Premier League
Breaking Down Arsenal’s Defensive Crisis
It is clear that Arsenal have several defensive issues. Over the past few weeks, injuries to defensive players have made people think that Arsenal need reinforcements at the back. Shkodran Mustafi, Héctor Bellerin, Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal, and Sead Kolašinac have all dealt with injuries lately. Club captain Laurent Koscielny has returned to the team after a lengthy layoff. Additionally, youngster Dinos Mavropanos has returned to training after a long-term injury. There is much to figure out for Unai Emery and the Arsenal board regarding their back line. But, there is one thing that must be understood. Arsenal do not need defensive reinforcements because of their injuries. They need new signings because the defenders they have, healthy or not, are absolutely horrible.
Numbers Never Lie
The Gunners have been poor defensively for too long without addressing the issue. Many hoped that a new manager would sort out the defensive problems, which he may still do, but not without new signings. Arsenal have allowed the most goals of the teams in “the big 6” over the last two and a half seasons (2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19). No other team has allowed more than 89 goals. Arsenal have let in 125 in that span of 96 matches. In the current campaign, they have allowed only two less goals than Manchester United who have already sacked their manager. The narrative around the clubs is very different and this is partly because of Arsenal’s long unbeaten run. That 22-match streak covered up the issues with the club. On the positive side, a team with this many issues going unbeaten for that long is that much more impressive.
Central Defenders
- Sokratis Papastathopoulos
- Shkodran Mustafi
- Laurent Koscielny
- Rob Holding (out for season)
- Dinos Mavropanos
- Calum Chambers (on loan at Fulham)
Veterans
The list of central defenders on the books at Arsenal looks like a shortlist of players that would make for a great third center back at a club that only plays with two. Sokratis has been a presence at the back since signing in the summer. He has been a bully in defense which has been missed recently. Unfortunately, that is just a cover from his defensive shortcomings.
Mustafi is just a problem. Since he signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2016, he has failed to justify the fee of 41 million euros. He has produced many head-scratching moments that make you wonder how he makes 90,000 a week. Has he had some good performances? Yes. Has any Arsenal supporter ever felt confident with him at the back? Not a chance.
Koscielny is 33 and coming off a bad Achilles injury. Yet somehow, I’d still pick him over Mustafi and Sokratis. I think his days in an Arsenal shirt are numbered, but his health is imperative for the rest of the campaign.
Youngsters
Rob Holding’s injury is the biggest blow for a few reasons. First of all, he is the best central defender at the club. He was first choice before his knee ligament injury at Old Trafford. Second, his injury keeps him out for the remainder of the season. He will play no part in the rest of the 2018/19 season. A strong 2019/20 season for him after recovering will still be vital.
Dinos Mavropanos has featured very little since signing with the club last January. In his short spell he has gotten fans excited, received a straight red card in the Premier League, and picked up a long-term injury. We still do not know much about him, but he is highly touted by the club.
Calum Chambers has had an up and down Arsenal career and is now on loan for the second time since joining the club in the summer of 2014. I would expect him to be sold in the summer.
Fullbacks
- Hector Bellerin
- Stephan Lichtsteiner
- Sead Kolasinac
- Nacho Monreal
- Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Right Back
Hector Bellerin is the star of the pack. If the club was to keep one defender and clean house with the rest of the lot, the Spanish right-back would remain. Before his injury, he was having his best season thus far at the senior level. He has returned to training and will be welcomed back into the first team with open arms.
Stephan Lichtsteiner arrived this past summer on a free transfer and still Arsenal spent too much money on him. I have no doubt that he is a great mentor to Bellerin and the other players in the club. But if that is all he is good for, he should be on the coaching staff. Signing a 34 year old who had been playing in a slower paced Serie A is not among the smartest moves.
Left Back
Sead Kolasinac is a modern wing back. He is too attacking to be a fullback and too defensive to be a winger. The issue is he has been used in a back four and his performances have suffered because of it. I actually think he is a really good player to have in the squad, but not as a starter.
Nacho Monreal is getting older and not staying fit. That is not a good sign for a player who is trying to earn a new contract at the Emirates. Unai Emery mentioned that he wanted to extend his deal beyond this season, but there has been no more talk of it. If he remains sidelined much more this season, that new contract will be coming from a new club.
Hybrid
I questioned whether or not to involve Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the defensive setup at Arsenal. But it is a harsh reality that if he wants minutes in the senior team, fullback is where he will get those for the time being. He has showed good flashes on both sides of the defense, but is still a raw talent. I cannot imagine he is thrilled about where he stands in the midfield pecking order, but there is not much for him to do right now.
The Board
Arsenal have several people in place that are paid millions of dollars to scout new talent for the first team. I cannot tell you who the player is that will transform the defense. I can tell you that the club probably needs at least two defensive signings to see any real change in their fortunes. But to have any shot at the Champions League this season, whether they qualify through the top four or winning the Europa League, a central defender is a must. The biggest question is whether or not Stan Kroenke is willing to splash the cash to make a move possible. With 18 games remaining, they only have to make up five points on Chelsea who sit in fourth. Kroenke may see that as an opportunity to spend a little less by getting an older, more experienced player to do a job in the short term before spending the big bucks. If they do not bring anybody in, a repeat of the 5-1 Anfield horror is bound to happen again when they travel to the Etihad in February.
Photo credit to Dickson Dagogo via Flickr
