Advertisement

MLS: The lesser-known MLS All-Stars that could cause Arsenal problems

MLS: The lesser-known MLS All-Stars that could cause Arsenal problems

There are fewer great examples of the American sporting spectacle than an All-Star match. In MLS, the fixture was originally a competition between East and West, before a rebrand in 2005 saw the league entertain European opposition.

A chance for the league to compete against teams at the highest level, it is also hoped the match will highlight the league’s strength and depth. With that said, we picked 5 lesser known names that could cause Arsenal trouble on Thursday evening.

Andre Blake, Philadelphia Union,
Given that Arsene Wenger currently has a number of good goalkeepers at his disposal, he may not be too interested in scouting Andre Blake. However, that shouldn’t stop him from at least appreciating the Jamaican’s talent.

Blake, the current first choice goalkeeper for the Philadelphia Union, is an excellent shot stopper with outstanding reflexes. It speaks volumes of his reputation within MLS that Blake was selected for this game via the fan vote, with the 25-year-old’s performances often helping to bail out the Union this season.

Considered by many to be the best goalkeeping prospect in the league right now, this match could easily serve as a shop window for Blake, even if he is only like to play 45 minutes.

Steve Birnbaum, D.C. United
The All-Star game could be one of the last acts of Steve Birnbaum’s MLS career. The talented defender has been the subject of intense speculation this summer, with Feyenoord and Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv said to be interested in acquiring his services. With a price tag in the region of $2million, it is easy to see why MLS are holding firm on their valuation.

An established member of the US Men’s National Team, Birnbaum has also been an integral part of D.C. United’s defence this season, which sits as the joint second best in the Eastern Conference. Standing at over 6ft 2, it is perhaps unsurprising that his greatest strength is his aerial presence. Not just useful when defending set pieces but also attacking them, the Californian has shown an ability to attack set pieces with real menace. Something that will not have escaped Wenger in his pre-match scouting, he will likely need to monitor Birnbaum even more with the absence of Per Mertesacker.

Sacha Kljestan, New York Red Bulls
Currently the man with the most assists in MLS (12), on current form Kljestan is arguably the league’s best attacking midfielder. Last season he notched 14 assists in 33 regular season games for the Red Bulls, and his ability to thread passes and work intelligently with a target forward has not diminished in 2016.

A key component for the Red Bulls since he signed from Belgian side Anderlecht, he has often been the man to supply striker Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Exemplifying his talent with a goal and 2 assists during Sunday’s Hudson River Derby against New York City FC, the hope is that Kljestan may now finally earn a recall to the US Men’s National Team. In the mean time he will try to conquer Arsenal, with his knack for finding dangerous spaces in the final third something the Gunners must watch out for.

At 30 years old, this is IMO by far the most dangerous, consistent and productive that kljestan has been. Powerful on dribble and pass.

— Heath Pearce (@HeathGPearce)

Darlington Nagbe, Portland Timbers

A member of the 2015 MLS Cup winning Portland Timbers side, few players in the league offer the pace, agility and ball carrying abilities that Nagbe does. Able to facilitate rapid counter-attacks with his quick feet and smart running, Nagbe is slowly starting to make a name for himself with the United States national team.

Yet to truly recapture the goal-scoring form of 2013 in which he notched 9 in 34 games for the Timbers, Nagbe has slowly become more of a midfield creator than a finisher.

Highly regarded by Jurgen Klinsmann, he earned similar plaudits from international teammate Geoff Cameron last month. “He doesn’t get worked up when there’s a couple guys on him — he always seems to get out of pressure and relieve the stress,” Cameron said. “He gives us a different dynamic. He’s a very good, complete player, and when he’s on the field he makes a difference.”

Big news for #USMNT fans, as Darlington Nagbe has been called up to the squad for the first time https://t.co/at9NumxFlf

Ignacio Piatti, Montreal Impact

Didier Drogba may have the most name recognition, but it is Ignacio Piatti that makes the Montreal Impact tick. A signing from Argentine side San Lorenzo in 2014, Piatti is a graceful and elegant forward that likes to drift around the field and find dangerous pockets of space to inhabit.

A keen dribbler, Piatti does not so much dazzle with tricks as he chooses to ghost past players and use clever body shifts to evade opponents. Already improving upon his goal total for last year with 12 in 18 this season, he tends to work best playing off a target frontman or on the left hand side.

Consistently linked with a move away from MLS, often to Liga MX, Piatti is exactly the kind of difference maker that could swing things in the favour of the MLS All-Stars, with NYCFC’s David Villa already expressing his excitement over a potential link up. “I have the desire to play with Piatti,” Villa said. “He’s a guy I know and a guy that’s dominating the league, not just this year but in years past. hope that we’ll have minutes together on the field and that we can enjoy them.”

That turn. @impactmontreal’s Piatti takes home #ATTGotW honors: https://t.co/NwyeXODSlh https://t.co/0Xv7c5RVYz