Mustafi
Shkodran Mustafi has had three clean sheets in his last three games. He hasn’t made many mistakes, and of the few that he has made, they haven’t been punished. So, naturally folks are hoping for a Mustafi redemption.
The only problem with this is that Mustafi started this season with three clean sheets in his first three games. And despite the results going his way it’s not like he’s banished the mental and physical errors which undermine his game.
I’ve never had a burning hatred of Mustafi. He’s a goofball in the locker room and seems to be well-liked. On the pitch his long passing is sometimes spectacular – he picked out Auba from 80 yards for Arsenal’s goal against Olympiakos. And he’s overcome his first season jitters and is brave in aerial duels. So, I see why managers keep picking him.
But we also just have to accept that he’s going to make some terrible vertical passes which will put the team in danger. And he’s also going to make mental and physical errors which expose Leno and David Luiz.
Every player makes mistakes but Mustafi is less prone to errors and more prone to simply explode. The trick for Arteta is to create systems and structure around Mustafi which cover for his errors and helps make them less hurtful. It’s kind of like when I was in boot camp and they gave me a live grenade to throw. You could see inside the bunker there where grenades had gone off before – because some nervous private dropped it or something. And they send you in there with a drill sergeant, just in case something goes wrong. But the key thing is that sarge had on a bomb-vest. Arteta needs to make sure Arsenal’s defense and midfield are wearing their bomb vests.
Overall, I think Arteta has done pretty well to reduce the effect of Mustafi’s errors. But I still think Pablo Mari was brought in to play on the left so that David Luiz – who is right footed – can play in a much more natural position in the middle of the Arsenal defense.
Saka
With 8 assists in 1692 minutes Bukayo Saka leads Arsenal both in total assists and in assists per90. So, it’s no wonder that he’s made himself indispensable in at least one position and started to ask questions about whether he should be moved more forward on a permanent basis.
Of course, if this was video game football you could try him there and then if it didn’t work out, revert to your last save point. But here in real life we are talking about a seventeen year old and suggesting that he should start in one of the most important positions in the attack on a team that has aspirations of winning the domestic and European leagues.
In order to start, he would have to displace one of the most prolific strikers on the team. I don’t mean that Arsenal would sacrifice Aubameyang, rather the suggestion is to move Auba to the middle and sacrifice Lacazette.
I understand the frustration with Lacazette. I do. But realistically, he’s scoring/assisting at a rate of 0.6 per90. That’s 4th best on Arsenal (all competitions). If I moved anyone into the left forward spot and moved Auba over to the CF position, it would be to accommodate Martinelli, who is scoring/assisting at an incredible 0.91 per90!
Anyway, I think it’s a moot point – or, ok, a fun thought experiment. I don’t have any problem with Saka at left back. His crosses are exceptional and Arsenal have been crying out for a left back who could add some real threat going forward for years. I see Saka as another threat in Arsenal’s attack and frankly we need as much attack as possible right now.
I say we keep in at left back.
Maitland-Niles
On January 31st, when Arsenal signed Soares I wrote
Signing Soares makes me wonder where Ainsley Maitland-Niles will play the rest of the season? As backup to Torreira in midfield? Is that really a promotion? As a right wing player? He doesn’t seem to have the passing stats to back that up and he would still be backup to Pepe.
Some folks see Soares as a rolodex signing, arguing that Arsenal’s Raul Sanllehi is just signing a player to appease his agent Jorge Mendes. I kind of understand the sentiment behind that because I don’t trust these agents at all. But this signing basically pushes Maitland-Niles out the door.
That was just after my appearance on the Arsecast and since then Maitland-Niles has played basically one minute of football. The biggest indication that Maitland-Niles is probably not part of Arteta’s plans is that Sokratis was started at right back against Olympiakos. If the coach is giving away the right back spot to a center back when he has a player who has played right back for him a number of times I have to assume the coach thinks that player doesn’t fit his system.
I like Maitland-Niles and I think it’s a bit sad that he’s not as loved by the coach as he is by some fans. My gut says he will be sold this summer but I can’t rule anything out with Arteta. Maybe he’s bringing Maitland-Niles along as a midfielder or something.
Xhaka
Just a few weeks ago, Granit Xhaka was booed off the pitch as he told the home fans where to go and what to do. Unai Emery – who has never shied away from a fight with an important player – dragged him and dropped him.
But Arteta gave everyone a clean sheet and promised to start any player who worked hard and followed his directions. Xhaka did both and has set himself once again as an integral part of this Arsenal team.
Even the folks out there that think managers can’t really do anything to improve players have to admit that Arteta has turned Xhaka’s Arsenal career around. And he’s done so by improving the structure around Xhaka.
Every player has flaws. It doesn’t matter how great that player is, if you put them in a bad system, with teammates who aren’t able to help cover their faults, that player will look very bad.
When Xhaka came to Arsenal, I thought he would be the Arteta replacement that we needed. Some might not remember but Arteta was such a great player, and had such a great footballing mind, that he was able to operate alone at the base of the midfield.
But while Xhaka had similar stats to Arteta we were warned (by former writer and now MD*, Naveen) that Xhaka struggled reading the game defensively and lacked the speed necessary to cover space and recover when he made an error. Wenger played him there as the lone CM regardless. And did so, I think, in order to maximize Arsenal’s attack.
Emery’s major change was to play a second MFer next to Xhaka. But doing that stripped Arsenal of an attacking player, slowing down the buildup, and forcing Arsenal to start play deeper. All of which had the unfortunate effect of making it easier for the opponent to press us, made Arsenal just as error-prone as before (and because we were playing in our own half easier to score against), and made it more difficult to hold onto the ball.
So far, Arteta’s plan is to keep the two MFers – because he knows Xhaka can’t do the solo CM role – and simplify Xhaka’s job. In a similar way to Mustafi the new Arteta compactness covers for Xhaka’s once or twice a game error while maximizing his impact on the team by making him the metronome of the midfield.
I’m not going to make a call on Xhaka’s future under Arteta. My instinct says that the manager would want a player who could play the solo DM role. But I can no longer rule Xhaka out for anything. Dude is a survivor!
*Not sure why but half of my readers are MDs or PhDs.
Damn! And thanks Tim.
You’ve captured exactly my views on #20 (I can’t even mutter the name anymore). Of course, if he’s on the pitch I want him to do well. But. Cheeses me to no end when folks can’t grasp what’s there to observe.
In the 71st minute– #20 came close to costing Arsenal– with a typical time-bomb Mistaki. An unnecessary flying tackle when positional defending was required. Another defender on the scene– with just another moment needed to help thwart the attack. Instead, a booking, a free kick (Oly’s best weapon on the day)– and only a stone-handed Leno save at point-blank range gets #20 off-the-hook.
I trust Arteta implicitly. Even in selecting a defender I can never trust. Very much want it to work out. Do love an underdog. Even as an optimist– it grinds my gears when some gloss over these continuing flaws– as if they didn’t happen.
Heh. Was for a time (playing Ultimate 🥏) nicknamed — ‘The Reverend Dr J’.
Connotations not doctorally-related. Some were– conferred (officiated weddings).
Hard to say that guy even exists anymore. Heh.
Is it a coincidence Tim that you picked four players who may not be playing for us next season? Mustafi must be certain to leave if Raul is true to his word about no longer allowing contracts to be run down. Xhaka will surely evaluate his options in the Summer. Saka quite rightly is the subject of much speculation and hopefully will commit soon. And with Ainsley it feels like he is being shown the door. Hey if Arteta ups their game and we see an uplift in resale values should they depart everything is good.
Saka will certainly be here next season but if we can coax good value on the market for the other three then that’s amazing win for the club.
Surely every player makes mistakes especially defenders.
Think of such saintly players as Gerard and Terry and even our own Tone.
It is likely that the pathetic system or non-system that Emery inflicted on our team exacerbated the effect of mistakes and led to goals against.
I suspect that Soctaris was used deliberately because of the opposition and where the game was.
I also suspect that AMN will have a future with us.
If Saka forgets that he is only 17 and just starting his career and demands too much money, thinking he is better than he actually is, then let him go and he will end a flop as so many of our greedy youngsters have done.
I am not a Dr in any shape or form, but, as I am a lawyer (in the Uk), if I was in mainland Europe I would be called Dr.
You can add me to the list. I’m a DMD and I wake up every morning before work hoping you have anrw article out.
I have always seen people write about structures. It is very common to say that particular players need a precise structure around them to succeed and it is used as some sort of jab at their lack of versatility. It has been said about Xhaka, Mustafi, Ozil and Kolasinac as some sort of criticism. I have always seen this as lazy analysis.
This is lazy because every player on the planet needs the right conditions to thrive and has specific systems/structures to show their best. Outside of those conditions and systems/structures, the player might just play well enough to show what they are capable of.
Suitable systems/structures for players are not as overall encompassing as many like making things out to be. Mustafi, Xhaka, Kolasinac and Ozil thrive under the same systems/structures, and building around any of them isn’t as radical as is being made to seem.
In this world there are players who are at their best in a team that emphasises attack and front footed football. These are the top players on the planet and it does not require specific instructions. That is why Arsene never worried about having too many good players because these players always want the ball and do their best work when in possession of it. All the top sides in world football play with an attacking philosophy and thus are a perfect environment for top players.
I like using Pique as an example. He could be regarded as the best centre back of the past 15 years, along with Ramos and Thiago Silva, but he struggled with the one defensive manager he had in his career. Mistakes were happening frequently, his passing wasn’t as good anymore and he was being targeted by attackers in one-v-one situations which he rarely had under other managers.
Top sides play attacking football and try to force their will on whomever the play. Aretha hasn’t had to do too much to the team’s systems/structures to bring out the best from these players. The stats do not really paint a pretty picture of our defensive performances when it comes to expected goals conceded, but what has happened is that players who thrive on the ball and on helping the team in the opposition half have been pushed higher up the pitch and been on the ball much more.
Now this does not mean systems/structures were not adjusted, but it’s the overall philosophy that has had a greater impact in these players’ perfromances taking an up-turn. I don’t think there has been specific tweaks for each individual, just a change to a big team’s way of playing which suits top players.
I also don’t see a difference between Mustafi and Otamendi, and Otamendi hasn’t stopped City from being successful.
Nice comp.
AMN, Willock, Nelson. These are our Home Grown players and we need to keep them in the squad. I’d be surprised if AMN is sold. He doesn’t see himself as a RB, and maybe neither does Arteta. If he can become a decent midfielder, his speed and versatility will be of immense use in the squad.
Likewise for Saka. Maybe it’s just so that Saka signs a new contract, but Mikel actually said LB is not his position. If I had to guess, I’d say Saka will play further up front next season.
Does that mean the end for Lacazette? It depends on Auba’s contract, and maybe Auba’s relationship with Laca. Matteo and Pepe are part of Auba’s posse too, and both have had issues with management. Nothing serious, but still. In fact, Xhaka’s comments a few months ago made me think Emery was treating Auba’s group with kid gloves and the rest of the squad felt it was unfair. Arteta seems to have got Auba to leave Aftv alone though.
And that’s the greatest job Arteta has done. Reinstate a culture at the club. Everything else stems from that.
Dear Tim and other avid watchers. Do we think Mustafi can become a great DM? Seems like a position that can utilise his strengths and minimise impact of his occasional mis-kicks. No?
I think he is a good ball playing Centre back, and possibly could be a functional right back, but in midfield I think he will be found wanting.
I say this for two reasons.
1. It is more preferable for players to move positions going backwards in departments, rather than forwards when it comes to making the team better in possession. Moving players further forward for more defensive solidity makes sense, but we are solid already. I would have understood if he was special on the ball and a significant upgrade on what we already have in the DM role, but sadly he isn’t. Luiz is an example of a DM moving backwards to add passing to the sides he plays for. At smaller clubs he stood out as a DM, but at top clubs, ball playing defenders are required and he fit the bill.
2. I have not seen him show the technical and tactical requirements for the role of a DM, especially since the centre backs have far less pressure on the ball and do not have to worry about what’s behind them. His propensity to fold under pressure will be far more exposed in the midfield areas where time on the ball is limited.
Having said that, if we need more defensive solidity at any point without worrying about our play on the ball, he would be an interesting option. For now, even Luiz is questionable in midfield for how we play.
No
Interesting post Tim
I think its a bit early to suggest that Mustafi and Xhaka have suddenly changed and Arteta has permanently fixed them and made them better. The whole squad was in a terrible run of form this season and we were certainly due for a run of better form. The team has been playing much better as a unit on the defensive end and that makes everyone look better but short runs of form can be misleading. The long term reality is almost always somewhere between the truly bad form and the runs of really good form. The last decade is filled with short lived false dawns. It happened every season under Arsene and even Emery had team playing well for periods of time. Time will tell how shakes out.
The post is worth quoting at length:
The only problem with this is that Mustafi started this season with three clean sheets in his first three games. And despite the results going his way it’s not like he’s banished the mental and physical errors which undermine his game….
On the pitch his long passing is sometimes spectacular – he picked out Auba from 80 yards for Arsenal’s goal against Olympiakos. And he’s overcome his first season jitters and is brave in aerial duels. So, I see why managers keep picking him.
But we also just have to accept that he’s going to make some terrible vertical passes which will put the team in danger. And he’s also going to make mental and physical errors which expose Leno and David Luiz.
Every player makes mistakes but Mustafi is less prone to errors and more prone to simply explode….”
Where in that even-handed and nuanced take on Mustafi’s game is there room to conclude, as you do, that the argument is that:
“Mustafi and Xhaka have suddenly changed and Arteta has permanently fixed them and made them better?”
Good form and bad form tend to even out over the course of a 38 game season there are certainly exceptions to this generalization but teams tend to find roughly their correct level based on the talent in the squad. Every year in this decade under Arsene we always seemed to have a good 1/2 season which for most of this decade was enough to keep us in the top 4. However, in the last few seasons the talent in the other clubs competing for the top 4 has surpassed us and we have ended up in the Europa league spots. Same thing is probably going to happen this season and I suspect we will end up in one of the Europa league spots
Thankfully we have Auba and they don’t.
Still not convinced with Ozil’s and Xhaka’s performance in that game against Everton. I think Ozil is working harder for the team and is doing more running off the ball. But it’s not his natural game. So it just appears half hearted. I’m sure it’s not. But he still slows down play at times, instead of trying to do the forward pass.
The amount of times Xhaka lost possession in dangerous areas of the pitch.
I think Saka at left back works quite nicely and wouldn’t move him.
He’s hardly likely to keep PEA out of the team.
He’s less likely to get marked closely than if he was moved further forward
He’s always facing the right way, so doesn’t need to “turn”.
When he does go forward, Xhaka tends to slot in as cover on that side.
Apart from anything else, if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it.
I have seen a lot of people pointing to slowing down of play by some of our players in the second half, and it surprises me.
We took the lead within seconds of the second half starting, which means we basically spent the entire second half leading. What usually happens in football when you are leading is that the opposition will have to get more of the ball and play in your half to try and get back into the game. The dominance of possession and position on the pitch will then require a higher tempo to open up spaces and create chances, so they will be playing with urgency (higher tempo).
There are some basics in football that are very important to game management of any side. One basic is that the team must make the pitch as big as possible when in possession (spread the shape of the team across the pitch) and make the pitch as small as possible when out of possession (shape must be compact). Another basic is that when you are losing, you must increase the tempo of your play to open spaces, create chances and also because time is of the essence when you are losing. When you are leading though, you need to slow the game down. You slow it down to disturb the opposition’s tempo, to scan the pitch for passes that keep possession, to eat up time that the opposition are trying to use to score and use the opposition’s tempo/momentum to win fouls because they will find it harder to stop when they run to disposses you.
Slowing down a game when you are losing is easy, there isn’t much pressure on you and it is counter productive. Slowing down the game when you are winning is very difficult, there is swarming pressure on the player in possession and it is a very important part of game management. If we had the ability to manage games by slowing them down how we are doing right now, games like Watford wouldn’t have happened.
I see a player slowing down the game and bringing the tempo down when the team is leading, I see impeccable in-game intelligence, composure and talent. That’s why I loved Arteta, Rui Costa, Carrick, Zidane, Pirlo, Tiago and Alonso. It is also why I currently love watching Verrati, Fabian Ruiz, Ozil, Pjanic, Ceballos, Busquets, Brozovic and many more.
I am seeing game management improving, and I am pleased.
Some good points here but I think we were just tired.
Three games in a week, plus a return flight to Athens? I think I’d be slowing the game down.
Meanwhile, Everton had two weeks off to relax and enjoy the multiple pleasures of Merseyside. Lucky them.
I went to a pub quiz in Liverpool, had a few drinks so wasn’t much use.
“Just for a laugh I wrote The Beatles or Steven Gerrard for every answer… came second”.
On the MD thing, most arsenal fans I know are well read. I think it’s an arsenal thing.
Think you are a PHD Devlin…the way you fit formulas to data. A compliment, really since like reading you.
Tim , of course is the ultimate , fitting chickens and dog to make a spell- binding narrative. But , sorry , that was his story for the next day.
You guys are super