Utsha Sarkar
The Premier League is heating up and all clubs are putting in their last ditch efforts to get that perfect start in the League. It’s all about making opening statements and sending a message. The new TV deal coming through the Premier League has seen some serious cash flow. The most talked deal about #Pogback (Pogba) and most of all, Henrikh Mkhitaryan joining Manchester United.
The quiet Armenian has had a phenomenal time with the Bundesliga giants, Dortmund, last season having scored 11 times and assisting another 15. This lad has it all to challenge the magical number of 20 which has been set by the great Thierry Henry in the 2002-2003 season. He though will have to battle it out with the German international Mesut Ozil, who in the last season provided a record 19 assists falling just one short of the record.
The Premier League is not kind to the first timers and he will not be exempted. Mesut Ozil required a long time to settle into the league and get in the groove of things. In the latter half of the last season, the German couldn’t step up. Having already amassed a total of 16 assists by the end of December 2015, he could only garner a paltry 3 in the business end of the season. His Spanish counterpart, Fabregas also made 15 assists by the end of December in Chelsea’s title-winning season but could only manage 4 in the latter half. Ozil had competition but his nearest competitor was Christensen with 13 assists and Dimitri Payet with 11.
Mkhitaryan, on the other hand, is a pacy number 10 and his sublime touch and fast football will be well complimented by Mourinho and he will be deployed as such. He can take up a role just behind the striker or in the wings as well. But as we all have seen that even the best players take time to acclimatize to the Premier League. The quality of the Premier League in general is anyday higher compared to all the other leagues.
The physical aspect to the game is a very important factor and it can easily take a toll on a fresh face. The Armenian has already shown a glimpse of his talent when Manchester United took a tumble against his former club. He scored the only goal for his team, but his contribution was not looked over. Mourinho likes a midfielder who doesn’t hesitate to do his duties in the defence as well and he looks like the player who can do the grunt work when required. Manchester United lacked this kind of creativity and dynamism last season and even if it’s too early to say, it looks like they have made the right choice with this midfielder.
Mesut Ozil, having returned to practice also is raring to go and Liverpool might have to bare the wrath in their opening game. Creativity and vision will be taken to new heights as both the midfielders thrive on competition and with only 1 day to go it all looks set to be one hell of a Premier League season.
