State of Arsenal at the New Year: The Season of Sanchez

Getting right down to business, this season for Arsenal has been more or less a disappointment. Last season, Arsenal won the FA Cup, led the league for several months, and were generally consistent against the lower teams on the table. Sure, there were several negatives from last season but winning a trophy and being a part of the title race instead of spectators surely would stoke the competitive fire within in their ranks right? Well, that has turned out to not be the case. A combination of injuries and bewildering form has made Arsenal resemble their counterparts of two seasons ago, in which they struggled mentally and made numerous mental errors defensively. Doesn't exactly seem right because the talent level at the current club is arguably the highest its been in awhile. However, despite this lack of consistency, Arsenal still can claim a solid spot on the table.

It has been a rather weird season in the Premier League, though normalcy would seem to be returning. Arsenal has gotten good results in their last couple of games and are in a good position heading into the New Year. Perhaps the Gunners are ready to go on a run. Anyways, its time to continue to assess how the season has gone so far.

Pre-season expectations: 

I was optimistic about Arsenal this season but not to the extent of expecting them to win the league. They made some nice signings but failed to address the needs that have been evident for years (lack of defensive depth and a CDM). My expectation was similar to last year, the Gunners would have their moments, maybe even lead the league for a bit, but ultimately would finish 3rd or 4th.



Reality:

Pretty much what I expected but at times worse. The Gunners have shown the ability to kick it around with the best, their first half performances against both Manchester clubs proving that. However, the Gunners are still too wasteful and lack composure against not just top sides but lower tier sides as well. The common script for an Arsenal game is typically to dominate and waste chances before conceding a cheap goal. The team still doesn't impose themselves effectively on their opposition. They still find themselves second best in games against the league's best. They barely got a touch of the ball in the first half against Liverpool were deconstructed by a clinical Chelsea, and punished for wastefulness by Manchester United. Despite this, they're where I expected them but may not be there without their MVP of the season.

MVP: Alexis Sanchez

There are absolutely no doubts with this one, which seems to be a trend when its come to Arsenal seasons of the past few years. One player (Robin Van Persie, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey) overshadows everyone else and their performances usually reflect how Arsenal do on the day. Sanchez has been the only player (at least on the offensive side of the ball) who has been in consistently good form. Not just good form either, Sanchez has been in impeccable form. The man has scored or created more than half of Arsenal's goals, his constant pestering of opponents off the ball is incredible, and the energy he brings to each game is without peer. However, his excellence has often overshadowed his teammates. While Sanchez has been brilliant, Arsenal need others to step up to match him.

LVP: Per Mertesacker

Arsenal's de facto captain this season has struggled heavily with a World Cup hangover and has been left out to dry in the absence of preferred partner Laurent Koscielny. I listed Mertesacker and Koscielny as dual MVP's of last season which has made Mertesacker's lack of form this year so difficult to watch. Without Koscielny by his side Mertesacker's lack of pace has been exposed. Not only that but he's much less composed. Arsenal's defense seems to lack a leader which is startling since Mertesacker has worn the captains armband more than the actual captain Mikel Arteta this season. Arsenal's defense of set pieces and counter attacks has often been dreadful and source of most of this season's problems. The blame doesn't fall on Nacho Monreal or Calum Chambers since they're not natural centre backs, its on the most experienced member there. Koscielny's return should help the big German as the games that he has played have been good defensive performances.

Missing In Action: Mesut Ozil

It is certainly unfair to critique a player who has spent so much time on the sidelines this season. That is why instead of slamming Ozil here, I'm actually going to come to his defense and provide some optimism for the German. Yes, Ozil has been a bit of a disappointment during his brief time as a Gunner, showing flashes but not providing enough to justify his large price tag. In fact, since his injury against Chelsea and Sanchez's brilliance, Arsenal fans have largely forgotten about the German playmaker. However, returning to training, the New Year is Ozil's chance to remind everyone that he is still a marquee player. He'll face competition for his preferred No. 10 spot since Santi Cazorla's form is phenomenal at the moment. Hopefully his recovery from injury will rekindle the fire in Ozil that made him such a force at the beginning of Arsenal's 2013 campaign. With all the spotlight on Sanchez, perhaps Ozil will face a little less pressure and criticism (which hasn't entirely been justified) than before. Not only that but he's still a world-class player and he has shown that this season at times. He'll fight and win back his spot and he could be the boost Arsenal needs.

Grading the Summer Signings:

Alexis Sanchez: 10/10 as explained above

Mathieu Debuchy: 8/10, he has arguably been Arsenal's best defender this season and has proved himself to be an improvement on Bacary Sagna in nearly every way. It should be noted that Arsenal's defensive struggles began shortly after his injury against Manchester City and since returning the Gunners have been more assured in that department.

Calum Chambers: 6/10, he's done well considering his age. His performance in the Community Shield over the summer may have set the bar a little too high. Injuries pressed the youngster into action early and he stepped up. He has shown some incredible talent as a right back and centre back. However, his lack of experience and pace has been exposed more than a few times. With Arsenal's defense returning to health he'll be able to catch a breather and develop in the way Arsene Wenger wants. His future may lie in the midfield.

David Ospina: 5/10, he hasn't played often and injuries kept him from stepping in for Szczesny when he was hurt. However, in the brief opportunities he has had to play he has shown himself more than capable. His saves against Galatasaray were indicative of that.

Danny Welbeck: 6/10, 7 goals in 19 appearances for the young Englishman is a decent return however he has not been the consistent goal scoring threat that Arsenal fans have craved and it should be mentioned that three of those goals came in one game. Welbeck does a lot of good on the pitch and works hard but the goal return needs to rise.

Best Game So Far: Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle

The problem with Arsenal this season is that their best performances have come in spurts. There was the brilliant 60 minutes they played against Manchester City, the first half against Manchester United, 10 minutes against Aston Villa, and the flurry of late goals to beat Burnley. However, they have rarely put together a complete performance. Wins against Dortmund and Galatasaray came against teams that were either: already qualified or already eliminated, so they can hardly be considered impressive. The Newcastle win probably stands as Arsenal's only wire to wire excellent victory. The Magpies were outmatched by a fluid Arsenal who were looking for a response to the previous howler against Stoke. Goals from Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla had the fans at the Emirates singing Arsene Wenger's praises. They have had more impressive moments but this was probably the only one that was complete.

Worst Game So Far: Stoke 3-2 Arsenal

Going down 3-0 to Stoke City after one half of play is not the kind of situation Arsenal should ever find themselves in. However, the Gunners found themselves totally outclassed by a driven and well organized Stoke City side. Bojan Krkic was impeccable for the home side, running circles around a shambolic Arsenal defense. The Gunners managed to rally through Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey in the second half but a Calum Chambers red card put the game out of reach. Following the game Arsenal supporters put on a disgraceful display at the train station as the team was departing, taking shots at Arsene Wenger and the players. Quick note here, no matter how upset you get with your team, there is no reason to act in such a way. An atrocious and shameful day for the club and its supporters.

Grading Mr. Wenger:

The Arsenal skipper has managed to do quite well for himself despite some rather major gaffes. Not signing a centre back to replace Thomas Vermaelen was a disastrous mistake that probably cost Arsenal more than a few wins this season. His refusal to play Mesut Ozil centrally was also a bizarre choice. Arsenal still wilt in big games and lack focus defensively. Despite all of this, Wenger has still managed to guide his team to the upper part of the table, hovering around their preferred 4th spot. They also navigated their way through their trickier than expected Champions League group. All things considered, Wenger should be given credit for not letting Arsenal fall into crisis mode and typically his teams have not had consecutive poor performances. This still does not exclude him from criticism as the team has still performed below expectation. Not showing up for big games is a player problem but that it has happened so consistently shows that the manager is not preparing his team properly for these games. Wenger has a lot of work to do in the January transfer window. Grade: C

The Transfer Market:

When the January transfer window opens up, it is no secret that Arsenal is going to be targeting defenders. A dream window would see Arsene Wenger sign a centre back and the defensive midfielder that fans have been craving. However, nobody should expect Wenger to make a big money signing. The market is rather weak for top flight centre halves, Dortmund's Mats Hummels is probably the best on the market and his price could be well out of Arsenal's range. It is more realistic to expect a loan or a lesser known signing, the January market is not always the most fruitful. I think most Arsenal fans will agree that at least having a 3rd option at centre back is better than having Nacho Monreal there so frequently. It will also lighten the load on the young Calum Chambers. A defensive midfielder may be a summer project (its been one for a long time) so Arsenal fans should probably let those dreams of Paul Pogba in red and white rest. Signing someone like Sami Khedira from Real Madrid however could be an option. Either way, Arsene Wenger has talked about how Arsenal will be active in January and he's not blind how a lack of defensive depth has hampered the team this season.

So What's Next?

It is no mystery as to what the Gunners have to do after the New Year. The team is returning to health so now is the time to take as many points from as many games as possible. A Champions League spot should be guaranteed if they do that. However, that will also require a renewed dedication to the defensive side of the ball and better composure in big games. They need to turn their short bursts of brilliance into longer, sustained performances. The Champions League tie against Monaco could also be a launchpad for a run in that competition as well. Lastly, Alexis Sanchez needs to be joined by other players form wise. Strong performances from Santi Cazorla lately are encouraging but the whole team needs to start performing at a similar level. Overall, I can't see Arsenal finishing higher than third; Chelsea and Manchester City are too strong this year. However, it is more likely the team finishes in the familiar 4th position.

My Favorite Things About 2014

Last year I decided to write a post about my favorite things from the past year so I figured why not revisit that again this year? On the whole I would say that 2014 was a solid year; I discovered many new things, watched loads of good anime, widened my horizons on just about everything. I'll also preface this list by saying that these are MY favorite things about 2014 which means its indicative of my year. This list also includes some of my least favorite things from the year so the favorite title attached to them is entirely ironic. Anyways let's get to it:

Favorite Film of 2014: The Skeleton Twins

The comic book nerd in me really wants to put down X-Men: Days of Future Past or Guardians of the Galaxy in this spot but I could not resist this film. Starring two of SNL's funniest stars of the past decade (Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig) plus an old comedy film standby of the last decade (Luke Wilson) made this film look like it was to be much cheerier on the surface. The film itself, while hilarious at several points, goes to depths that I did not expect walking into the theater. A film all about how important your siblings are and how you should always treasure them. Not to mention several scenes in which anyone who has a sibling can truly relate to. An absolute gem of a film.

My "Favorite" Disappointing Film of 2014: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

I really, really wanted to like this film, I honestly did, and when I finished it I truly thought it wasn't half-bad. Then I thought on it; I thought about the film's poor pacing, abundance of plot lines with massive plot holes and poor writing. The biggest crime that the new Spidey movies have is that they still have yet to truly distinguish themselves from the Sam Raimi films. Sure, Andrew Garfield is a better Peter Parker than Tobey Maguire but this last entry felt more like a hastily put together film that serves to only set up more sequels so that Sony can keep Spidey from where he belongs, with Marvel Studios. The problem with putting Spidey into cinema is that it takes him away from the original roots of the character that Steve Ditko (not Stan Lee) created. Ditko wanted Spiderman to be an average high school kid, an everyman who just happened to have powers that we could relate to. When you make a celebrity actor like Garfield or Maguire as Peter Parker is that they feel detached from us and unrelatable. One thing can be said about this film though, you do really feel for the guy when he cries here.

Favorite Video Game of 2014: Transistor

Super Giant Games follow-up to their 2011 smash hit Bastion, Transistor proved to be a tough one for me at first. I knew what I was getting into, beautiful graphics, wonderful music, but I was foolish to think that the game would be the same hack-and-slash romp Bastion was. As I unsuccessfully bashed my way through enemies I thought I would quickly tire on Transistor. Instead, once I figured out the nuances of its gameplay I came to find a game that was incredibly challenging, yet rewarding, offering many different paths to victory. I haven't yet finished it, but I found Transistor to be a wonderful experience.

Favorite "New" Anime of 2014: Kill la Kill

Simply put, Kill la Kill was the most fun that I have ever had watching an anime period. Studio Trigger's first independent work was a beautifully rendered, fast-paced, and remarkably funny show that managed to kick tons of ass and actually be quite touching at times. All it took was a strong female protagonist, an excellent supporting cast, and the once again amazing musical work of Hiroyuki Sawano. I have watched Kill la Kill all the way through about 3 times and it still never loses its magic. Easily the best anime of the year.

Favorite "Old" Anime of 2014: Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT think for a minute that this show is going to be about cute girls getting powers and going on silly adventures and everything is going to be candy and gumdrops and everyone lives happily ever after. I do not think I have ever underestimated a show more than I did this one. What could have just been an easy show to write off became one that was incredibly dark and psychological; two things I love in any anime. A complete masterwork and deconstruction of the magical girl genre, Madoka Magica is absolutely brilliant. (and its on Netlflix!!)

"Favorite" Disappointing Anime I Watched in 2014: Sword Art Online

Sometimes the hype train is good, you hop on the hype train of several animes and find yourself incredibly happy (Steins;Gate, Attack on Titan, Kill la Kill etc). Other times, you find yourself wondering what exactly the hype train was all about. Sword Art Online is that for me. I finally got around to watching this hype behemoth this past spring and I could not for the life of me figure out what made this show so darn appealing. Was it Kirito, the protagonist who despite a personality possessing all the personality traits of a loaf of bread manages to make girls swoon all over him? Was it Asuna; the character who looked like she was going to be a dynamic and refreshing female character before reverting into a bland, run of the mill tsundere? Was it the scatterbrained plot which didn't seem to do its source material justice by skipping ENTIRE BOOKS OF A LIGHT NOVEL SERIES? Whatever it is, this show is considered the bee knees to loads of people, except me. Somebody explain to me why.

Favorite International Athlete of 2014: James Rodriguez

Few players had as much of a meteoric rise as James Rodriguez this year. Before 2014, despite being a good player, James' name was known only by football junkies and known more for being part of AS Monaco's big money movement rather than his ability. Colombia's golden boy was the star of this year's World Cup, despite not winning it. He scored golazo after golazo and topped each of them off with some savvy dancing of his own. Then he followed that with a big money move to Real Madrid which made him one of the world's most expensive players. While many thought he would struggle at Madrid sharing the limelight with the world's biggest stars, instead James has made himself into one of them. Only 23 years of age, his best years are yet to come but he will never forget this one.

Favorite Domestic Athlete of 2014: Madison Bumgarner

There are many pitchers who have risen to stardom in the World Series, Madison Bumgarner is no exception and may perhaps be the best of the bunch. Bumgarner has won three world championships at age 25. In 36 World Series innings, he is 4-0 and holds an ERA of 0.25, fewest hits per nine innings (3.5), and the fewest walks plus hits per inning (0.53). All of those stats are World Series records. He was heroic in this year's World Series against the Kansas City Royals, winning games 1 and 5 as a starter and then coming out of the bullpen to close out a Game 7 win. This guy is unreal, the stuff of legend.

Favorite Shocking Sports Moment of 2014: Germany 7-1 Brazil

You cannot make stuff like this up. This was a World Cup semi-final between two of the most prestigious teams in world football. The game was in Brazil, the Brazilians planned on winning this game, then taking the final and raising the trophy in front of their own countrymen. However, those dreams turned out to be fanciful at best as the Brazilians were taken to town by a ruthlessly efficient German side. The hosts were down by five (count em FIVE) goals before the 30 minute mark and only managed to earn back any dignity with a late and ineffectual goal from Oscar. What was supposed to be a glorious day in Brazil ended up being a nightmare.

Favorite Album of 2014: You Haunt Me - Sir Sly

Sir Sly's debut album is the closest thing you can get to seeing them live (its an experience) and was an absolute master class. The haunting (no pun intended) melodies of songs like "Gold" and "Where I'n Going" serve as great setups for the high octane of "Inferno" and "Leave You". If you get the chance you should see these guys live.

Favorite Song of 2014: "Cool Kids" - Echosmith

Starts out as a slow and unassuming song until you hit that incredibly catchy chorus. This band of siblings (amazing) put out one of the best jams of the year.

Favorite New TV Show of 2014: The Flash

The new little brother to Arrow on the CW, The Flash has shown itself capable of surpassing its predecessor at times during this season. Grant Gustin has provided an incredible rendition of Barry Allen and has really made the character his own. Not to mention he's backed by an amazing cast which at times even includes some Arrow characters. While it still fails to avoid some of the pitfalls that snagged Arrow during its own initial season, The Flash has promised an incredibly ambitious plot which I am jumping at the bit to see. While it doesn't always manage to escape Arrow's shadow, The Flash is more than capable of standing on its own. 

Favorite TV Episode of 2014: "The Climb" - Arrow

Stephen Amell has taken to Twitter often to brag about how ambitious Arrow planned to be this season. However, Arrow seemed to be taking the same approach to its third season that it had during its firs two, using ten or so episodes before launching headfirst into the season's main plot arc. As a result this season seemed a bit tame in comparison to last season's pulse-pounding conclusion. That was until "The Climb" dropped, an absolute masterclass that stands up with some of the best comic book works of all time. This episode had everything: Sarah's killer was was discovered, Merlyn's plot unveiled, and the League of Assassins finally made their move. All of this leading to a showdown between Oliver and R'as al Ghul. I don't think anybody expected Oliver to win this fight but for it to end the way it did...well...its a bold move that takes the stake of this season to ridiculous heights.

Least Favorite TV Episode of 2014: The How I Met Your Mother Finale

I already said that I had said my last words about this show and there's an already written post about this ridiculous ending. Read that instead and spare me the pain of typing this.

Favorite Thing in 2014 That Makes Me Too Excited For 2015: Avengers: Age of Ultron

The leaking of the trailer for Marvel's next HUGE installment into their universe was a near global event with nerds running to their computer screens to see images of the upcoming film. Suffice to say, it didn't disappoint. Joss Whedon's second outing at the helm of the studio's flagship franchise promises to be incredible. James Spader's Ultron voice is every bit as intimidating as needed and the darker tone the film is taking is exactly the medicine The Avengers films have needed.

Favorite Late Thing In 2014 I Have to Catch: Big Eyes

Last year I had a con film that starred Amy Adams in this spot (American Hustle), this year I also have a con film that stars Amy Adams. It would appear that I have a thing for con films starring Amy Adams which come out around Christmas time. Big Eyes is a film based on the true story of Margaret Keane whose husband, Walter (Christoph Waltz), then sells them. The two are actually playing a con game against each other which, given the two actors involved, can only be wildly entertaining. Christoph Waltz alone is enough to make me see most films, the fact that Tim Burton is also involved is just the icing on the cake here.