The Daily Dirt, April 4: Importance

One thing that stuck out to me on Friday night watching the first half in Seattle was that Miguel Almiron’s absence was glaring. So much of the talk going into the match was Josef Martinez’s injury, but it was Almiron who seemed to be the bigger missing piece. I think that if this team achieves what it can this season, Miguel Almiron will be in the running for the MLS MVP award.

Is he the most important player on the field for the club? Leandro Gonzalez Pirez could lay claim to that title. Atlanta United still has not given up a goal from the run of play with him on the field. He has gotten better and better with each game and was a massive factor in Friday’s shutout in Seattle.

The rest of the backline are no slouches either. They have combined to notch two straight shutouts and 240 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal.

In your opinion, who is the most important player to Atlanta United right now? Let us know in the comments.

Domestic

FC Dallas trying to reverse history in the CONCACAF Champions League for MLS clubs (Goal)

FOX Deportes reports that Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the LA Galaxy is a thing (LAG Confidential)

Rookie Alex Crognale is impressing for the Columbus Crew (Massive Report)

Negative soccer is not a new tactic against the New York Red Bulls (Empire of Soccer)

Orlando City and Jason Kreis working on what went wrong in their first loss (Orlando Sentinel)

What you might have missed from Week 5 around the league (MLS)

International

Ireland’s women’s national team blast their federation for substandard treatment (Independent)

Arsene Wenger vows to reveal his Arsenal future “soon” (FourFourTwo)

Local