The Most Terrifying Man in MLS

I want to start this in so many ways, so let’s try them all.

Chicho Arango is one goal shy of RSL’s single-season goal scoring record and we’re halfway through the season.

Chicho Arango is more valuable to his team’s success than Lionel Messi. He is there every matchday winning games. At some point availability is ability.

From 2021-2023 Christian “Chicho” Arango scored 35 goals in 57 appearances for LAFC. At the end of 2023, LAFC were running into cap issues with Arango, Carlos Vela, Jose Cifuentes, Diego Palacios, and Stipe Buik all wanting big money. One is a free agent, one was sold for $1m to Rangers, one went on a free to Corinthians, one is on loan in La Liga 2, and one has 20 goal contributions in 17 matches for the Western Conference leaders RSL. Guess which one LAFC decided to sell to Pachuca?

So let’s talk about the most dangerous man in Major League Soccer, Colombian Christian “Chicho” Arango.

Only four months after his sale to Pachuca, RSL negotiated the return of the 29 year old Colombian back to Major League Soccer with a club-record transfer of over $4 million.

Chicho is simply put a goal machine. Always has been. RSL are capitalizing on this machine to raise the level of the squad. Sometimes he’s a poacher, in the right place at the right time, but many other times he’s simply magic. His stats jump off the screen, but you can’t really grasp what’s happening without watching some of these bangers.

This is his most recent escapade against Austin FC:

What I love about this goal other than ALL OF IT, was Chicho’s very lackadaisical approach which I think he does on purpose to lull his defender and the keeper out of their pressure. Yes the shot is insane, the technique is excellent, but to make sure the keeper and the defender weren’t hurrying back into position, Arango waits until the last moment to make his approach to the ball.

Lovely stuff.

Keep in mind Arango ranks highly in MLS for goals, xg, expected goals following a pass (what I take to mean he creates space extremely well), shot-creating actions but also in things that aren’t necessarily goalscoring - like progressive passes and progressive carries. He really is a complete player and at 29 years old he is solidly in his prime. The only thing I can really knock him on is his aerial ability, but with the way RSL want to build that’s not an issue.

I love how much he is able to play in the buildup. He’s often dropping into the midfield lines playing off the right side of Ecuadorian forward Anderson Julio and Colombian compatriot RW Andres Gomez. This heatmap only furthers the point that he’s absolutely everywhere in the attacking third, slightly preferring to drop into the channels on the right side.

And if you are in the unfortunate position to take an early lead on RSL this season, you are never safe with Arango on the pitch. St Louis City found this out the hard way. I mean just take a look at Chicho’s ability to give himself the slightest space while being able to get his shot off. His shot speed and placement are obviously impressive but what makes this even possible is the speed at which he gets his shot off.

This is an often overlooked skillset on attacking players: how quickly can you get a shot off from beginning to end of the “shooting” motion. When I think about “foot” speed I always go back to Harry Kane as the best in the world. When you think it’s absolutely impossible to get power or placement on a shot Harry Kane makes it effortless. That’s why a seemingly innocent mouth-breather is one of the most deadly goal scorers in the world.

And Chicho Arango has that in his locker. It’s not at the level of ‘Arry Kane but it’s in the same realm and that’s saying a lot.

You’ll also find his Jorginho-esque penalty run-up. His penalty record is impeccable and it’s because he’s watching where the keeper will move before he places his shot. Personally I’m a fan of just thundercunting the ball as hard as you can into the top bins but hey, there’s a reason I’m not a professional.

This is one of my favorite goals. Mostly because it shows his calibre in so many different areas. First the sublime touch to bring it down with his thigh. That alone is chef’s kiss levels of control. Then it’s a showcase in his teammates attacking action and Arango’s movement. Diego Luna is a blessing for RSL this season and adds so much dynamism with his creativity. Arango’s looping run off the defender to make sure he gives the defender a difficult decision and then the finish. Let’s talk about this.

So you may be familiar with a little-known Frenchman who played for New York Red Bulls - Thierry Henry. While at Monaco and then Arsenal, Henry trademarked a very particular far-post curling shot. It’s one of the most deadly and recognizable shots in football. Nobody has really been able to replicate this shot with as much success and as much consistency.

Enter Kylian Mbappe. Another little-known Frenchman who just signed for Real Madrid. What a scouting department they have! Anyways… While at PSG Mbappe began to show glimpses of resurrecting that same far-post curl, but now with a modern twist. When an attacker opens their body and shows with their hips the direction in which they want to curl the ball the keeper can prepare by taking a step towards the far post in anticipation. What Mbappe figured out is that you can still open your hips but plant your foot towards the near post and curl it in that direction.

While it’s objectively a less dangerous shot to a keeper, it’s harder to save if you’ve cheated to the far post.

That’s exactly the shot we see Arango take in this instance. He opened his body, shows his hips far-post, and planted his foot facing the near post and went that way with the shot. I love this evolution and I especially love to see it rear its head in MLS.

RSL isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Chicho Arango isn’t stopping anytime soon. This man and this team is a menace to MLS and without hyperbole I do think he should be the mid-season MVP favorite.