For the past few seasons the Arsenal team had no one who had won a trophy in their careers – at least recently – which must have been some sort of record, especially for a club of Arsenal’s stature.

No one can expect to win anything when the players in the team have never tasted the success of winning, and therefore do not know what it takes to win a trophy. But in Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla there is a massive change possible, and if Nuri Sahin joins, Arsenal stands a chance.

Giroud has just won the French league against pretty great odds while being a key player with his goals. By all accounts, the Frenchman is an old-fashioned penalty-box striker. This fact could suit Arsenal because, funnily enough, Arsene Wenger’s team has recently been one that gets plenty of crosses into the box through Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy, and now Kieran Gibbs or Andre Santos.

Podolski is a German international and that says it all. He brings a naturally engrained winning mentality. He is vastly experienced, even though he is still young, and he is more direct than other players. He too is talented and technical, but he is driven towards the final product – winning and getting the ball into the net. This is not necessarily the case withTheoWalcott or Robin van Persie, for example, players who like to make things look stylish and are more elaborate.

Cazorla could represent Arsenal’s most influential signing since Gilberto Silva. He is world-class; a premier player. Only 27, he has already achieved plenty, primarily with Spain, and also holds a winning mentality. He is a quality soccer player too, consistently superb at set-pieces – something Arsenal have not really had since Thierry Henry – and is a leader on the pitch as well.

Nuri Sahin would be a final piece. He would be coming from Real Madrid, a team of winners and expectation; so he would therefore be coming from good traditions and habits. He would represent a vast improvement on Alex Song, even if the defensive role is not his most natural position.

Potentially, a midfield of Sahin, Mikel Arteta and Cazorla would shine, all of whom are disciplined, educated soccer players. With Abou Diaby, Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey also in the mix, Arsenal would no doubt have the finest midfield group in the English Premiership. Indeed, from the halfway line forwards there are few teams that can compare with Arsenal in Europe.

This season is just too big for Arsenal. A trophy has to be won. This is a minimum requirement; not second place or a close shave.

This is why van Persie should be sold. He has to come out in the next week and say if he really wants to stay at Arsenal. If not, get that money in the coffers or sign one more player, hopefully in defense, who can improve the team. Song has to go as well. If it is indeed true that he has been flipped by interest from Barcelona, then there is no need for him. Arsenal needs soldiers this season. Fully committed, fully concentrated.

The only worry is still that back five which is, in my opinion, one of the least reliable defensive units in the whole league. Bacary Sagna apart, there is no defender to trust there. Ignasi Miquel could be described as Arsenal’s best defender. There is no doubt Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Song’s natural talent, actually would make amazing attacking players, but as defenders they are still to convince me.

With all that said, it is my belief that Arsenal is two players away from being on par with the very best teams in Europe: the Barcelonas, Madrids and Bayerns. A keeper and a centreback. Whatever happens in the remainder of this transfer window, this is a crucial season for Arsenal. A trophy has to come. Or else the club will forever bleed players.

Image Courtesy of   Ronnie Macdonald

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Both Portugal and the Netherlands had everything to play for in their game at Metalist Stadium in Kharkov, Ukraine. A win would essentially secure qualification for the Portuguese. The Netherlands required at least a two goal winning margin as well as hoping the in-form Germans could beat Denmark in their last group game.

With the likes of Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben in their squad, the Netherlands are a side always capable of producing excellent attacking displays. They set about doing just that when they took the lead in the 11^th minute. Robben fed the ball to Rafael van der Vaart on the edge of the penalty area, and the midfielder curled the ball into the top corner, beyond the reaches of the beleaguered Rui Patricio.

Often criticized for their defending, the Netherlands were lucky to still be leading after twenty minutes. Poor defending allowed Cristiano Ronaldo, Helder Postiga and Raul Meireles to all have early attempts, although all three failed to test Maarten Stekelenburg in the Dutch goal.

So often the hero for Real Madrid, Ronaldo came close to doing the same for Portugal when he beat his marker to meet Nani’s cross, but his header, albeit powerful, was aimed close to Stekelenburg. The Dutch goalkeeper made an impressive reflex save, continuing to leave Ronaldo goalless so far at the tournament.

His wait was not a long one, however, as he leveled the scores for his side in the 27^th minute. He timed his run to perfection to collect Joao Pereira’s through ball into the area and calmly slotted the ball past the onrushing Stekelenburg.

Despite starting more brightly, the Netherlands were looking outclassed at the half time whistle with Portugal, and more specifically Ronaldo, growing into the game as it progressed. The interval offered a chance for the Netherlands to regroup and attempt to re-establish the dominance they enjoyed at the beginning of the first half – a must if they were to have any chance of progressing into the knockout stages of the tournament.

A few tactical changes, including the switching of Robben to the left wing and Robin van Persie to the right, allowing Sneijder to hover behind the striker and attempt to pick up the ball in the space between the defense and the midfield, seemed to breathe life into the Dutch. Yet they still seemed to lack the final pass or composure to unlock the Portuguese defense.

With time running out, the Dutch threw caution to the wind, bringing in Ibrahim Affelay for Jetro Willems, weakening their defense to bring on the extra attacker. Their defensive frailties were soon realized when Ronaldo scored his second of the night after being given far too much time on the ball in the Dutch penalty area.

Credit should be given to the Dutch for their unwillingness to give up on the game, but with just fifteen minutes left to play and three goals needed to put them into a position to qualify from the group, it was a case of too little too late. The Dutch succumbed to a 2-1 loss to Portugal.

Portugal manager Paulo Bento will be thrilled not only with the attacking incision displayed by his team, but also their defensive discipline. With the knockout rounds looming, the resurgence in form of Ronaldo has to be the biggest positive from the game and will have quarter-final opponent Czech Republic worried.

Image Courtesy of  Photo Works / Shutterstock.com

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Group B of the European Championships got off to a competitive start when Denmark took on World Cup runners-up the Netherlands at Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

The Dutch were favored heading into the match and started well, pressuring Denmark all over the pitch and causing a number of errors, but despite going close through both Robin Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder, they were unable to break the deadlock.

The opening goal, against the run of play, fell to the Danes in the 24th minute when Michael Krohn-Dehli picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty box following a cross from Simon Poulsen, and burst past defender Ron Vlaar to fire the ball beneath the helpless Maarten Stekelenburg in the Dutch goal.

The Netherlands continued to threaten and should have equalized when Vlaar was left unmarked at a corner but his header went harmlessly wide of the goal. An even better opportunity beckoned minutes later when Danish goalkeeper Stephan Andersen attempted to pass to one of his defenders, but instead sent the ball straight to the feet of Arjen Robben, but the wingers’ curled effort hit the post to the relief of the travelling Danish fans.

The rest of the first half played out with the Netherlands in almost complete control of the game, repeatedly denied an equalizer by the impressive duo of Daniel Agger and Simon Kjaer at the heart of the Denmark defense.

The Dutch onslaught continued at the beginning of the second half, Robben forcing Andersen into a good save to his right whilst Ibrahim Afellay was inches wide of the goal with his left footed strike from outside the area. Frustration from the Dutch players at their inability to break down a resolute Danish defense led to some poor passing from the Netherlands, gifting possession back to Denmark on more than one occasion and allowing the Danes to relieve some of the pressure being exerted on them.

With the Netherlands getting more desperate for a goal, they began to push more players forward and were only denied it by the heroics of Andersen, the goalkeeper coming out to smother the ball at the feet of Klaas Jan-Huntelaar, as the Dutch striker was readying himself to lift the ball over the rushing goalkeeper and towards the unguarded net.

Despite their best efforts, the slick passing game of the Dutch could not break down a well disciplined Danish side, and Denmark recorded a highly impressive 1-0 victory.

Denmark manager Morten Olsen will be thrilled with his sides’ victory, a feat even more impressive given that Group B has been dubbed the ‘Group of Death’ as it boasts European powerhouses the Netherlands, Germany and Portugal. The defensive work of Agger and Kjaer will have been particularly pleasing and will have given Olsen confidence that his side could also upset either Germany or Portugal and defy the odds by qualifying from Group B.

Bert van Marwijk, the Dutch manager, will be far less pleased as he watched his side slump to a 1-0 loss to a side they will consider inferior to themselves. This game will have been highlighted by coaches as a must win for the Netherlands and they will now face an uphill battle to qualify from the group as they take on one of the tournament favorites in Germany, and a skilful Portugal side led by the talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Whilst many clubs can suffer from a ‘Euro Hangover’ whereby they fail to perform to their usual standards in the days following a grueling away fixture in the Champions League, Arsenal may have been suffering from a domestic hangover during their draw with Marseille.

Their excellent 5-3 victory over London rivals Chelsea on Saturday may have taken more out of the Arsenal players than at first expected, with the home side looking sluggish throughout their 0-0 draw. The visitors from France were the first to almost break the deadlock, with brothers Andre and Jordan Ayew both coming close on separate occasions.

This game actually represents the first time both brothers have started a Champions League fixture together, and they looked keen to make it a night to celebrate. Arsenal had chances of their own however, the most threatening seeing Gervinho, who has plenty of experience playing Marseille from his time at Lille, play the ball perfectly into the patch on the onrushing Theo Walcott.

Despite placing the shot well towards the bottom corner of the net, the England international saw his shot tipped wide by an excellent save from goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. Both teams seemed to ease up then, seemingly content to go into the interval with the game finely balanced at 0-0, and see what, if any, tactical changes their managers had in store for then.

It looked as though Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may have had the more effective half-time team talk, as his side came out looking hungry to create more chances for their attacking players. Despite this renewed enthusiasm, striker Ju-Young Park was failing to make anything happen against the Marseille defense, and was substituted for Robin Van Persie.

Fresh from his superb hattrick against Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League, Van Persie will have expected to give Arsenal the lead when he beat the last man of the Marseille defense, and was left one on one with Madanda.

Unfortunately for the home fans though, Van Persie’s effort lacked it’s usual precision, and his attempted chip didn’t quite have enough on it to see it fly over Madanda’s head, and instead fell straight into his arms.

Although a win would have secured qualification from the group stage with two games to spare for Wenger’s men, the draw still keeps them at the top of their group, and reinforces their tag of favorites going into the remaining games.

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