European Championship Preview

Group A

France

Coach: Didier Deschamps

Captain: Hugo Lloris

Key Players: Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, Anthony Martial

Tournament hosts France are favourites to go a long way in this year’s Euros and with the talent they have, there should be no problems qualifying from the top of Group A. It’s been 16 long years since the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry last lifted a major trophy for France, and this will be their best shot in a while. This side’s strength is definitely its depth, with those on the bench being just as talented as those on the pitch. They also have a nice mix of youth and experience, as well as a strong defensive presence and quick counter-attacking forwards. If there is one weakness it is in the striker position. Usual number 9 Karim Benzema has already confirmed to be missing the tournament after being involved in a sex scandal last year with teammate Mathieu Valbuena. If France were to go all the way, players such as Olivier Giroud and Andre-Pierre Gignac will have to fill the hole left by Benzema’s omission. However, this is a well-balanced side and the best the French have had to offer in over a decade. If they can fire on all cylinders, they have no reason not to walk away with the silverware.

Prediction: Semi Finals

Switzerland

Coach: Vladimir Petkovic

Captain: Stephan Lichtsteiner

Key Players: Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, Ricardo Rodriguez.

After being trounced 5-1 by France in the World Cup two years ago, the Swiss probably grimaced when they saw that they had to face their European neighbours once again. However, after a strong qualifying campaign, this team will have the belief that they can make an impact in this tournament. Like the French, the Swiss have some very exciting youthful talent that they will be looking to showcase on the big stage. For the viewer, keep an eye on Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri, who scored a magnificent hat trick against Honduras in the World Cup two years ago. But if this side does make a run in the tournament, it could be due to FIFA 16 wonderkid Breel Embolo. The 19-year-old Basel forward has been catching the eye of several top European clubs and a strong showing here could see a big money move eventuate not long afterwards. A talented and youthful side, Switzerland should make it out of the group but could face challenges in the knockout stages.

Prediction: Quarter Finals

Romania

Coach: Anghel Iordanescu

Captain: Razvan Rat

Key Players: Vlad Chiriches, Gabriel Torje, Bogdan Stancu

Although this Romanian side probably won’t win the tournament, they could win the prize for playing the most boring football. After scoring only 11 goals in qualifying and conceding only twice, they are the masters of the nil-all draw, a feat they achieved in three consecutive qualifying games. Despite their staunch defensive play, Romania could provide an upset or two if they can get the ball in the net themselves. Leading this charge will be striker Bogdan Stancu, supported by winger Gabriel Torje and playmaker Alexandru Maxim. Don’t hold your breath mind you. Strong chance of having an All Whites-esque tournament and get knocked out in the group stages without losing a game.

Prediction: Group Stage

Albania

Coach: Gianni De Biasi

Captain: Lorik Cana

Key Players: Mergim Mavraj, Odise Roshi, Taulant Xhaka

After beating out both Denmark and Serbia in qualifying, Albania will be making history as they compete in their first ever major tournament. While the squad doesn’t contain any recognisable names, they have pulled off some big upsets in recent times, including one against France last year. An interesting storyline in this group will be seeing brothers Granit and Taulant Xhaka play against one another. Born in Switzerland to Albanian parents, the Xhakas have gone on to become key members of both national sides. Qualification from the group stage seems unlikely for Albania, but stranger things have happened in this tournament before (see Greece at the 2004 edition).

Prediction: Group Stage

Group B

England

Coach: Roy Hodgson

Captain: Wayne Rooney

Key Players: Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Jamie Vardy

Is this England’s year? Could they finally end their 50 year trophy drought? While some would like you to believe such things were possible after their friendly victory over a depleted Germany side earlier this year, it is highly unlikely. They need to get out of the group to start with, something they failed to do at the World Cup two years ago. However, since that disappointment there has been a change of guard, with an influx of quality young talent being thrust into the lineup. The form of Tottenham trio Kane, Alli, and Eric Dier, as well as Leicester star Jamie Vardy, will be absolutely crucial to England’s chances of going deep into the tournament. This group shouldn’t provide too many challenges one would think, and a quarter-final berth would be the minimum expectation for this side. Could they go further? Sure, but they’re not winning it, I’ll tell you that right now.

Prediction: Quarter Finals

Wales

Coach: Chris Coleman

Captain: Ashley Williams

Key Players: Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Andy King

As with Albania, Wales will be participating in their first ever European Championship. Yet unlike their eastern European counterparts, Wales won’t be satisfied playing only the group games. Led by Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale, they have a legitimate chance of topping the group, especially if they can force a result against England. However, a real lack of squad depth could prove costly, especially if injuries take a toll. But after qualification victories over the likes of Belgium they will believe that they can get at least into the second round. In a similar vain to Romania, Wales are strong defensively but showed in qualifying that they can struggle to break opposition sides down. If Bale plays at his very best then expect Wales to qualify, if not, they could be going home early.

Prediction: Round of 16

Russia

Coach: Leonid Slutsky

Captain: Roman Shirokov

Key Players: Alan Dzagoev, Aleksandr Kokorin, Artyom Dzyuba

Neither a good team nor a bad one, Russia will be hoping to bring some consistency to this tournament. After a poor World Cup in Brazil, Russia had a solid qualifying campaign that saw them finish behind just Austria in their group. Contrary to popular belief, Russia are actually an exciting team to watch. They score plenty of goals (21 in 10 qualifying games) no matter the opposition, although their defence is known to crumble a bit against quality teams. Zenit St Petersburg strikers Kokorin and Dzyuba will provide a constant threat to opposition while the midfield playmaking of Dzagoev and crossing from Yuri Zhirkov will be equally important. With the quality available they should be able to secure one of the top three spots available, though would prefer the second spot.

Prediction: Round of 16

Slovakia

Coach: Jan Kozak

Captain: Martin Skrtel

Key Players: Marek Hamsik, Vladimir Weiss, Stanislav Sestak

This Slovakia side is like a cricket bat in the 1980s – all middle and nothing else. Without the quality midfield presence of Hamsik, Weiss, and Sestak, they probably wouldn’t be participating at the Euros this year. Nevertheless, here they are and although they are heavy outsiders to get out of the group, there’s still the chance of an upset or two. They are no pushovers, and even managed to beat a revived Spain in qualifying. But weaknesses at the front and back of this team will probably end up haunting them at the tournament, despite the class in midfield. It would be a pretty safe bet to see them eliminated at the group stage.

Prediction: Group Stage

Group C

Germany

Coach: Joachim Low

Captain: Bastian Schweinsteiger

Key Players: Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil

The World Cup winners from two years ago have continued to be one of, if not the best side in international football. Certainly, in terms of depth they are rivalled by none. With the likes of Mario Gotze, Marco Reus, and Julian Draxler warming the bench, they are ridiculously spoilt for choice in midfield. Most of the squad from two years ago remain, although the retirement of Phillip Lahm is a big loss in defence. However, there is still plenty of quality in defence and of course there is the sturdy presence of the world’s best goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. All in all they should have no trouble dismantling their three group opponents, and with a favourable knockout draw on the cards, could win the entire tournament. If there’s an obvious favourite for the tournament, it’s Germany.

Prediction: Winners

Ukraine

Coach: Mykhaylo Fomenko

Captain: Anatoliy Tymoshchuk

Key Players: Yevhen Konoplyanka, Andriy Yarmolenko, Yaroslav Rakitskyi

Playing in their first tournament since legend Andriy Shevchenko retired in 2012, Ukraine have a few splatters of talent in their squad. Like most teams, their midfield looks their strongest, and particular their wing players, but it seems like a lack of scoring prowess up front could see them suffer. Yet the draw has been reasonably favourable, and they should be able to secure either second or third position in the group. It would be a huge disappointment if they fail to do so.

Prediction: Round of 16

Poland

Coach: Adam Nawalka

Captain: Robert Lewandowski

Key Players: Jakub Blaszczykowski, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Arkadiusz Milik

You’ve got to feel sorry for the commentators having to try and pronounce some of these names, but they should get used to it as this side will more than likely be advancing from the group stage. Interestingly, Poland were also in the same qualifying group as Germany, and performed admirably against their western neighbours, beating them 2-0 in one game. The key to their tournament chances will lie with the form of captain and striker Robert Lewandowski, whose 13 goals were the most by any player in the qualifying stages. They will most likely battle it out with Ukraine for the second spot in the group, and should gather enough points to qualify as a third place if that doesn’t happen.

Prediction: Round of 16

Northern Ireland

Coach: Michael O’Neill

Captain: Steven Davis

Key Players: Kyle Lafferty, Jonny Evans, Chris Brunt

Another nation making their first appearance at the European Championships, Northern Ireland will be hoping to make an early impact. While they got the luck of the Irish in qualifying by being handed an easy group, they will have a tougher time in the actual tournament. With no real starpower, they will have to rely on the sheer will and passion of the players if they are going to have any chance of advancing from the group stage. Really difficult to see Northern Ireland being victorious, never mind progressing, and with the quality of forwards in all three opposition sides, their defence has to be on song every game to even have a chance.

Prediction: Group Stage

Group D

Spain

Coach: Vicente del Bosque

Captain: Iker Casillas

Key Players: Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, Cesc Fabregas

Defending champs Spain had an absolute shocker at the World Cup two years ago but have since returned to being the elite team we know them to be. After their Brazil meltdown, Spain elected against dismissing long-standing coach Vicente del Bosque, and captain Iker Casillas. It would be very surprising if the latter was given the starting job, especially with Manchester United’s David de Gea waiting in the wings. They will have no time to work their way into the tournament, as the draw has put them up against three quality sides. If they are going to have a successful run, then del Bosque will have to give playing time to the many exciting talents he has available, including Isco, Saul, Koke, Alvaro Morata, and Thiago. If he decides to remain loyal to the old guard, there is a possibility that another capitulation could take place. It really is a perfect example of playing players based on form rather than reputation. Hopefully he will make the right decisions that will benefit this team.

Prediction: Semi-Finals

Turkey

Coach: Faith Terim

Captain: Arda Turan

Key Players: Nuri Sahin, Hakan Calhanoglu, Burak Yilmaz

It seems like a long time ago since Turkey played Brazil in the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup, and it would be fair to say that they have not reached anywhere near those levels since. But this team has been improving rapidly in recent times and have not lost a game since November 2014. This could be attributed to the talented young stars that have forced their way into the side, including Calhanoglu and Oguzhan Ozyakup. Although they have been given a rough group in which to navigate, they should be able to place second or third and ensure a place in the round of 16. Whether they can make an upset in the knockout stages will remain to be seen.

Prediction: Round of 16

Croatia

Coach: Ante Cacic

Captain: Darijo Srna

Key Players: Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic

Arguably the best team in Eastern Europe, Croatia will be hoping that their mix of veterans and young hopefuls will bring them some success this year. After failing to deceive in Brazil two years ago, they will be hoping to fire on all cylinders this time around. They certainly have the talent. Alongside key members Modric, Rakitic and Mandzukic, are young magicians Mateo Kovacic and Alen Halilovic, whose talent has already been recognised by Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Add to the mix their highest scorer in qualifiers Ivan Perisic, and the Croatians have a side to contend with. Don’t be surprised if they give Spain a run for their money for the top place in the group.

Prediction: Round of 16

Czech Republic

Coach: Pavel Vrba

Captain: Petr Cech

Key Players: Tomas Rosicky, Michal Kadlec, Tomas Necid

Probably the weakest side in Group D, the Czech Republic will have their work cut out for them if they want to advance to the knockout stages. However, this team made the quarter-finals four years ago and will use that as inspiration to believe that they can do the same this time around. This side has begun to show signs of age in recent times and it would be a big ask for their veterans to pull another miracle out of the bag. With the quality of opposition they are set to face, don’t expect them to be around come knockout time.

Prediction: Group Stage

Group E

Belgium

Coach: Marc Wilmots

Captain: Vincent Kompany

Key Players: Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne

Belgium is in the midst of an amazing golden generation, one that will last for years to come. With world-class players from all the top leagues around Europe, covering every position, this side definitely has the quality to go all the way in this tournament. Aside from the players already mentioned, watch out for others such as Thibaut Courtois, Axel Witsel, Radja Nainggolan, Michy Batshuayi, Kevin Mirallas, and Jan Vertonghen, to name just a few. If there was a weakness it would be the questionable tactical ability of coach Marc Wilmots. In the World Cup two years ago Wilmots struggled to get the best out of his attacking talent and it will be interesting to see what changes he has made since then. Expect them to be a force to be reckoned with. Only a world-class performance will stop this team.

Prediction: Runners Up

Italy

Coach: Antonio Conte

Captain: Gianluigi Buffon

Key Players: Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Antonio Candreva

For those that have watched Italy play at major tournaments they would know that it’s all or nothing for the Azzuri. The masters of inconsistency were runners up in the last edition of the Euros, but were eliminated at the group stage in the last two World Cups. The most difficult team to predict, even Italians don’t know what they’re going to get. On the positive side they have a great coach in Conte, and have a strong core of Juventus players, who have become accustomed to victory in the last few years, and participated in the 2015 Champion’s League Final, losing to Barcelona. While there is obvious talent in the Italian squad, many point to the lack of strength going forward, and indeed the inclusion of Southampton’s Graziano Pelle is a sign that standards have dropped in that position. Yet despite all the flaws, Italy will probably turn up and win the bloody thing without a care in the world. They’ve done it before, and they can do it again.

Prediction: Quarter Finals

Republic of Ireland

Coach: Martin O’Neill

Captain: Robbie Keane

Key Players: Glenn Whelan, Aiden McGeady, Shane Long

After being absolutely hammered at the Euros four years ago, Ireland will be wanting to make amends this time around. Had a strong qualifying campaign, picking up victories against both Germany and Poland, and have also had some strong performances in friendly matches against England and Switzerland. But whether this side has the ability to perform on the big stage remains to be seen. Their squad isn’t full of talent, much like their Northern Irish counterparts, and will need to have a similar rugged attitude to make any impact on their group. Don’t count them out, but to be honest it’s probably better if you did anyway.

Prediction: Group Stages

Sweden

Coach: Erik Hamren

Captain: Zlatan Ibrahimović

Key Players: Kim Kallstrom, Sebastian Larsson, Andreas Isaksson

Much like Poland, Sweden rely on their superstar striker, this time in the form of Zlatan Ibrahimović. The eccentric forward has carried Sweden to these major tournaments virtually single-handedly his entire career, and even as he begins to age, he continues to be their go to guy. One would expect this side to beat the Irish, but it is unlikely they will be able to overcome the power of either Belgium or Italy. Mind you, they could get lucky depending on which Italy shows up on the day. Kiwis know all about that after they almost pulled off an upset win against the then-defending champs at the World Cup in 2010. If Sweden can beat Ireland and grab a point from one of the other two games, it should secure a place in the knockout stages.

Prediction: Group Stages

Group F

Portugal

Coach: Fernando Santos

Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo

Key Players: Joao Moutinho, Nani, Pepe

Portugal are in a similar vein to Italy in the sense of inconsistency at major tournaments. A semi-finalist four years ago, they were expected to make a serious impact at the World Cup in 2014, but were eliminated by the USA in the group stage. For a side boasting the talents of one of the world’s best players, one would expect them to be a force in international competition. However, a mediocre supporting cast has often left Ronaldo frustrated with his side, and he often lets his feelings be known. This tournament will probably be Ronaldo’s last while still at the top of his game, so it will be interesting to see what his side bring to the table. Should make it to the knockout stages in either of the top two positions, and depending on the draw, could easily get to the quarter finals. If they face a quality side however, they will be certain underdogs.

Prediction: Quarter Finals

Iceland

Coach: Lars Lagerback & Heimir Hallgrimsson

Captain: Aron Gunnarsson

Key Players: Gylfi Sigurosson, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Kolbeinn

The biggest shock of qualifying was Iceland knocking out the Netherlands, one of Europe’s biggest powerhouses. They are also making their debut in a major tournament, and it would be safe to say that they truly are an unknown force. Were lucky to be given a relatively easy group but will still find it difficult to advance into the knockouts. Grabbing points from Portugal and Austria could be vital if they want to take one of the three third-placed round of 16 spots. It’s hard to predict what kind of football they will play but given their opposition, they have a great opportunity to make it into the next round.

Prediction: Round of 16

Austria

Coach: Marcel Koller

Captain: Christian Fuchs

Key Players: David Alaba, Marko Arnautovic, Marc Janko

A dominating display in qualifiers sees Austria come into the tournament with plenty of confidence and high hopes. Given what the draw has given them, Austria would be mightily disappointed if they don’t at least qualify for the next round. In all honesty, they should be pushing Portugal for top spot and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if they achieved that. Player to watch is definitely David Alaba, the left back for German giants Bayern Munich. The 23-year-old will probably play in midfield for Austria, but his array of talents is such that it won’t make a difference. If Austria perform as they should, Alaba will be a key part of it.

Prediction: Round of 16

Hungary

Coach: Bernd Stork

Captain: Balazs Dzsudzsak

Key Players: Tamas Priskin, Zoltan Gera, Roland Juhasz

Arguably the weakest side in the group, Hungary will be doing their best to force an upset. Yet with the draw the way it is they will be pleased to avoid any of the major sides, giving them an opportunity to grab points from all three of their games. Still, they are a definite outsider to proceed to the next round considering their squad severely lacks depth and class. They probably won’t be whipping boys, but they will still go home early nevertheless.

Prediction: Group Stage

French Open Preview

The 115^th edition of the French Open begins in Paris on Sunday, signalling the start of the second tennis major of the year. The long-awaited tournament will be noteworthy for a number of reasons, none more so than being the first major since Maria Sharapova was banned for using performance enhancing drugs. It will also bear significance on the court, where Novak Djokovic will be determined to finally capture his first French Open crown, the only major tournament he has failed to win in his glittering career. Meanwhile, Serena Williams will be hoping to continue her dominance of the women’s game, and is one major away from equalling Steffi Graf with a record 22 singles titles in the Open era.

In the last few years Djokovic has become a dominant force in the men’s game, as rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have begun to show signs of wear and tear. The Serb currently has eleven titles to his name, still a long way behind his aforementioned counterparts. However, he has won five of the last six Grand Slams, with his only loss coming to Stan Wawrinka in this very event last year. The lead in to the tournament has not been as smooth as he would have liked mind you. Last week Djokovic lost the Rome Masters to Andy Murray, probably his biggest threat in Paris, in straight sets. He was also knocked out in just the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters a little over a month ago, although he did win the Madrid Open a few weeks later. Whether or not the world number one is showing signs of fatigue or not remains to be seen, but he is still the strong favourite heading into Roland Garros.

Murray, whose confidence will have skyrocketed after his victory in Rome, will be determined to continue his recent form. The defeat of Djokovic was no small feat for the Scot, who has found the Serbian ace his achilles heel throughout his career. It was Murray’s first victory against Djokovic on clay in five meetings between the two. However, despite these promising signs, the French Open has historically been Murray’s worst Grand Slam, having never made a final in any of his eight appearances at the tournament. He will also go to the tournament without a coach, after his former mentor Amelie Mauresmo decided to make her young family her priority. While Murray is not worried at this stage, it could be troublesome if he encounters issues later in the tournament.

The other favourites remain the same, with Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and last year’s champion Stan Wawrinka hot on the heels of both Djokovic and Murray. Nadal, a record nine-time French Open champion, has been finding form in recent months after an embarrassing first round exit at the Australian Open in January. Injuries and fatigue have continually haunted the Spaniard for the best part of two years, something he will be hoping to avoid this time around.

Injury has also been plaguing Federer in recent weeks, with the aging legend stating that he does not rate his chances going into the tournament as he battles an unspecified back injury.

“Clearly the way I’m playing right now is never going to be good enough for any good run in Paris; I also wouldn’t play this way. I’m still confident I will be fine somehow.”

 It threatens to end a remarkable streak of 65 straight appearances at Grand Slams, but Federer is still determined to compete in Paris.

“If I can play 100% again and move again correctly, my mind’s in a good place. My game is there.”

Wawrinka, the 2015 champion, has been in poor form this year, having failed to beat a top ten opponent since February. However, he is not worried about his recent performances.

“Last year I was struggling with my game before here. I wasn’t playing great tennis.”

“This year I’m just feeling really good in practice. I think I’m playing well. That’s why I know that if I keep pushing myself the rest will come sooner or later. I don’t know when, but my level is there.”

The women’s draw will be without former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and current world number eight Belinda Bencic, with both failing to recover from their respective ankle and back injuries.

As has become the norm, Serena Williams will enter the tournament as the overwhelming favourite to win her fourth French Open. By doing so, she would equal Steffi Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slam titles in the Open era, and give her the chance to take the record by year’s end.

It would take some doing to topple the American superstar, but many eyes will fall on German Angelique Kerber, who defeated Williams at the Australian Open in January. The world number three has continued to play well on the back of her first major victory, but will still face an arduous task in conquering the powerful Williams again.

The rest of the draw has become impossible to predict in recent years. There are no certainties on who will be with Williams in the closing stages of the tournament, but chances are there will definitely be a surprise run by a relative unknown.

Such a run could be made by 20-year-old American Louisa Chirico. Having had to qualify for the Madrid Open last month, the youngster proved her worth by overcoming both Ana Ivanovic and Victoria Azarenka on her way to a semi-final berth. It is unlikely that Chirico will go that far at Roland Garros, but she could provide some great entertainment in the early rounds.

The tournament begins on Sunday 22^nd May at 9pm NZT and will conclude on the 5^th June.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Arsenal F.C.: The Perennial Also-Rans that promise so much but deliver so little

Every year seems to be a repeat of the last for both the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA and Arsenal in the Premier League. As the Thunder stare down the barrel of another playoff defeat, it makes one wonder whether they will ever get a better chance to win the NBA championship. Having made the NBA Finals in 2012 with a bunch of young stars, many believed that they would build a dynasty over the next decade. Yet, four years on and there has been nothing aside from frustration and disappointment. Arsenal are in a similar situation, having not won the Premier League since 2004, despite finishing in the top four in every season since. For the fans of both sides, the frustration lies in the fact that so little progress has been made, and at times the heart-breaking defeats mirror those from previous seasons.

In the 2003-04 Premier League season, Arsenal went all 38 games undefeated, the first time that had ever happened in the top tier of English football since the 19^th century. An FA cup victory and Champions League final followed in the next two seasons, before the building of a new stadium meant funds were short and consolidation was needed. Long-time manager Arsene Wenger did well to keep his team of kids in the top four during this period, especially considering the financial struggles of other some large clubs like Portsmouth and Leeds. But in 2013 a signal of intent was made with the signing of one of Europe’s best playmakers in Mesut Ozil, for £42.5 million, proving that the tough times were behind them. The signing of winger Alexis Sanchez the following year saw most supporters start to believe that the glory days were returning once more. However, even with these great players, nothing has changed, and year after year Arsenal continue to throw away the title through a combination of bad form and injuries. Fans are frustrated at the similarly stagnated progression of the club.

So in what ways are these sides similar? They are two very different teams playing two very different sports, yet they are eerily comparable. Let’s break it down.

Two star players

Both teams have two players that stand out from the rest. Sanchez and Ozil are easily the best in the Arsenal squad, as are Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook for the Thunder. All four determine the performance of their side week in week out. If they do not perform, the chances of losing greatly increase. Disappointment and failure has seen all of them become frustrated and disillusioned at their respective franchises as well. Durant has seen his contract run down in order to enter free agency this offseason, while Westbrook is likely to do the same next year. Whether either will stay is still up in the air, as Durant has not committed to anything just yet, but chances are that both will be gone by the start of the 2017-18 season if things do not improve.

Sanchez has shown in recent weeks that he is growing increasingly frustrated at the poor performances and lack of ambition shown by his club. In a game against Norwich a couple of weeks ago, he became vividly upset at being substituted and walked straight down the tunnel and out of the stadium. For Ozil, a lack of a genuinely world-class striker playing in front of him has often left his brilliant passing go to waste. Both players have been linked to moves away from the club, and neither player has committed to a contract extension at this point.

Expectation and subsequent failure

Obviously having such talented individuals means that both teams are always going to be expected to, at the very least, challenge for the title. Pundits usually consider them to be one of the favourites going in to every season, yet neither side has delivered on the promise it has shown. Both have struggled with injuries – the Thunder have lost both Durant and Westbrook in the last two playoff runs, while Sanchez missed a large chunk of the season around Christmas time. Besides that, the two sides have gone through periods of poor form. The Thunder lost an incredible thirteen games that they led going into the fourth quarter, worse than even the woeful Philadelphia 76ers. As they battle it out in the playoffs, most are wondering when, not if, they disappoint and get knocked out.

Arsenal are no strangers to throwing it away, having led the league at the turn of the year, before going through a poor run of form, dropping out of the title race, and gifting it to Leicester. It was another typical Arsenal season, bottling it just when people started to actually believe they could finally win. A joke has emerged over the last decade regarding Arsenal’s consistent, yet underwhelming performances every year, with the belief that the London side are trying to win the battle for fourth-place rather than actually challenging for the title.

For both sides there has been too much of the same old mistakes and not enough consistency to push over the line and win the championship they have been craving.

“One piece away”

It seems that every year we see people talk about how both teams are missing that one player that would take them to the top. Since the Thunder traded James Harden in 2012, they have struggled to replace him with a reliable third-scoring option. Many shooting guards have come and gone, none of whom have succeeded in nailing down the role that Harden made his own. Watching Harden score over 25 points per game every season must make the Thunder hierarchy regret their decision to let him go for peanuts. Just to rub it in, the man they chose over Harden, Serge Ibaka, has been on a downward spiral ever since. Now fans can only imagine what could have been had Harden stayed.

Arsenal, until the last three seasons, were regarded by many as a feeder club for their rivals, as they consistently sold their best players to the best sides in England and Europe. Now financially stable, they are one step away from the top, something everyone can see it seems, except Wenger. The aging manager has stuck by the “lamppost” Olivier Giroud, who until last weekend, had not scored in fifteen Premier League games. For the third summer running fans will be pleading for Wenger to go and buy a world-class striker to finish the chances that the likes of Ozil and Sanchez create on an everyday basis. Whether it will happen is a totally different story.

A lack of ambition

When the Thunder traded James Harden to Houston in 2012, many believed that they had made a grave mistake. They were right. Oklahoma only traded Harden in order to stay under the salary cap and avoid paying the large sums of luxury tax that were inevitable. However, by making a decision based on economics, the franchise also threw away its hopes of winning a title. The team has never been able to fill the void since, and one could question how much the franchise really want to win, given their mediocre attempts in both free agency and the trading block. Obviously, with the salary cap in place, there will always be difficulty in improving the squad for a limited price. But with both Durant and Westbrook in their primes, one would have expected a more concerted effort to surround them with quality pieces.

Arsenal do not have any excuses surrounding salary caps and finances. They are a rich club that have the most expensive tickets in Europe, but refuse to spend any of their profits on buying world-class players. When the transfer window closed at the beginning of September last year, Arsenal were the only club on the continent to not buy an outfield player, a preposterous decision for a team supposedly one step away from a long-awaited title. But the club has grown stale, and a top four finish has become the only interest from the owner down to the manager. It is a team very much stuck in the glory of 2004, forgetting that time has progressed, as too has the way the game is played both on and off the field. In the past two or three seasons fans have called for the sacking of manager Arsene Wenger, a once revolutionary figure, now consigned to having as much tactical nous as a first time FIFA player. But as long as he delivers Champions League football, which secures an influx of revenue, then the board will keep him there as long as possible. Those at the top are scared of change, and do not want to risk losing that top four spot by trying to chase the title.

To conclude, both these sides have an abundance of potential and should be winning titles with relative ease. Yet, whether it be a lack of ambition, or an ability to crumble under pressure, both have failed to even come close. Despite playing completely different sports, the two franchises are surprisingly similar in the way they are run both on and off the field. If anything, it shows how powerful a winning culture and mentality is in the world of sport, and how talented teams that don’t have the drive and heart to be the best, usually won’t. It really is a shame to see these sides not fulfil their potential, but there is still time to turn things around. Hopefully for our sake it will happen sooner rather than later.

What Arsenal Need To Do To Win the League Next Season

What Arsenal need to do to win the league

Despite all protests and discontent, everyone knows that Wenger will stay at Arsenal for at least one more season. So after failing to win the league again, what can he change to see the league drought finally end and see him leave the club on a high? Obviously, these are my views and I don’t have much faith in Wenger and the board actually implementing any of these ideas, but hey, at least I could say “I told you so” when we come 4^th next season.

Mentality

There’s no doubt that the mentality of the whole club needs to change. Personally I think the board are to blame the most. They have said all the right things but have not really pressured Wenger for success and seem to be so in awe of the man that they do not hold him accountable for his mistakes. It doesn’t have to be made public, but it is my belief that people like chief-executive Ivan Gazidis need to have a quiet word with Wenger and stress that anything other than a big improvement will be considered a failure. Also, they need to remind him that they decide when he leaves or not, not the other way around. At the moment it just seems that Wenger has too much power in his position and he believes that everything he does is best for the club because that’s what everyone on the board tell him. It’s a false sense of security and it needs to end. Many point to Kroenke as being the problem, but if what Wenger said the other day about getting the full backing by Kroenke in the transfer market, then there’s not more that he can do as an owner. I’d rather have an owner that wasn’t that interested but provided money, than ones that think they football geniuses. Wenger needs to be prodded by the board in order to wake him up to the many failings and prevent the mistakes that happen year after year.

Wenger himself needs to change his relationship with his players. He is a manager, not a father. He shouldn’t defend and have belief in players that are simply inadequate for the squad. People like Ramsey and Giroud are not his children. They aren’t good enough and he needs to stop turning a blind eye just because he gets on well with them. He needs to be far more ruthless with his team and demand excellence week in week out. If this doesn’t change then of course the players will never stay motivated over the course of the season.

Tactics

For years now Wenger has tried to implement a total football approach with a lot of midfield movement and quick passing, and a sole striker holding the ball up and providing into passing lanes. However, teams know how to defend against Arsenal, as Wenger uses the same tactic every single game no matter the opposition. Too often, the ball is played side to side, back and forth, as the opposition puts nine or ten players behind the ball, stopping any kind of penetrating run and any ability to create simple chances. Arsenal simply struggle to score playing this way and usually only individual brilliance from the likes of Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez breaks the boring monotonous football that has become custom in recent years.

In my opinion Arsenal need to stop trying to be like Barcelona, breaking down teams with endless possession and passing. It hasn’t worked, and to be quite honest we don’t have the players that suit the system anyway. With a lot of pacey wingers, it would be better to have a more direct approach, with the incorporation of wingers and one stand-alone playmaker in the middle. In theory this would allow the likes of Sanchez and Alex Iwobi to have more room to dribble and utilise their pace on the wings, while also freeing up space for Ozil in the centre. Let’s not forget that Ozil was at his best while playing this role at Madrid, providing the pinpoint pass to the likes of Ronaldo and Di Maria on either side of him that would often lead to an easy goal. At the moment he is struggling with the lack of movement and opportunities to play that vital pass. Likewise, Sanchez and Iwobi don’t fit the current system either. Sanchez is a brilliant player that should not be confined to passing the ball back and forth trying to spot an opening. Let the man run at defenders at pace, give him a chance on the break, let him force the issue. He looks frustrated and disgruntled and Arsenal should be worried about losing him in the summer. Iwobi is similar, and has shown his dribbling ability when given the opportunity. He gets really lost in games that are stagnant and slow as the last two fixtures against Sunderland and Norwich were. He needs to be either fed the ball out on the left, or make runs in behind the defence where Ozil can pick him out. At the moment, this pass and move in the final third with little penetration wastes the talents that Arsenal have.

Quite simply, Wenger needs to ditch his Barcelona-like philosophy and instead incorporate one like their fierce rivals Real Madrid. At the moment Arsenal are one world-class striker away from having their own big three, much like the Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale trio at Madrid. We have the pieces to make this team a title contender at the very least. All it takes is a few fresh ideas. Whether Wenger is the man to implement them is a different question, but it would be nice to see him realise his mistakes and try and fix them.

Formation

I actually like the 4-2-3-1 formation that Arsenal play with. It’s the same one that Madrid usually employs with the lone striker and three in behind, as well as the two central midfield players controlling the tempo and forcing the issue. Here’s the formation here, which also shows the ability of the wing backs to make attacking runs.

For me, it’s simply a change of tactics combined with a few new players that will make this team great. This might seem crazy, but I actually think Arsenal could be better than Real Madrid. Here’s why. The Spanish giants may have some of greatest players in the world, and even of all time, but their Galatico philosophy has led them astray in key areas, most obviously in midfield. They have bought too many playmakers for the positions available (as has Arsenal) simply because of the name on the back of the shirt. The reason they struggled earlier in the season was because they were playing the likes of Modric and Kroos alongside each other in central midfield. Neither player has any defensive capabilities, which led to them conceding too many goals. However, since Zidane has taken over, he has found success in employing a defensive minded player in Casemiro alongside one of those deep lying playmakers. This has seen them narrow the gap in the league to just one point and see them favourites to reach another Champions League final. Casemiro’s ability to win the ball back from the opposition and allow the likes of Modric to distribute the ball forward has seen the team improve tenfold.

Arsenal on the other hand already have a couple of solid ball-winning midfielders in Coquelin and Elneny. They are no worse than Casemiro and to be quite honest are probably better at this point in time. The Gunners will have to sign another deep lying playmaker to replace Santi Cazorla in the long term, but the pieces are there, they just need to be put together.

Players

The current squad doesn’t need a total overhaul, but signings do need to be made, and players do need to be let go. Firstly, let’s identify some players that need to be moved on this summer.

                Players to sell

-          Theo Walcott – Sorry but the time has come to let him go. He’s paid too much and there are better players in his position. Also throw in the fact he’s got no heart and is injury prone and it sums up his disappointing career. Probably won’t get much for him, but who cares to be honest.

-          Olivier Giroud – I’ve hated Giroud since we signed him, not just because he’s not world-class, but because he doesn’t fit our style of play at all. I don’t know why Wenger hasn’t come to realise we aren’t West Ham firing in crosses to a target man, but who knows what goes through his mind anyway. To be fair to Giroud, he’s not actually as bad as he looks at times, he just doesn’t fit in Arsenal’s team.

-          Aaron Ramsey – I hate Ramsey more than Giroud, which is hard to do. I haven’t ever rated him and aside from that one fluke season what has he done? Wenger likes him because he tries hard, but it’s obvious he isn’t good enough for the side. He slows down play because his vision and passing ability is lacking, which often stops any kind of fast break opportunity that we have. Hopefully a team will be stupid enough to pay a lot of money for him.

-          Per Mertesacker – It’s hard to let go such a nice guy and one whose performances haven’t been that bad. But unfortunately the BFG was never gifted any ability to run, and with him now on the wrong side of 30, his problems will just get worse. Also need to open up a squad place for a better centre half to come in.

-          Kieran Gibbs – Not good enough fullstop.

-          David Ospina – I don’t want him wasting the best part of his career warming the bench for Arsenal. He’s a good player who deserves first team football.

-          Mathieu Debuchy – Injuries have taken their toll I’m afraid. Time to move him on.

-          Yaya Sanogo – I hoped he would find his way but he hasn’t. A shame really.

 
Players to bring in

Obviously there’s going to be a big midfield clearout this summer, so that becomes a priority alongside the striker and centre back positions. I’ll mention players for each of those positions as well as ones that would benefit the team and style of play that Arsenal SHOULD be playing.

Strikers (sign one of the following)

Karim Benzema – World class despite the controversy surrounding him at the moment. Obviously has played in the 4-2-3-1 formation alongside Ozil before, and could be ready to step out of Ronaldo’s shadow.

Gonzalo Higuain – Banged in over 30 league goals this season at Napoli. Imagine how many he could get with Ozil providing for him.

Romelu Lukaku – Strong, quick and solid. Proved he can score goals in the Premier League even when his team is struggling. Still young with room to improve.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Obviously a world-class complete striker. Available on a free. Would be an absolute steal if Arsenal could pull it off.

Alexandre Lacazette – Had a pretty successful season for Lyon despite injury. Might want to see how he goes at the Euros before making a move.

Central Midfield (sign two or three of the following)

N’Golo Kante – An absolute workhorse for Leicester this season. Could really provide some much needed heart to a team sometimes lacking in motivation.

Ilkay Gundogan – Brilliant distributor of the ball. Could be interested in a move away from Dortmund this summer. Only doubts are his niggling injury problems.

Oguzhan Ozyakup – Young Turkish talent has played well for Besiktas the last couple of seasons. Has an Arsene Wenger feel about it as it’s a bit left-field.

Granit Xhaka – Powerful midfielder with the rare ability to go both forward and back. Could be available for a reasonable price.

Miralem Pjanic – Very classy playmaker with a good long shot on him. Have watched him play live in a preseason game and looks like a great player to control things in midfield.

Radja Nainggolan – Underrated power player in the midfield. Like Xhaka, can go forward and back. Unfortunately it would probably take a big sum to remove him from Roma.

Axel Witsel – I thought he had a really good World Cup in Brazil, and was probably one of Belgium’s best players with Kevin De Bruyne. Certainly looks like a player that can control the midfield tempo well.

Saul Niguez – An exciting talent. Scored a magnificent goal against Bayern in the Champions League and has had a great season for Atletico. Apparently he has a release clause in his contract, but we’ll find out in the summer. Otherwise he won’t be cheap.

Grzegorz Krychowiak – Absolute beast for Sevilla the last couple of years and would provide some heart and passion for Arsenal. Should come at a reasonable price and might be keen on a move to a top team.

Central Defence (sign one of the following)

Kostas Manolas – Brilliant season for Roma. Probably have to fight off some other top clubs for his signature this summer.

Medhi Benatia – Could be on the way out if and when Hummels moves to Bayern Munich. If that does happen then Wenger should sign him up immediately. Has proved his worth when fit.

Raphael Varane – Tough to force Madrid’s hand without the player himself wanting to leave. But he could be tired of seeing Pepe and Ramos muck around game after game knowing he could do a better job. Would certainly get an opportunity at the Emirates.

Shkodran Mustafi – Arguably the best player for a poor Valencia side this season. With European competition pretty much out of the question for the Spanish side, Mustafi could be keen on a move to a top European club in order to further his career and try cement a starting spot in the always competitive German side.

Diego Godin – One of if not the best centre back in the world right now. Would take a real effort to try and secure his signature, but it would show some real ambition if they could at least pursue him. Would be a true leader of men in Arsenal’s fragile backline.

Other signings that could improve the squad

Aaron Creswell – Has had a great season at West Ham. Would provide competition for Monreal and certainly an improvement on Gibbs. Good at going forward which is an important part of an Arsenal wing back. English as well.

Ryan Bertrand – Same as Creswell, would be an upgrade on Gibbs and strengthen the left back position depth-wise.

Andrija Zivkovic – Now this is one of my own personal preferences. Saw him play live at the U20 World Cup last year as he led Serbia to the final and upset Brazil. Baffled at the fact no one picked him up last year. He’s a right winger that is brilliant on the ball and can play a great pass. Would be a buy for the future, but I believe it would be a great signing.

Youth players that should be promoted

Jeff-Reine Adelaide – Proved his talent in preseason. Should be promoted to the first team and given an opportunity considering all the midfielders leaving this summer.

Daniel Crowley – When recalled from a loan spell at Barnsley, manager Lee Johnson claimed he was the best player he’d ever seen. Needs to be given a shot.

Vlad Dragomir – Still only 17 but I’d like to see him at least have a run in preseason and maybe get some chances in cup games if playing well.

These are my thoughts on the club at the moment. It would be great if things could change so that the fans could be rewarded for years of disservice. Arsenal have the money to sign big players and if their ambition is to win the league, then they should go and get the necessities to do so. In short, some accountability, acceptance of past mistakes, and a willingness to change are all key factors in seeing the Arsenal finally lifting the Premier League trophy after all these years.