He’s been looking good so far this season, but on Friday night he was outstanding for Victory. He had the swagger back – the calmness under pressure – and if his colleagues had been a little sharper he would have constructed a win for them.

He was head and shoulders the best player on the park (although somehow the Paramount team gave MOTM to Ulysses Davila).

We were all so excited about Arzani back in 2018. I was at the ground in Kazan when he made his debut at the World Cup – the newest wunderkind long before the likes of Garang Kuol or Nestory Irankunda. It was amazing to see him take the pitch because it meant he was locked in for Australia and we all anticipated a long and happy decade or so of watching him.

Alas. Many observers (including me) worried that Scotland was not the best place for the Manchester City prospect to learn his trade. Not so much because it’s not a “technical” league – more because the conditions in Scotland are so different from what he grew up on.

Australian muscles grow up getting used to hard and fast pitches, so the soft pitches of Scotland can play havoc with soft tissue. Am I right Marco Tilio?

Also, the ball doesn’t quite behave the way our young players are used to when they go to Scotland so the various extra micro-movements they make to adjust can lead to major problems. Even Aaron Mooy struggled for a while.

That’s how it turned out for young Daniel. Twenty minutes into his Celtic debut (he was playing really well) and he dropped to the ground in agony. Scans showed the dreaded ACL tear and that was his career down the toilet.

For a while.

It’s taken him a long time to get back.

A tentative season with the Bulls and now he’s flying again with Victory.

There is no other Australian player with his footspeed, his vision, his ball retention and range of passing in tight spaces. His football IQ is off the scale and he is at the perfect age to become a focal point for the National Team going forward.

On Friday night he was dangerous every time he touched the ball. His dead ball play was Goodwin-esque. He got in behind several times, played numerous slide-rule passes in the box and won corners. Bruno Fornaroli should be hanging his head after missing a couple of easy chances set up by brilliant balls from Arzani.

Looking back at how the Socceroos played against Palestine, we so lacked a creative spark. People have been crying for Irankunda, or Garang Kuol, or Mo Toure to take up that mantle but we’ve forgotten the wunderkind who has been just awaiting his chance.

Surely Daniel’s time has come. If he maintains that level of performance, then Arnie will have no choice other than to select him for the Asian Cup. He is arguably the most technically gifted Australian player right now, so why wouldn’t we take him?

Can you imagine Arzani linking up with Jordy Bos, Irankunda, Garang Kuol, Mo Toure, Connor Metcalfe, Riley McGree?

That’s what I want to to see.

Make it happen Arnie.

 

Adrian's books can be purchased at any good bookstore or through ebook alchemy. His first sci-fi novel (Asparagus Grass) was published by Hague Publishing in July 2023. The ebook can be purchased here and the paperback can be ordered here or at your local store.