Off Topic » Although meant to be a subtle message to opponents

You Cant Buy Class. Arsenal Forever. So reads a banner hanging from the stands at The Emirates. Although meant to be a subtle message to opponents about the professional manner in which Arsenal conducts itself, the words can be turned into a negative as a way of describing Arsene Wengers timid, and rather unproductive, approach to the transfer market in recent years. Following the sensational signing of Mesut Ozil on Monday, Arsenal ensured that banners message can no longer be misconstrued again. The word class can often be a confusing one in this sport, with the receiver of the word far too often left confused by its actual meaning from the one who delivered it. "Oh he is such a class player," is a phrase often muttered by pundits, but this really tells us nothing about how good the player they are describing really is. Does this mean he is better than most? As good as he should be? League average? When identifying a class system in soccer it is important to clarify what one actually means by such a description. Far too often in any sport, average (at best) players are called good and good players are described as great. This is why I close my eyes, grit my teeth and almost fall off my chair every time I hear a footballer described as world class. And, by the way, it happens every week. In the last week alone I have heard Paul Pogba, Yohan Cabaye, Danny Welbeck and even Maxi Urruti described as world class footballers. Of course people are entitled to their own opinion and we do not all judge talent the same, but for me there is nothing beyond world class standard for a footballer. It is the pantheon of great present day footballers, a group of players who have performed at the highest level on the biggest of stages, players who will be remembered when their careers are over as being some of the finest players to play the game. In this fantastic sport there are many average players, even more good players, some very good players and then there are great players, the world class players who would be picked by managers all over the world if they were asked to pick a World XI today. Of course there are examples of players moving up and down such class systems by virtue of form and injuries. Brazilian Kaka was once, without doubt, a world class star but hasnt been at that level for close to five years now. Wayne Rooney is another one who eighteen months ago would have been considered to be world class but, for me, is not there at the moment. However, unlike Kaka, he could one day be back to that level. It can, of course, work the other way as well. Gareth Bale, who this week went to Real Madrid for a world record fee, has only reached world class status in the last year despite many pinning this on to him the moment he dribbled past Maicon a few times in Milan back in October 2010. When Bale departed the shores of the United Kingdom late on Sunday evening many described it as a blow to the Premier League to lose a legitimate top star to La Liga. Little did they know, less than 24 hours later, the league would bolster its star appeal with Arsenals signing of Ozil. Ozil arrives in North London for a reported fee that is less than half the amount Tottenham received for Bale, but the German is certainly not half the player the Welshman is. Transfers in 2013 are no longer given the time needed to be allowed to be assessed. Social media has created a giant ocean full of tweeters jumping in head first on the deal, with many today sinking to the bottom with shambolic, naïve comments on Ozils value and whether or not Arsenal actually need him. I usually prefer to give a player some time to get adjusted to their new surroundings, watch him closely in different scenarios to see how he adapts ,but in the case of Ozil to Arsenal none of that is necessary. Ozil is a world class player whose signature captured by Arsenal is enough to make Gunners think they are dreaming. They have found a true difference-maker, a star that plays at such a high level he instantly takes Arsenal fans back to the days of watching The Invincibles. Footballing intelligence, a phrase underused in the game because it cannot be graded by watching highlights or reading statistics, is what makes Ozil so special. Rarely does he misplace a pass and if he does its because he was thinking quicker than the man expected to receive the ball. He thrives being the teams central creator, where he will be able to showcase his outstanding vision in the final third and, perhaps more importantly, on counter attacks which will most certainly often go through him. The Gunners won Sundays North London derby because they were simply better in the transition game and already this season the majority of their goals have come from plays that have started deep in their own half. Ozils lateral movement will confuse many a Premier League defender and team-mates like Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott will all benefit from playing close to him each week. For the first time in a long time this is not a lets wait and see how good he is kind of signing for Arsenal fans. Ozil will be sensational for their team. Five years ago on the clubs official website, the top 50 Arsenal players of all time were revealed following votes by thousands of their fans. The truth is no current Arsenal player in the past five years has done enough to threaten a spot in that list. If they keep hold of Ozil for more than a year they wont just need to re-do the Top 50, they will need to change the Top 10. Matias Fernandez Jersey . Austin Watson, Scott Ford, Filip Forsberg and Mark Van Guilder had the other goals for the Admirals (30-21-12). Scott Darling made 30 saves for his 10th win of the season. Mateo Musacchio Jersey . -- Hee Young Park topped the leaderboard at 8 under Friday in the suspended second round of the Kingsmill Championship. http://www.authenticshopacmilan.com/c-1-customized.aspx . "Rob brings a wealth of coaching experience, having worked both in Canada and overseas in player development," Canada Soccer technical director Tony Fonseca said in a release. Alessio Romagnoli Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Andre Silva Jersey . Ramon, 30, played in a career-high 97 games with the Goldeyes in 2013. He also matched a career-high eight home runs and posted 52 RBI.NEW YORK -- Robinson Cano shrugged off the boos in his return to Yankee Stadium and walked away a two-time winner. Cano doubled and drove in two runs to help the Seattle Mariners beat the New York Yankees 4-2 Thursday night behind an impressive pitching performance from rookie Roenis Elias. Michael Saunders had three hits, including an RBI double, and Elias struck out 10 in seven innings as the Mariners won their fifth in six games following an eight-game skid. Seattle took both games in a rain-shortened series that marked Canos first trip back to New York after leaving for a $240 million, 10-year contract last off-season. "Both days felt good because both days we won, so it has to feel good," Cano said. The All-Star second baseman was booed again and finished the series 2 for 9 with three RBIs. Seattle has won four straight at Yankee Stadium dating to last season. "There werent any expectations from the crowd today. I just wanted to go out and take care of business," Cano said. "You have to understand the fans, but it is not going to be a distraction for me." Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda (2-3) gave up four runs -- three earned -- and seven hits in six innings, lowering his ERA slightly to 5.14. It was an improvement over his previous outing Friday night, when the 39-year-old right-hander was hammered in a 13-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. "I think its a step in the right direction," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "A lot of nights thats going to be good enough to win." Elias (2-2) gave up a leadoff homer to Jacoby Ellsbury but not much else in his first appearance against the Yankees. The left-hander from Cuba threw 73 of 110 pitches for strikes, starting 75 per cent of his 28 batters with a strike. He allowed six hits and one earned run while walking two. Yoervis Medina worked a perfect eighth, and Fernando Rodney got three outs for his sixth save. "The adrenaline comes from the spotlight," Elias said through a translator. "Ive never been to the stadium so it was good to come here and beat the Yankees. Ive seen it on TV but never been here." Ellsbury, who sat out Tuesday with a sore left hand, sent Elias fourth pitch to right field for his first home run with the Yankees. It was New Yorks first leadoff shot since Derek Jeter connected at the Chicago Whhite Sox on Aug.dddddddddddd 21, 2012. Elias, who skipped Triple-A, struck out the next three batters and settled in from there. Showing good command of a sharp curve, he induced two double-play grounders and struck out the side in the fifth. "He was hitting his spots. He was getting ahead. He pitched a good game. Hes got a good arm," Jeter said. "Sometimes pitchers are going to be better than you. He threw really well. Hes not a typical lefty who tries to trick you. He gets it up there pretty good." Cano hit an RBI double in the first and a run-scoring groundout in the third after Jeter made an error at shortstop. Brad Miller dumped a two-out RBI single in front of hesitant left fielder Brett Gardner in the fourth. Saunders followed with a ground-rule double that made it 4-1. New York cut it to 4-2 in the sixth on Brian McCanns run-scoring single with two outs after Cano was charged with an error. Elias retired Yangervis Solarte with two on to end the inning. The Yankees did not get another baserunner until a two-out single by pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki in the ninth. "The young man threw a tremendous game. We thought hed be OK in this environment," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said about Elias. "The young man is tough." NOTES: After the rainout Wednesday, the Mariners pushed back ace Felix Hernandez one day to Friday night in Houston. Elias had been scheduled to start Wednesday, followed by Hernandez on Thursday. "Give him an extra day and it also gives Elias an extra day. It just made sense," McClendon said. "Felix has been taxed quite a bit and hes pitched on regular rest for quite a while. Its an opportunity to get him where we need him to be. His last two outings have not been sterling outings, I think we would agree. So it gives us a chance to freshen him up and get him back on the right track." ... Seattle has not announced a starter for Saturday or Sunday. McClendon said its possible All-Star RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (finger) will come off the disabled list to make his season debut this weekend. ... McClendon sat struggling CF Abraham Almonte, who was replaced by Saunders in the leadoff spot. Almonte entered on defence in the eighth. ... Many players on the Mariners received autographed Jeter jerseys -- but not Cano. ... Ellsbury has 11 career leadoff homers. 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