Hair raisin' for Joe: Hart gets the message as Willy gets a head start

Posted Monday, August 11, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

BALD LUCK: Hart faces a test to be City's No.1

It seems England's No.1 goalkeeper has been given the willies before the Premier League season has even started.

The man responsible is new team-mate Willy Caballero, who has been signed from Malaga to compete for Hart's place in the Manchester City side.

Cabellero was given the shirt yesterday at Wembley as Hart was banished to the sidelines for the season's showpiece curtain-raiser.

It could mean nothing, of course, and boss Manuel Pellegrini might well recall Hart for this weekend's opening league clash at Newcastle.

But Pellegrini's decision to pick Caballero to face Arsenal sent out a clear message to the England man - he is no longer head and shoulders above his rivals at club level.

When it comes to endorsing hair products, Hart has nothing to feel threatened about because Caballero doesn't have much need for shampoo.

Willy Caballero made his first competitive debut

But Hart's reputation no longer goes before him and he has done little to enhance it in the past 12 months.

Last season he was dropped following a series of high-profile blunders and the kick up the backside did him good.

He returned to help City win the league title, but then went backwards again during a shambolic World Cup in Brazil with England.

Now he must feel like he is back to square one and has it all to do again, but Hart must rise to the challenge and use the arrival of Caballero as a test of of his character and resolve.

But it will have been Pellegrini - not Hart - left pulling his hair out as events unfolded here.

Caballero wasn't at fault for either of the Gunners' first half goals - it was the manner in which Arsene Wenger's men ripped open the City defence that left him exposed.

But when Olivier Giroud beat him with a second half thunderbolt from long range it must have been hard for Hart not to chuckle on the bench.

This was an impressive display from the Gunners, with new signing Alexis Sanchez bringing quicksilver speed and dancing feet to Arsenal's attack.

Santi Cazorla's opening strike rewarded his bright start, Aaron Ramsey added a second to enhance his growing reputation as a world class performer and Calum Chambers looks like he's made 200 appearances at this level already.

Jack Wilshere also made the most of his chance to shine, enjoying a busy hour as he attempts to finally fulfil his massive potential.

Wilshere needs to start making headlines for the right reasons instead of ones for boozing, smoking and getting injured. This was a positive start.

The same can be said for Wenger's men in general as the Gunners look to launch a genuine assault on the Premier League this season.

They've gone 10 years without winning the title, but suddenly have a taste for champagne after picking up two trophies in the space of just three months.

But a deafening note of caution is required and those who don't believe me should consider who was absent from Pellegrini's ranks.

Vincent Kompany, Frank Lampard, Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, Bacary Sagna, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Alvaro Negredo were all missing - and it showed.

The champions looked a pale imitation of themselves and Wenger should welcome this win with some perspective in mind.

The true test for the Gunners will come next month when City visit the Emirates with what Pellegrini hopes will be a much stronger cast.

If the result is the same on September 13 then Gunners fans - and Wenger himself - can start to feel really excited.