielders today. It was a strong performance from this group on the whole, as they became the best midfield in England in the latter part of the season with Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Özil excelling.

Mikel Arteta – C – This C doesn’t stand for Captain. Unfortunately for the newly crowned captain, this was a season to forget. Arteta made only 12 appearances, picking up a series of muscle injuries that ultimately ended his season in November. When he was on the field, he was unconvincing. Out injuried, he was successfully replaced on three fronts. Per Mertesacker did admirably as fill-in captain, Santi Cazorla dispatched the penalties with aplomb, and Francis Coquelin was superb in Arteta’s defensive midfielder role. With all that going against him and with his being well on the wrong side of 30, his future at Arsenal is particularly murky.

Santi Cazorla – A- – Cazorla had a rough start to the year. A Premier League goal drought caused him to press and his overall play dropped. But a move to the middle of the park with Mesut Özil’s injury saw him get going. The diminutive Spaniard was then named club Player of the Month for both December and January as he moved to a deeper-lying role in the midfield. In that new role, he dazzled. One particular game at Manchester City was perhaps the individual performance of the season in the Premier League. The rest of the year, Cazorla was a delight to watch, working perfectly in partnership with Coquelin behind Özil. His expertise at the penalty spot was much needed in Arteta’s absence, and his set pieces led to quite a few goals. It must be noted as well that Cazorla missed only a single Premier League game. Overall, it was an excellent season from Cazorla. And going forward this is a role perfectly cut out for him as he ages.

Francis Coquelin – A+ – Not enough praise can be heaped on Coquelin for the way he transformed the Arsenal midfield upon his insertion in the team in late December. Everybody knows the story now, unwanted and unused, he was loaned out to Charlton in search of regular playing time. But to his chagrin, he was recalled when Arsenal needed bodies. To his surprise, he was given a start at West Ham, and from then on, was one of the first names on the teamsheet. On the field, he was magnificent in his defensive midfielder role, battling with players twice his size and routinely out-muscling them. He was mobile, aggressive and combative. And as he played, his passing improved too. His story is one that can give footballers everywhere hope. For despite being unwanted for the better part of three years, he seized the chance when it finally came. Everyone talked about how Arsenal needed to sign a DM. But Coquelin ended up being that player, only one without the price tag. Once an afterthought, Coquelin is now a big part of Arsenal’s future.

Abou Diaby – F – The sad story of Abou Diaby continued, with another full year lost to injuries. He played once in a Capital One Cup match in September, but was never fit the rest of the year. As tragic as his career has been, the reality is that it is time for Arsenal to let him go. He has been given a number of chances to get healthy and hasn’t been able to stay that way. He must know the end is near for his time at Arsenal.

Mathieu Flamini – C+ – At this point in his career, Flamini can’t be trusted to hold down a midfield against athletic teams. He is a step slow and too prone to gamble. After starting for much of the first half of the year with varying degrees of success, he was eventually replaced by Coquelin and was relegated to the role of late-game defensive cover. Many people think Flamini must be sold, but I think he has value in that role. He has accepted the role without complaint, and clearly loves the club. So why push him out the door? 15 Premier League starts is too many, but credit must be given to him for staying healthy and remaining an option on the bench. When he comes on, he provides stability. I say give him another year at the club.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – B – This was an interesting year for the Ox. In many ways, he began to fulfill the potential everyone has seen in him the last few years as he tore through midfields with marauding runs and blew by defenders down the right. But he struggled to lock down a place with various injuries and ended up making only 17 Premier League starts and 37 appearances in all competitions. He scored only three goals, albeit two were of massive importance, but that total will need to improve. As a player, he continues to become more dynamic year to year. But it’s fair to wonder when, or if, he’ll make the leap to that truly elite level. That will only come with consistency, which he has yet to find at Arsenal. Next year will be an important year for him, and he’ll be in a vicious fight for a place in the midfield.

Mesut Özil – A- – In Özil’s second season at the club, he finally silenced the critics that had dogged him for the better part of two years. Coming back a World Cup winner, Özil struggled as he played out of position on the left. So perhaps his injury against Chelsea in early October was for the best. As after a three-month absence, he was restored to the middle of the park and became increasingly impactful. And for the entire second half of the season, he was magnificent, creating chance after chance with silky link-up play. As he found comfort with Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, he began hitting passes that were frankly unbelievable, with an especially pretty assist coming in the FA Cup semifinal. He even scored a marvelous free-kick against Liverpool. His goal and assist numbers from this year necessarily won’t blow you away, but don’t that fool you. Özil was a monster in the second half of the year. And best of all, you could see that he was enjoying himself again. I can’t wait to see what he does next year with a full summer of rest.

Aaron Ramsey – B+ – This season was always going to be a bit of a let down for Ramsey after his incredible 2013-2014 campaign. After a late matchwinner in the opening game against Crystal Palace, he struggled to make the same kind of impact, often straying far out of position to go for the types of goals he scored a year ago. But a couple of goals in December, including the goal of the year at Galatasaray offered a glimmer of hope before an injury sidelined him. When he returned in late January, he locked down a place on the right rather than his customary middle-of-the-park position, and there he found his form again. He finished with 10 goals to his name. Going forward, he is a vital piece of the squad with his goalscoring ability from midfield. Rumors of his wanting greener pastures will likely persist, but I’m confident he will remain at Arsenal for the foreseeable future.

Tomas Rosicky – B- – I am incredibly surprised that Rosicky signed on for another year at the club. A thorough professional and a player who always makes an impact when he sees the field, Rosicky got surprisingly little action this campaign. He made just 8 starts all year across all competitions, down from 25 the year before. And after publicly wondering aloud why he hadn’t been playing in the fall, he seized his chance in January with a couple terrific displays only to return to the bench for the rest of the season. And in a move I consider inexcusable, Arsene Wenger left him out of the squad altogether in the FA Cup Final. For his sake, I hope Rosicky finds a way to leave this summer, but for Arsenal’s sake, I hope the ever-reliable veteran stays forever.

Jack Wilshere – B – Every time Wilshere takes a step forward, he seems to take two steps back. This year, he put in a series of impressive displays through November, including a goal and an assist against Manchester City, but was again snakebitten by injuries the rest of the way. He made just 22 appearances this year, which is not enough for him as he continues to try to fulfill his potential. At age 23, he is still young enough to improve, but next year needs to be relatively injury-free. He can’t afford to have another 5-month injury, no matter whose fault the injury might be. The end of the season was quite positive for Wilshere, as he made a noticeable impact when he saw the field. His ability to pick up the ball and take it all the way through the opposing midfield is unrivaled. But soon, those glimpses of promise need to turn into consistent high levels of play. I hope he isn’t sold any time soon, because he can still be a game-changing player. But time is running out to prove Diaby isn’t his middle name.

Would you grade anyone differently? Please comment below.


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Some Good, A Lot of Bad – Grading Arsenal’s Forwards

On a strangely happy day for soccer fans – seriously, can you think of something stranger to celebrate than the head of a company resigning in a corruption scandal? – Sepp Blatter finally succumbed to all the pressure on his place as president of FIFA. It’s good news that he’s leaving, but things will only get worse for FIFA in the coming months as more and more gets revealed. This is but the first step in cleaning up a colossal mess.

But my focus today is on wrapping up Arsenal’s season. This will be the first in a three part series grading the Arsenal squad on their season, and commenting on what might be expected from everyone going forward. Today, I will look at the forwards. Grades are based both on performance and expectation. So a B from player X does not mean necessarily that they had a better season than player Y, who had a B-. But rather, player X had a better season taking expectations into account.

Chuba Akpom – B- – The English starlet made the jump to the first-team this year, which in itself is an achievement for the 19 year old. However, he made just seven brief substitute appearances before finishing up the season on loan at Nottingham Forest on loan. He did well in his time on the pitch, earning a penalty against Aston Villa, but must have hoped to have forced his way into the side more than he did. His major success might have been signing a new contract. Next year is a crucial year in his development, and surely if playing time is not a guarantee at the big club, he should be loaned out for regular action for a lower-half Premier League side.

Joel Campbell – D – Much was expected from the Costa Rican after his strong showing at the World Cup, but he was hardly a part of Arsene Wenger’s plans, not starting a single Premier League match. And when given a rare opportunity in the cups, he wasn’t able to convert the chances. For a 23 year old, seven appearances is not enough. A January loan to Villareal gave him a shot at playing time, but one goal in 14 appearances won’t help his cause. I fully expect him to be sold this summer, even if the price is well below what it would have been a year ago.

Olivier Giroud – B+ – People have a lot of strong opinions about the French striker, but regardless of whether you like him or not, he is a consistent player. 19 goals is not a bad tally by any means, especially considering how much time he missed at the beginning of the year. In his third year at the club, he looked more comfortable, and began to win the fans over, winning the Player of the Month Award in March. But a late season swoon saw him lose out on a place to Theo Walcott for the FA Cup Final. And the questions that have always haunted him have arisen once again and will continue all summer. Is he truly good enough to win a title with? Fair or not, fans are more likely going to remember all the misses against Monaco rather than the goals against both Manchester clubs. If another striker is bought as is rumored, I think Giroud will have a hard time seeing the field next year. And if I’m the Frenchman, I might think about finding another club when I’m still in my prime. All the criticism must get old when he continues to score goals.

Serge Gnabry – F – One of the great mysteries to me of this season is why Gnabry’s year-long injury was never fully explained. Twice, he came back to training, in October and March, but neither time did he come close to seeing the field for the first team. Given the talk of him stealing a spot on Germany’s World Cup winning squad not 14 months ago, there was strangely little said about Gnabry’s continued absence. The situation is not unlike Jack Wilshere’s, when he missed a full season due to injury at a similar age. But let’s hope the road to recovery is not as long for Gnabry. He needs a big year next season to right his career that was filled with so much promise a year ago.

Lukas Podolski – C- – As a self-professed fan of Podolski’s, I was particularly unhappy that he wasn’t given more of a chance this year. With no Premier League starts to his name even when many up front were out injured, he justifiably sought greener pastures at Inter Milan in January on a loan deal. At Inter, he struggled, scoring a lone goal. But I won’t use that as justification for not getting him on the pitch in the first half of the year. A World Cup winner with his left foot should not have been relegated to the bench. Not figuring out a place for Podolski might be Wenger’s biggest failure in recent years. I’m sure I’ll get to write a farewell piece about the #9 soon, but let’s not forget all the goals he scored, including a matchwinner in extra time against Anderlecht this year. This season was a downer for Podolski, but he still rooted passionately for the club on social media like a true Gooner.

Alexis Sanchez – A – With all the expectations on him from the moment he signed, Alexis was a revelation at Arsenal this year, scoring 25 goals and providing 9 assists. When Arsenal needed goals in the fall, he provided them, often in spectacular form, and his drive and motor impressed nearly everyone. And despite tiring as the season wore on, he played nearly every match, stepping up time after time with big performances, including a marvelous goal in the FA Cup Final. Once he and Mesut Özil figured out how best to combine, they were a lethal duo behind the main striker. After a successful first year at the club, expectations will be even higher next year. But the Chilean’s best days are in front of him still.

Yaya Sanogo – C -You may forget Sanogo led the line in Arsenal’s successful FA Community Shield, playing a part in the first two goals. But despite success in the preseason and many opportunities at the beginning of the year, he didn’t really succeed when things mattered. He finally got his first goal – and an important one at that – against Borussia Dortmund. But that goal didn’t open the floodgates for more like many were hoping for, perhaps due to injuries that slowed him late in 2014. He finished the year at Crystal Palace, where he didn’t play as big a part in their survival as he would have hoped. You wonder what sort of future he has at Arsenal. It’s a good thing Wenger seems to like him.

Theo Walcott – C+ – Walcott would have received an F were it not for a final week of the season that might have saved his Arsenal career. From his return in October, he seemed far from the manager’s plans, rarely given a start. And when he was on the pitch, he was skittish in front of goal. But all of that will be forgotten because Wenger gave him a chance in the final week. A season marred by a long injury recovery and missed chances will now be remembered for a final-day hat-trick and the opening goal in the FA Cup Final. Suddenly, he looks like a viable center forward option. And a contract extension seems to be on the cards.  It was an awfully long year for the English speedster, but one that may be the turning point in his career.

Danny Welbeck – B- – After a full year in Arsenal colors, I still don’t quite know what to make of Welbeck. The talent is clearly there. And he brings a lot to the side, with his impact generally being positive. But I’m not sold on his being good enough to start long-term unless he improves dramatically next year. Eight goals in 35 appearances simply isn’t good enough, even when considering many of his starts came on the wing. He had his moments to remember in his first year. A hat-trick against Galatasaray and a winner at Old Trafford against his old club will stand out. But the fact that he was goalless in the Premier League in the 2015 calendar year won’t sit well with many, who expected more from the new signing. An injury kept him off the pitch for the month of May, but it was in many ways a fitting way to a frustrating first season at the club. Welbeck will have to do a lot of work to get back into the side in August.


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She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Indeed – Analysis & Player Ratings from Arsenal’s FA Cup Final Rout

Days like this one are rare for an Arsenal fan. From the opening whistle to the final one, there was absolutely no doubt or fear among the players. They knocked the ball around the pitch with complete confidence and had smiles on their faces as they raced towards the corner flag with each successive goal. And as a fan, it made for the most enjoyable 90 minutes I’ve experienced in recent years. Another year. Another trophy.

4-0 was a completely deserved scoreline for Arsenal. Not a player on the team played a poor match. It took some time to find the opening goal through Theo Walcott, but Aston Villa never looked like they were a threat. And once Alexis Sanchez sealed the deal with an absolute firecracker early in the second half, it was a full-on party. Per Mertesacker and Olivier Giroud added to the tally, but this game was about the whole rather than the parts.

The passing through the midfield was slick. The flicks were seamless and easy, and nearly every cross-field pass found its mark. I’m not sure Arsenal played a more complete game all year. Arsene Wenger gambled with selections of Theo Walcott and Wojciech Szczesny, but both contributed mightily to the win.

I struggle to name a man of the match because there were so many players on top of their game. Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Özil, Santi Cazorla, Laurent Koscielny, even Wojciech Szczensy all deserve it, and I easily could have added more names to that list. But more importantly, they all leave with winner’s medals and a giant trophy that can now call the Emirates home.

There could not be a better way to go into the summer than coming off of a high like this. For never has this group of players showed so much potential. Money can be spent this summer to complete the team, but it doesn’t have to make it. This is a special group of players and the talent is palpable in the final third. This is a team that not only can challenge in England but also has the potential to make a run in Europe. It will take many months of performances like this one. But with a few top-class signings, this team can turn heads next year.

For many of these players, it’s been more than a year since they’ve had a proper rest with national team obligations. So apart from Sanchez, who has to participate in the Copa America, everyone should be back in July ready to go. There won’t be any World Cup hangover that derails a season before it starts. And more importantly, players like Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere can work on getting healthy.

So as this season comes to a close, be thankful for yet another triumphant end to what was a frustrating season at times. Be thankful that this group of players has finally become healthy. Be thankful for Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil. And be ready for a fun 2015-2016 season. A trophy sure help morale.

Player Ratings (1-10)

Theo Walcott – 7.5/10 – Walcott justified Wenger’s selection with a magnificently struck goal late in the first half. He’d been in and out of play, but had already been a part of a couple of chances at that point. Anybody watching his celebration could see this is a man who wants to stay. He might have added a second with a series of chances once the game was decided, but on the whole, it was a performance that showed just how bright a future he still has.

Alexis Sanchez – 9/10 – Sanchez’s goal was a thing of absolute beauty, the strike dancing from left to right as it cut through the air. He worked ever so hard with what little energy he has left in the tank. And in addition to his goal, he played a crucial part in the opener, winning the header over Richardson which he sent across goal towards Walcott.

Mesut Özil – 8.5/10 – Özil silenced those who say he hasn’t shown up to the big games with a wonderful performance. All his movements were graceful, and he was involved in setting up chance after chance. Sure, he may drift or float or whatever you want to call it, but almost every pass puts his teammates in a better position. Surely all doubts about Arsenal’s record signing will be forever gone.

Aaron Ramsey – 7/10 – Ramsey played a typical Ramsey game. Combative in the midfield with a lot of late runs into the box, he seemed to be everywhere. He didn’t provide much cover for Bellerin on the right, but thankfully, that was hardly needed.

Santi Cazorla – 9/10 – Cazorla hit some brilliant cross-field balls and showed off his touch with some slick passing in tight spaces. He was orchestrating nearly everything. Cazorla has found a home further back on the pitch in a more Pirlo-like role this year and has adapted his game beautifully. And his set-pieces were top-class today.

Francis Coquelin – 8.5/10 – Not normally lauded for his passing, Coquelin played a great ball to Walcott that set up the opening goal. It was fitting that he was the player who received Walcott’s biggest hug after the goal. For Coquelin changed this team for the better in December. His bite in midfield was fully on display once again, although he was lucky not to have given away a late free kick to Agbonlahor.

Nacho Monreal – 7/10 – Assured in the back, Monreal had another high-quality game typical of his season. On the ball, he had energy, driving up the pitch and bombing down the left, and it was his cross that found Sanchez at the back post in the lead up to the first goal.

Laurent Koscielny – 8.5/10 – Koscielny was at his best today, cleaning everything up that came his way with interceptions and vital off-balance clearances. And he was winning headers on both sides of the pitch too.

Per Mertesacker – 7.5/10 – After what felt like a year of unsuccessful corners, Mertesacker finally knocked one in for Arsenal’s third, dropping off of Benteke to head home. Defensively, he wasn’t as involved as Koscielny was, but he too was composed and quick to the ball when needed.

Hector Bellerin – 7/10 – Bellerin was relatively quiet, but had a solid all-around game. Left isolated against Grealish, he was never really beaten. It was an incredibly calm display from the young Spaniard in his first Wembley start.

Wojciech Szczesny – 8/10 – Commanding and confident. Those are the only two words needed to describe Szczesny’s performance. The latter adjective is often cited as a negative for the goalkeeper, but today his confidence helped him control the game. He was quick to punch, and one particular soaring hit above Benteke was particularly un-Ospina-like. He may have whiffed on one or two, but on the whole he was excellent.

Substitutes

Olivier Giroud (77th) – 7.5/10 – Desperately unlucky not to start (although it was the decision I wanted) Giroud got a redeeming late goal with another clever flick at the near post. I wonder if he stays at the club should another striker be brought in.

Jack Wilshere (77th) – 7/10 – He made a couple of impressive, determined runs through the midfield, and will think himself unlucky not to have started. A summer of rest is on the cards so he can be fit and firing come next season.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (90th) – 7.5/10 – He didn’t see much of the ball, but got himself an assist in only three minutes of action. He will be glad to have gotten a late run-out.


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Arsenal 2015 – What Could Have Been & FA Cup Team Selection

With the FA Cup Final looming, Arsenal gave its fans the perfect Premier League sendoff in the 4-1 drubbing of West Brom. This looked like a title-winning side, perhaps with the exception of David Ospina, who looked particularly skittish in goal. The fluidity among Mesut Özil, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez was what we dreamed about all summer. They had smiles on their faces as they knocked the ball across the pitch with alacrity not common in the EPL. But there was a certain sadness to the beauty of Sunday’s match. For this team never fought for the title and finished appropriately 12 points back.

This season was lost right when it began. Three successive draws to Everton, Leicester City and Manchester City spelled doom for the Gunners. A lot of that was down to injury and players coming back late from the World Cup, but ultimately, the blame must fall on the players for not performing. Per Mertesacker, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey’s early season struggles have been forgotten, but those three were among many who did not play up to the expected level in the early going.

The defense was horrible for much of the first half of the season. No game stands out more than the 3-2 defeat to Stoke in early December when Arsenal made Bojan Krkic look like Lionel Messi. Defensive lapses were paramount and the team could never quite make up for them. That game could act as a metaphor for the season. Down 3-0 in the first half because of disorganization in defense, Arsenal made a comeback. But like against Monaco and like in the season as a whole, they could not make it all the way back.

One area that must improve next year is the team’s mental fortitude. Far too often, Arsenal let the other team grab multiple goals from spurts of momentum. Think about the end of the first Monaco match. 2-1 would have been surmountable, but carelessness made it 3-1 and suddenly, the hole was too deep. Or against Anderlecht. Arsenal must to a better job of stopping the bleeding. Every team will get punched in the mouth. But the champions don’t allow one hit to derail them completely.

I’m not saying this season was a failure. In fact, I think it was probably the team’s most promising in years. But what it frustrating is knowing what could have been had they lived up to their potential. What if Yaya Sanogo wasn’t playing so much in the opening weeks? What if Mesut Özil and Jack Wilshere stayed healthy? What if the defense wasn’t so paper thin in the early going? The what if’s abound.

After the FA Cup, I will give the squad members grades for the season and assess what can be done to improve next year. For surely, Arsene Wenger will know the time is now to challenge for the title. The squad is young and full of talent. A full season of strong play must be put together.

But before completely turning the page to next year, the focus must be on the FA Cup, which will hold massive importance for the morale of the team and the fan base. A loss to Aston Villa would be embarrassing. Let’s avoid that at all costs.

The question I want to address today is team selection. A week ago, the first team in a game of this magnitude would have seemed pretty obvious, especially given that Wenger played the same starting 11 for much of the run-in. However, dazzling displays from Theo Walcott and Wilshere on Sunday demanded attention. Those two by all means merit a spot in the team. But starting them would involve massive risk.

I don’t think I want to start Wilshere. He could come in for Santi Cazorla or Aaron Ramsey, but that would be incredibly harsh on those two, who aren’t in bad form. While Jack’s been great in recent weeks, I worry that he hasn’t played enough with Francis Coquelin to be able to do the necessary defensive duties in the middle of the park. I’d be more okay with him playing on the right, but everyone knows that isn’t his best position. The last thing I’d want to see is him starting in place of Coquelin. That could be a disaster. I say bring him on after 65 minutes for one of those three depending on the score. Even in just 25 minutes, he could be impactful.

However, I am leaning towards favoring Walcott over Olivier Giroud up top. Giroud has been in poor form the last month and his confidence has suffered, plus he has been especially predictable in his movement. Sure it’s valuable to have his physicality and hold-up play, but with Aston Villa likely to employ a counter-attacking philosophy, I think Arsenal will do much of the building through the midfield, thus negating his importance. Walcott offers something different. Something that Villa haven’t seen much of this year. Özil and Cazorla found him on runs that opened everything up on Sunday. There won’t be much space, but Arsenal has the talent in midfield to find him anyway. Starting the slighter Walcott would be a gamble given how few games he’s played up top, but it’s one worth taking.

Regardless, this duo will see plenty of the field, even if they start on the bench. They can play the roles of Tomas Rosicky and Yaya Sanogo, who changed the final a year ago with their energetic appearances.

The other two decisions involve goalkeeper and left back. Last year, I was in the camp that wanted Wojciech Szczesny to start given his form, but this year I think Wenger should go with the Pole because of his policy to start the #2 in Cup games. David Ospina simply hasn’t been good enough to merit a change. However, seeing that Szczesny didn’t start on Sunday like Lukasz Fabianski did a year ago, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ospina in net. Wenger is sending quite a message against smoking. And at left-back, Nacho Monreal better start. He’s been so consistent all year. While Kieran Gibbs has seen the field recently, it would be foolish to overlook the Spaniard.

Perhaps most interesting of all will be seeing who makes the bench. For somebody like Rosicky, being omitted from the squad could be especially insulting, even with a new contract. It will likely come down to him or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. I’d give the nod to the veteran Rosicky. The Ox didn’t look himself on Sunday, and Wilshere could offer the type of game-changing drive that the Ox normally does.

Here are my ideal lineup choices. Starters: Szczesny, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Özil, Sanchez & Walcott. Bench: Ospina, Gabriel, Gibbs, Flamini, Rosicky, Wilshere & Giroud

 


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A Deserved Draw – Player Ratings from Arsenal-Sunderland

Aside from a profile I did on a Davidson swimmer last month, the last time I did non-academic writing was in early April. And it’s been even longer since I’ve written about Arsenal. The last time I wrote about the Gunners, Deflategate was just beginning. It was nine days before the Super Bowl. I’ve been watching most games, but haven’t had the time to write. But thankfully, summer has arrived. And with the domain name renewed for another year, I’m back at the keyboard.

I will save more general thoughts on the Arsenal season for the coming weeks, so today’s post will focus on today’s match against Sunderland. The 0-0 draw was a little dull, but deserved I felt. Arsenal lacked the level of play in midfield necessary to break the composed Sunderland defense down, and the finishing was rather poor.

The color commentator was complaining for much of the game that Arsenal weren’t penetrating enough and that they were out of ideas. I think that’s the easy way out when talking about Arsenal. What I saw was not a lack of ingenuity but rather a series of lapses on the critical touch. The players were making runs and getting in good positions, but either the return balls on the one-twos were slightly overhit, or touches were being spilled into Sunderland’s paths.

I really wish Arsene Wenger had used this occasion to rotate the squad and rest some of the key players. The way Sunderland was set up, Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott could have done the job from the start. Their introductions ingested energy that the Gunners didn’t have. I’m glad he rested Francis Coquelin and Nacho Monreal, but Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla look a bit weary these days. The players are in that awkward stage where they want to avoid injury at all cost before the FA Cup yet don’t want to lose their place, so they keep things safe. And I think that’s why we’re seeing these languid displays.

Of the bottom end teams, I’ve always had the slightest admiration for the way Sunderland goes about their play at the end of every campaign. They might lack talent, but they fight together and get results. So despite my frustration with another lackluster draw, I’m happy for Sunderland. Let’s hope Newcastle goes down.

Player Ratings (1-10)

Olivier Giroud – 6.5/10 – Once again, Giroud failed to find the back of the net. He didn’t have a bad game, with some decent play in the box and a cheeky flick at the near post that demanded a smart save. But he needs goals. This series of lukewarm displays to finish the season surely won’t assure anybody that Arsenal don’t need a more prolific striker.

Alexis Sanchez – 5.5/10 – Sanchez is clearly worn down from all the games he’s played over the last 20 or so months. He isn’t moving with quite the same freedom and volition that he was months ago. And when presented with chances in front of goal, he’s hesitating and getting his shots blocked. A nice summer vacation will do him a lot of good.

Mesut Özil – 7/10 – Özil continues to wow me with how fluid he has become this year, both in his movement and his passing. Every pass looks safe not necessarily because it are easy, but because he creates passing the lanes. He had the ideas today, and on another day might have had a goal and an assist to show for it. If only that volley had fallen on his left foot instead of his right. It was good to see the home fans applaud him as he came off the pitch late.

Jack Wilshere – 6/10 – While we are beaten over the head with information such as that he hasn’t completed 90 minutes but once in the last 15 months, there is an element of truth in the fact that we can’t expect perfect performances until he sees more time on the pitch. So in that regard, getting the start today was valuable. But as far as gameplay, the ideas and drive are there but his touch is not. One particular instance in the first half said it all, as his first touch went straight at the keeper when he was in acres of space.

Aaron Ramsey – 6/10 – Ramsey was around the ball a lot and heavily involved, but he wasn’t at his best. I wonder if he couldn’t have gotten to any of those rebounds late on had his positioning been better. He does a lot of things well, but in games like this he can be frustrating.

Santi Cazorla – 6/10 – Pressed deeper today and in a more defensive role, Cazorla was solid, if unspectacular. The normally buzzing midfielder looks exhausted, and I hope he will be rested this weekend so he can be full of energy at Wembley. As he hit another low, long-range shot in the first half, it occurred to me that he isn’t hitting the stinging drives like he did in years past. And in the 89th minute, when he had a chance to hit one from the top of the box, he took a touch and the chance was gone.

Kieran Gibbs – 6.5/10 – Having spent just about all of the second half of the season on the bench, the rust was evident in a rare start for the fullback, especially when he wound up to shoot. However, the instincts are still there, and he was able to get forward down the left. And defensively, he had some timely interceptions.

Laurent Koscielny – 7.5/10 – Koscielny had little to do, but he managed a number of interceptions near the center of the pitch which kept possession for his side and halted counters.

Per Mertesacker – 7/10 – Mertesacker was assured in the air, but got found out by Fletcher’s pace on the counter attack early in the second half. However, he limited damage the rest of the way.

Hector Bellerin – 8/10 – Bellerin is a joy to watch. He made defenders look silly in the final third and clearly offered something different from the rest of his teammates. And his speed enabled him to get back on defense even after giveaways. His crossing is not quite at Bacary Sagna level, but it’s improved from where it was in the fall.

David Ospina – 7.5/10 – Ospina was untroubled in the first half but made two superb saves early in the second. The first was particularly impressive as he came out of his goal assuredly and met Fletcher at the top of the box. For me, this was one of his better games.

Substitutes

Theo Walcott (67th) – 7.5/10 – I’ve been down on Theo recently, but today he began to show the polish that has been lacking since his return from injury. He was more confident on the ball, and was woefully unlucky not to get a goal late on when he beat his defender and hit a wonderful shot across goal that Pantilimon got a hand to. Sunday’s Premier League finale would seem a great time to give Walcott a start.

Tomas Rosicky (81st) – 7/10 – He nearly won it with a left footed shot that went just wide, and got in a number of good positions in only ten minutes of action. It was the type of display that questioned why he hasn’t been playing recently given the lack of energy and drive in the midfield.