Arsenal 0 - 0 Sunderland: Hold Off on the Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth

Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters

It was a frustrating start to the Premier League season for Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon as Sunderland stubbornly defended in numbers and held the Gunners to a 0 - 0 draw. No doubt some already jaded Gooners are pondering if the stuttering Arsenal attack on display yesterday is what they can look forward to this season without RVP. Granted dropping 2 points at home, on opening day to a team Arsenal should have little trouble against annoys me a great deal, but I still tried to take a measured approach in assessing yesterday's result. There are some positives that can be taken from the Gunners' performance. Besides, it is still early days to pass judgement on the offense.

The brightest spot for Arsenal in the match was no doubt Santi Cazorla. He was composed in possession, saw the field extremely well and was Arsenal's only real creative force. He also pushed forward into space well and was not shy about taking shots, forcing Sunderland 'keeper Mignolet to make a particularly good save in the fifth minute. Gervinho also looked quite dangerous during the match. His speed down the wing and determination to get behind the defense remain impressive as ever. But like last season, at times it seems Gervinho is too indecisive with his shot or too imprecise with his final pass. Olivier Giroud was active and involved almost from the moment he was substituted into the game. He used his size, power and aerial ability well. His runs were intelligent and if only his finishing had been sharper, Arsenal may have been able to pull out the win. I cannot fail to recognize Abou Diaby, who put in 69 injury-free minutes of midfield work and produced some bright moments including testing Mignolet with a good effort from just outside the penalty area. With any luck, this is just the beginning of a long, healthy run in the first team for Diaby.

Supporters need to remember, this Arsenal attack is a work in progress. It cannot come as a shock if the forwards are not match-sharp this early in the season. Arsène Wenger stated after the game that without quick, sharp passing, breaking down a team that defends as well as Sunderland becomes a difficult proposition. The offense just needs time to work together. The players have the quality and they have already struck up an understanding on the pitch. Once their play jumps up a level to that fluid, precision passing game Gooners have come to expect, the goals will come.


Cheers
-Mike

Santi Cazorla to Arsenal?

The past week has seen the rumors surrounding Spanish international winger/attacking midfielder Santi Cazorla's transfer to Arsenal pick up some serious steam. Cazorla's current employer, Malaga, is facing a rough economic forecast and Arsenal may be able to prize Cazorla away at a price far below what the Spanish side have in mind. Cazorla's potential arrival will add yet another new set of dynamics to a Gunners attack that, in addition to most likely being without Robin van Persie, will be featuring two new starters in Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud. So, I decided to scour the youtubes for some Santi clips to breakdown. I already knew he is a great winger, but I did not remember him being able to pick out those passes in central midfield... hurry up already Arsène.

Cazorla is a natural left winger, but he is more than capable of playing on the right wing, in an advanced playmaking role or even dropping back deeper into midfield to pick up the ball and start attacks. He has impressive acceleration and speed and his low center of gravity helps him make quick turns and cuts that give his markers fits. His vision is excellent and his ability to pick out a pass makes you think you're watching a deep-lying midfielder like Andrea Pirlo at times. His preferred foot is his right, but he is very comfortable using his left; his finishing is lethal with both. Cazorla also delivers very accurate set pieces, including some free kick wonder strikes courtesy of his right foot. The clips I found do not show Cazorla doing much crossing (a consequence of a lot of the highlights being of the Spanish national team maybe?), but judging by the way he sprays the ball around in midfield I doubt he has much trouble finding his targets in the box. The one knock against Cazorla that comes to mind is his size. Physical defensive midfielders and wingbacks may cause him problems (if they can keep up with him). That one "small" problem aside... see what I did there? Cazorla is a dynamic attacking threat that can do damage in a myriad number of ways.

I would love to see this deal get done, even with Cazorla's purportedly discounted €23m price tag. His playmaking ability would give Arsenal the extra creative spark they seemed to be lacking at crucial times last season. I see Cazorla's creativity and class as the perfect compliments to Giroud's physicality and predatory finishing. I hope we get to see the two teaming up at the Emirates soon.

Cheers
-Mike

AS Roma's Summer of Promise

Photo: AS Roma Facebook

It has been a busy summer for Roma and I have to say that I am pretty pleased with the work Franco Baldini and Walter Sabatini have done so far. Zdenek Zeman's appointment as manager shows Roma's continued commitment to attacking football (Zeman's Pescara scored 90 goals in 42 games on their way to the 2011-12 Serie B title). The players Roma have brought in are young, full of potential and fit the club's spending model. Anyone clamoring for star signings is going to be disappointed in the years ahead, as it looks like the club is taking the smarter approach grounded in financial sustainability and youth development. I am also impressed at Roma's marketing and PR efforts. The awesome US ballpark tour idea aside, the club's new website/webstore design and increased presence on social media platforms are going to be key factors in Roma's growth. But, the single most important factor that will determine Roma's global popularity will always be silverware.

Zeman and the boys need to get it done on the pitch.


Cheers,
-Mike

Giving My Donkey a Makeover: a Napoli Summer Transfer Wish List

One of my lifelong loves, besides gaming, is sports, in particular soccer.  Being Italian-American (who would have guessed from all those vowels in my last name?), I'm a strong supporter of two Italian clubs: Napoli and Roma.  If you're a supporter who knows his/her stuff, right now you're probably calling me out, as these two clubs are massive rivals.  But, if you're seasoned/old enough, you also might know that before that fateful October 25, 1987 fixture between the two clubs in Rome, a bond between the clubs' supporters, known as gemellaggio, did exist.  Anyway, we'll leave the history lesson for another day and get to the point... my Napoli summer transfer wish list!  Lack of squad depth hurt the Partenopei last season as they battled on 3 fronts, so Napoli must bring in top quality players who can feature in important fixtures.  Here are my top 3 picks:


Lorenzo Insigne (SSC Napoli) - This one is a no-brainer.  Insigne, 21 years old and born in Napoli, plays as an attacking midfielder/withdrawn forward.  The diminutive attacker set Serie B on fire this season playing for Pescara, scoring 18 goals during the squad's title-winning campaign.  Insigne's speed is impressive and he changes direction very quickly making him very difficult to mark 1-on-1 for defenders.  His ball control skills are excellent.  His finishing is consistently clinical and his passing and link-up play are refined.  Insigne, at times, can look like a mini-Lavezzi on the pitch and would come in quite handy if El Pocho decides to leave the San Paolo this summer.  What makes this a no-brainer you ask?  Napoli already own Insigne's playing rights, but have chosen to loan him out to Serie B sides over recent seasons.  Bigon needs to bring Insigne home this summer; Napoli needs the attacking depth and Insigne must continue to develop facing top-class competition.

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Aly Cissokho (Olympique Lyonnais) - Napoli desperately needed a naturally left-sided version of Christian Maggio last season.  They might get that and more if they can prize Cissokho away from Lyon.  The 24 year-old French international left back is an explosive athlete, with plenty of speed, strength and stamina to spare.  He will need all 3 attributes to be a successful left midfielder/left wingback in Mazzarri's 3-4-2-1 system, in which providing attacking support  when in possession is just as crucial as dropping into defense to turn the back 3 into a back 4 when the squad loses the ball.  His athleticism allows him to make long, purposeful runs down the flank, forcing opposing right backs to stay at home.  His crossing looks like it needs a little polishing, but I can live with that.  Cissokho plays good,  positional defense and uses his long legs to make some impressive tackles.  He closes gaps quickly, blocking crosses and shots wells.  He's an all-around great player and, if he adjusts to the Italian game, would be an excellent fit for Napoli.  De Laurentiis, sign him up!

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Dedé (CR Vasco da Gama) - Paolo Cannavaro can't play forever, and in the meantime Napoli's back 3 need all the help they can get.  Dedé, the 23 year-old Brazilian international center back, has all the physical and mental tools to be a successful Serie A defender.  He has truly impressive size and strength, and he somehow manages to maintain good pace for such a big man.  He jumps well and he has excellent reflexes.  He commands the penalty area on set pieces, on both offense and defense; a weakness, which Napoli's opponents repeatedly exposed last season.  Tactically, he reads the game well and, more often than not, he puts himself in the correct spots to break up opposition attacks before they become dangerous.  When he does make a mistake, his athleticism usually bails him out; something that will not happen with the same regularity against Serie A's more talented (on average) attackers.  At 23 years-old, he is an excellent young defender with great potential for development and time to master the tactical side of being a truly world class center back.  I'm really hoping against hope that Napoli snap him up before one of the bigger clubs does.

There you have it.  Will the last 2 deals happen?  Probably not.  DeLa would most likely have to cough up around €20 million for Cissokho and Dedé combined.  The fact that Napoli just bought Goran Pandev outright from Inter for €7.5 million makes deals for both players even less likely.  But I can dream, can't I?  If I develop any more unhealthy obsessions with transfer targets, I'll be sure to share my thoughts.  Until then...


FORZA NAPOLI!!!
-Mike