The Arsenal Column

Alan Dzagoev showed exactly why he is Russia’s brightest new hope with a masterful display on how to use operational space.
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I was first alerted to the dazzling talents of Alan Dzagoev during a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa in last year’s Europa Cup campaign and it is noticeable to see just how far he has come since then. Still only 19 but Dzagoev plays with an ice cool head and seems to relish the creative responsibilities given to him by new coach Leonid Slutsky.

It was only February since that game at Villa and CSKA Moscow have since moved on to their third coach – Slutsky given quite a baptism of fire at Old Trafford. And indeed, things have also changed for Dzagoev as his then partner in crime, Vagner Love, has departed on loan which is a great shame as their telepathic understanding mirrored that of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

But one could still see remnants of that understanding with new striker partner Tomáš Necid in the 3-3 draw against Manchester United as the Czech constantly looked to get into the spaces he hoped Dzagoev will find. The Russian’s ability to thread an eye of the needle passes is particularly impressive but it can at times be his downfall as this can see him ignore the simpler option.

However it’s this recognition of operational space that sets him apart and his movement and passes into such areas caused the Manchester United defence problems no end. Always on the move and looking for spaces to exploit he was the first man on the ball to initiate attacks while his tracking back also had a lot to admire. Making sure he stationed himself in the area where the deep-lying playmaker, in this case Paul Scholes would operate, stopping the United midfielder exerting much influence on the game and ready to pounce on the ball once it became loose.

And for his goal and CSKA’s first, he combined both power and pace to match his ingenuity and skill on the ball. Dropping deep to get the ball, Dzagoev dragged Wes Brown out of position which created the space for Necid to  fantastically weighted a chested pass into his path. His first touch looked to have taken him too far to the left but his close control and quick change of pace meant Jonny Evans was always unsure of the next action. And as quick as a flash, Dzagoev thrashed in a vicious left-footed shot which left Van Der Sar with no chance from the acutest of angles.

The warning signs were clear of Dzagoev’s danger but United continued to give the Russian much room. There was lessons to be learnt for rivals from watching this game as it highlighted the amount of space one can exploit due to Manchester United’s expansive style. And Dzagoev was at it again, as he gradually dragged Evans out of position for CSKA’s second, dummying the ball for Necid to play in the ever-troublesome Krasic and the Serb finished off a flowing move. At times he was reminiscent of Dennis Bergkamp, his awareness and anticipation only paralleled on the pitch by Micheal Own surprisingly enough and his dummy especially bringing into mind the fantastic goal scored by Bergkamp against Newcastle, knowing the only free area was behind him to his right before flicking the ball past Nikolas Dabizas.

His understanding of danger areas wasn’t just limited to a creative sense as he also made sure to position himself for rebounds and in one instance his positioning was so perfect, he nearly blocked a shot from his own team-mate.

Dzagoev’s night came to a premature end on seventy-two minutes, being replaced by Daniel Carvalho but it wasn’t before he was involved in the third. His devilishly whipped free-kick found Vasili Berezutski unmarked at the back post and the defender obliged with a strong header to put CSKA 3-1 up. The Russian’s certainly missed Dzagoev’s opportunism as they failed to handle United’s late pressure and in the end succumbed to a draw.

It was also interesting to note the tactical context of Alan Dzagoev’s substitution for Carvalho. His previous manager Zico, was reluctant to play him behind the main striker for balance sake, preferring instead the  Brazilian midfielder in an attempt to achieve the self-conscious symmetry that the 4-2-3-1 gives. He has been linked to Real Madrid and Pelligrini’s insistence on playing two forwards will ensure he will fit in well for the neo-galacticos but he has previously admitted to being a fan of Chelsea. But seeing as the Blues are currently in a transfer embargo, Dzagoev’s best bet would be to remain at CSKA and hone his skills as a world-class striker he so promises to become before moving to Western Europe.

Scout Report Card:
Age 19
Position Second Striker
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10+¹⁄₂ in)
Weight 11st 9lbs (74 kg)

Heading ­7
Passing 9
Shooting 8
Vision and Awareness 10
Team ­responsibility 9

Value £15m

Fulham’s Brede Hangeland is a towering defender but there are question marks about his pace, something he answered with his intelligent positioning.
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FK Vetra were never going to be the most demanding of oppositions for Fulham and therefore probably not the most appropriate opponent whereby to do a  scouting report of defender Brede Hangeland. However there was a logical reason for it (apart from the appropriately timed conformation of interest from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger).

It was a tie in which Fulham were always going to be in control of and for them to effectively play a possession game it meant the defenders would have to push up. The thinking here was that the higher line will create a similar situation to one which Arsenal’s defenders face every game. And also with the heavy rainfall on the Craven Cottage pitch, the slick surface will provide Hangeland a stern test of his pace and mobility but alas that opportunity never arrived.

Vetra were expectedly out of their depth and therefore never really tested Hangeland and Hughes in the centre of defence. And in moments where it seemed Hangeland may be tested, the Norwegian came out comfortably on top. In one such instance, left back Paul Konchesky vacated his flank meaning Hangeland would have to cover both positions and he did so with relative ease. On another occasion, he was faced with a one-one with the Vetra winger but as the opponent knocked the ball past him, he expertly put his body in the way to stop the run.

However what was most interesting when comparing the two Fulham centre back’s were their positioning. When the ball was hoofed high up in the air both were very comfortable although more so Hangeland who attacked the ball aggressively. On the deck however, Hangeland usually took a step back from the defensive line and surveyed the action before astutely nipping in.

It seemed the Norwegian does have some reservations about his pace but time and time again, not just in this match but others also, his positioning and reading of the game were so fantastic that this supposed weakness is far harder to expose. It should be noted that Hangeland is by no means a slouch and is deceptively mobile and can pass the ball well.

Much kudos to Fulham’s defensive steel should also go to Roy Hodgson who has his team very organised and disciplined, pressing the opponents well to deny space. Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu were once again formidable defensive shields to the centre backs. Against Aston Villa last campaign, the side’s organisation meant the only way Villa were going to get through Fulham was from wide. And when the crosses did come in Hangeland was always in the way.

His aerial prowess was on show again but it’s his commanding of set-pieces that has really impressed me. Hodgson has given him, along with ‘keeper Schwarzer full control of the player’s positioning from dead balls. Hangeland attacks the ball and makes sure he is the one in the best position to get to the ball first. As a result Fulham conceded fewer goals from headers and set-pieces than any other team last year.

It seems with Brede Hangeland, pace is always going to be a concern especially if you are the coach of an expansive football team like Arsenal who need to play a high line. With all respect to Fulham, Craven Cottage may be too small a pitch to fully test that while we probably won’t get a definite answer to whether he can cope without him playing week-in-week-out in a more demanding team.

But while it’s easy to see Hangeland being beaten for pace in a similar situation as Gallas did against Agbonlahor last season, it’s also easy to see Hangeland making sure he is in the right place to stop that from happening.

Scout Report Card:
Age 28
Position Central Defence
Height 6ft 5in

Heading 10
Passing 6
Tackling 8
Positioning 9
Pace 6

Value £9m

Fiorentina’s midfielder Felipe Melo is tidy and uncomplicated, just like another certain Brazilian at Arsenal although it’s his power which has turned many heads.
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They say it takes a player three years to come through the Arsenal world-wide scouting system but it seems highly unlikely Melo would have been on Arsenal’s radar for that long. For many fans, a couple of Youtube videos have convinced them that the midfielder is the real deal however his matches for Brazil leave a lot to be desired.

Since 2001, Felipe Melo has turned out for seven different clubs and after a strong season with Almeria of Spain resulting in a move to Fiorentina, he seems to have found his true calling. The increasingly globalised and homogenised game, has found a place for a player like Melo in Brazil whereas ten years ago he may have struggled. Alongside Gilberto Silva in a 4-2-3-1, the purists may hate it but there is no doubt the pair provide a solid base.

The two play contrasting roles for Brazil; Gilberto likes to mark from distance, always keeping an eye for the attacking and then getting close to the man. Melo on the other hand likes to get to the ball quickly, preferring to play with what’s in front of him.

Against Egypt, the duo found it difficult to get to grips with the the African champion’s movement and passing, especially of Abo Terika in particular. Full backs Dani Alves and Kleber were made the scapegoats by Dunga after conceding three goals as he dropped the two for the next game although the weak cover in front of the defence exposed the centre backs meaning the full backs always had to make the space. Egypt’s superior possession count showed there must be improvements in awareness and positional play from Melo and Silva.

USA was less of a test as the opposition looked uninspired and never really posed a threat. Melo got his goal; a powerful header and it is his height that could bring balance to a team. In possession he was tidy and uncomplicated, keeping the ball moving however his unwillingness to take the ball off the centre backs was concerning. A couple of times, he almost hid behind a USA player rather than asking for the ball. It was Gilberto Silva who made their  bigger presence felt but in truth both had average games.

Next came Italy, which was thought to be the sternest test however Felipe Melo came out unscathed. Italy’s uninspired performance failed to show both the bright side and also the weaknesses of Dunga’s central midfield. This time Melo was more demanding of the ball though not a huge leap. He certainly can pass the ball and in the second half, initiated a few attacks. His power with the ball also showed, making some telling bursts although power does not mean his tackling is all that strong.

A good interception was followed by a challenge which had him nearly falling backwards from the impact. Pirlo skipped easily away from Melo on a couple of occasions and the Brazilian looked ambling at times. Tracking back, he knows the danger areas of pitch as he took his place at the edge of the area when the opposition broke forward but the problem against USA was that he had no-one to mark. Against Italy, he repeated the same trick; one time it lead to a headed clearance, another nothing but at least he knows the danger areas. However against Spain he could be found marking space rather than a man and could get punished.

Gilberto Silva had the main man-marking duties therefore there wasn’t much to tell about Melo’s pros and cons in this department although he did follow his man a few times. He certainly prefers to mark what’s in front of him and then get to the ball quickly. He performed this very well but the best defensive midfielders constantly look over their shoulders and Melo failed to do so.

He is mobile and athletic and that lends it self well but I would have some reservations about him without someone like Gilberto alongside. At Fiorentina, the club play a three man midfield therefore displacing some of the risks on him and he still ended the season with 17 yellow cards and three red cards. Could he perform as solidly at Arsenal where the mantle will be greater covering for Fabregas and the full backs who look to push forward? What about the high line? He needs to be positionally very aware and on his toes something Denilson is just ahead of. However his power is what teams desire and in that regard he is stronger therefore pushing his value up.

Overall, it would be understandable if one was to feel slightly underwhelmed by Felipe Melo. He has talent and you feel that he could offer more but modern football is all about individuals like Kaka and Robinho balanced by specialists like….well, Gilberto and Melo. And you can’t help but feel that the Brazilian is happy playing in this way.

Scout Report Card:
Age 25
Position Defensive Midfielder
Height 6ft
Weight 11st 7lbs (73 kg)

Heading ­8
Passing 6
Tackling 7
Vision and Awareness 6
Team ­responsibility 8

Value £10m

Other posts in this series:
Scouting Report: Miguel Veloso
Arsenal’s Scouting Network

Miguel Veloso has been linked to Arsenal for as little as £6million because of Sporting Lisbon’s apparent economic crisis. Arsenal Column looks to run the rule on the 22 year old Portugal international.
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Agent talk or not the central midfielder has been linked with the Gunners for the best part of a year and also to a host of other top clubs including AC Milan and Man Utd.

Last year Sporting were beaten to the top of the table by 14 points to biggest rivals FC Porto, losing times. Being versatile, Veloso played a number of positions including centre back and left back to go with his preferred position of defensive midfielder. The signing of Fabio Rochemback has limited his chances this season but is seen as a potentially great player nonetheless.

Veloso has been given extra responsibility from set plays this season and whether shooting or crossing is a great threat. He has scored some great goals from such situations and is equally adept in shooting from open play. Seen as a creative defensive midfield player last season he was criticised for his marking abilities in tracking runners and being in position while also said to be not quick enough.

The Portuguese midfielder is said to be improving these sides of his game and to better his center of gravity and coordination. Veloso has a great technigue and the potential creativity of a more advanced player but with such an ability his passing range could be better. There is a lot of potential in the player and with someone with a strong mentality as his, the improvements will come over games and adversity.

Not the finished article as of yet and coming to the Premiership will probably require further adjusting but if all goes well can become one of the best players in his position.

Current Ability

Potential Value: £15million