Saturday Vision, September 1, 2012 4 English Premiership football Comment THIS MAN IS HAZARDOUS

hanks to Eden Hazard, make sense of their failure to score the transformation from in their fi rst two games against usual a cynical defensive unit mid-table strugglers, Sunderland to an entertaining at- and Stoke City. Not after a richly Aldrine tacking force has been rewarding transfer market where Tswift for Chelsea. And they captured Santi Cazorla, Lucas dramatic. Eden, like Podolski and Olivier Giroud, perhaps Nsubuga the garden of Eden, has been most the best bargains in the market by beautiful. Hazardous to opponents, Arsene Wenger since the early 2000s. God’s gift to Chelsea. Gianfranco With Van Persie and Alex Song’s Zola’s ghost. But for one of Chelsea’s departure, it seems… also went their eight goals so far, Hazard has had fl uid style. Th ey are struggling to put his signature written all over them. passes together, failing to get behind Either he is scoring, as he did against defences and look isolated in the op- Newcastle, or he is assisting, as he did posing box. against Wigan and Reading. When he feints, jinxes and drib- There is a ray of hope bles, he is entertaining. And when he Yet, amidst the despondency, there turns, changes pace and splits defenc- is a glittering ray of hope. Spanish es wide open, he is winning games for midfi elder Cazorla has hit the ground Chelsea. Full of fl air. Full of character. running. Not only has he been the Full of purpose. Th e best player in the outstanding player in their opening French league last season, has been two games, he has exhibited quali- the best player in the Premier League ties that neither Cesc Fabregas nor after only three games. Together with Song could put a claim to. Here is a Juan Mata, Oscar, Fernando Tor- midfi elder who is equally good with res, Ramires, Daniel Sturridge and both feet, you wouldn’t tell whether ....Full of Branislav Ivanovic, Eden has made he is left or right footed. Dead ball Chelsea hardly recognisable from the specialist, passing maestro, the man purpose. The team that parked buses before walk- with the vision. Th e man with the ing up the podium to lift their fi rst big shot from all ranges. Like Song, ever European Cup last season. Cazorla roams the fi eld like a general best player in Give it to Roberto Di Matteo. but unlike Song, he exudes class in Chelsea have had a perfect start to possession, movement and while the French the season and they are top of the making the deliveries. Th e Spaniard table. It is down to Eden. in him, perhaps. league last At £15m pounds, he has been Stuttering United Arsenal’s most expensive signing but season, has Manchester United have stuttered from the evidence seen so far, he is far in their fi rst two games against Ever- greater value. He plays with author- ton and Fulham, but Shinji Kagawa, ity, without wearing the captain’s been the best formerly with German champions armband and shows no nerves. Th is Dortmund, has given Wayne Rooney is only his fi rst Premiership season. player in the and Luis Nani, reason to worry. His Soon, he will start beating goalkeep- mobility, intelligent game read- ers and their goal posts. It will be Premier ing, ingenuity, technical skills and hard to think of a better purchase in enthusiasm has forced Alex Ferguson the summer, there after. to re-think his selection of attacking Like Arsenal, Liverpool have not League after options. gotten out of the blocks yet. West At Dortmund, he was almost Brom was a disaster and they let only three scoring as many goals as the assists themselves down against champions he was providing and he is threaten- Manchester City, who they gifted games ing to do the same here. For £12m, two goals. But in Joe Allen, former the Japanese looks a bargain. Perhaps Swansea playmaker, they have got a not as technically gifted as Hazard, gem of midfi elder. A few more games but equally as eff ective. He is the playing as he is and Xabi Alonso’s only United player who has emerged name will be mentioned in whispers. from the fi rst two games with his Th e kid is good. He crafts, passes, reputation unscathed. With Robin moves, he keeps possession. A clean Van Persie’s arrival, the struggle for tackler, a great mover off the ball. places is a straight fi ght now between Play Nuri Sahin, Steven Gerrard and Rooney, Nani and Paul Scholes. Luis Suarez alongside him and Liver- At Arsenal, the mood is still pool might become a class side New signing Hazard has helped to turn Chelsea into an attacking force somber as fans are struggling to again. [email protected] Mancini already feeling the pressure of retaining the Premiership

fter Manchester of transfer activity by the Premier a move to Mancini’s men as a cost- and the board seems to be ensu- City came back League champions that he is eff ective replacement for the unin- ing at the Etihad Stadium, with from behind twice considering walking away from the terested Johnson, but by the time of Mancini keen to splurge on more to draw 2-2 with club, but this seems unlikely. writing the story had changed. superstars but the side’s executives Liverpool on Sun- City have recouped transfer fees Given the strength of City’s wary of overspending their budget Aday, Roberto Man- Geoff rey and shortened their wage bill with squad it is diffi cult to see weakness- and failing to comply with Fifa’s cini has confi rmed the sales of Emmanuel Adebayor es, but centre-half is an area where stipulations. that the club must buy new players and Adam Johnson so far during Mancini is thought to be eager It remains to be seen whether the before the end of the transfer win- Bukohore the window, with others such as to strengthen though most likely Italian coach will need to make-do dow to retain their Premier League Roque Santa Cruz, John Guidetti during the next transfer window in with what he has or will be given title. and potentially even Kolo Toure up January. A move for Daniel Agger one more blank cheque to bring Given the indulgences of City’s for grabs. is said to have been rebuff ed by Liv- a new superstar to the club this owners over the last number of sea- From a buying perspective Scott erpool, whilst his Reds team-mate season. sons, the purse strings are starting game’s governing body. Specula- Sinclair’s move from Swansea ap- Martin Skrtel was also reportedly in to be tightened given the upcom- tion in the tabloids has stated that peared to be a formality, with the the cross hairs. Geoff rey Bukohore is a former ing rules and regulations from the Mancini is so incensed by the lack Team GB winger likely to wrap up A power struggle between coach Uganda international defender