New Graham Arnold era offers hope for future of Socceroos

It would a tough critic who was not impressed by the early signs of Graham Arnold’s resurrection as the Socceroos coach.

Socceroo Apostolos Giannou, second from left, after scoring against Kuwait

Australia’s win over an outclassed Kuwait in a friendly this morning was probably marginally better than a training run but it would a tough critic who would not be impressed by the early positive signs of Graham Arnold’s resurrection as the Socceroos coach.

For the first time in seven games, the Socceroos didn’t have to rely on a penalty or free-kick to find the back of the net, putting four past hapless Kuwait in a polished performance that could have produced an even bigger scoreline had they made better use of the numerous chances.

Apostolos Giannou, Tom Rogic and Awer Mabil got a goal each to go with a Kuwait own goal in what was a dominant performance as Arnold took charge of his first game with the national team since 2007.

It was clear that Arnold’s heavy emphasis on attack, first during a week-long training camp in Turkey recently, and then in the six days or so lead-up, paid off as the Socceroos showed their attacking intent from the start.

The Socceroos pressed their opposition hard then quickly pushed bodies forward in numbers in attacking positions. Often there were three, four and give yellow shirts in the penalty area as they waited for balls into the box.

Maybe the execution could have been better — their completion rate for crosses in the first half was just 25 per cent — but at least we are safe in the knowledge that it is only going to get better the more time Arnold, who has only been in the job since July, gets to work with the players.

And that’s not forgetting what Martin Boyle, a Scottish-born winger who is awaiting his Australian citizenship papers, will bring to the side with his blistering pace, skill and crossing ability.

Still, it was good to see the players enjoying the freedom to express themselves against the Kuwaitis after previous coach Bert van Marwijk’s safety-first approach during the World Cup finals campaign in Russia in June.

Tom Rogic, in particular, was in dazzling form while Massimo Luongo showed how ludicrous it was that he did not get a single minute of game time in Russia.

Daniel Arzani showed just how exciting a player he is with a superb cameo in which he ran at the opposition as well as putting in some dangerous crosses. He has been forced to bide his time in the reserves at Scottish giants Celtic, but it can’t be long before manager Brendan Rodgers sees the light and gives him his chance in the first XI.

And then there is surely the feel good story of Australian sport in recent times — the Socceroos debuts, as substitutes, of close friends Mabil and Thomas Deng, whose parents fled the civil war in Africa before eventually making a home in South Australia.

Both were born in Kenya to South Sudanese parents and grew up in Andrew Farms in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. They have been friends from the age of nine.

They are part of what looks to be an exciting and growing wave of talent Arnold is looking to bring in as he sets about rebuilding the national team.

The trick now for Arnold and the players is to continue with the positive signs. They will get sterner tests against South Korea in Brisbane on November 17 and Lebanon at ANZ Stadium three days later and that will tell us more about where this squad is headed.

They will be the final lead-up games to Australia’s defence of the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates in January.