Arsenal: Shkodran Mustafi Pace Key To Defensive Performance
Shkodran Mustafi has quickly formed a formidable partnership with Laurent Koscielny. His superior pace to Per Mertesacker is key to Arsenal’s defensive success.
Arsene Wenger has often wanted to play a high pressing tactic in recent seasons. This is especially true against the better sides. Arsenal have played a high line against the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and local rivals Spurs repeatedly over the past few seasons to varying degrees of success.
The issue with the high press, dominating the ball and the game is the potential dangers on the counter attack. This has been a keen weakness for Wenger’s side, particularly against teams with high-octane, high paced strike forces. Liverpool and Chelsea especially have been extremely potent, ripping an often disorganised and unprepared Gunners’ defence.
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The main issue has been the pace of one Per Mertesacker. The Big German had formed a rather formidable partnership with Laurent Koscielny with their two skill sets complimenting each other well. Koscielny’s pace helps to cover for Mertesacker’s lack of athletic ability, while Per’s aerial ability, reading of the game and leadership qualities have been key assets to the back four as a whole.
Nonetheless, his lack of pace has been exposed on numerous occasions and has cost his side matches in the past. However, on Saturday, in one of the best performances from an Arsenal team in many many years, while much of the media attention has been focused on the wonders of the attacking display, it was the defensive solidarity that was particularly pleasing.
This came from the successful high press that suffocated Chelsea’s midfield in the first half and then a disciplined structure in the second, reducing the space with which the likes of Eden Hazard can exploit. While Mertesacker would have been able to handle a deeper role like in the second half, the first 45 minutes was helped by the pace of new signing Shkodran Mustafi.
Arsenal could play with a high line without having to worry about being exposed in behind. Koscielny and Mustafi can match the pace of many strikers in the Premier League, thus allowing the whole side to push far higher up the pitch and pressurise the opposition.
It was an excellent defensive display on Saturday and Wenger will be hoping that his side can replicate such performances with a run of fixtures that should allow for a long run of victories. The improved athletic ability of the back four, headlined by Mustafi, will go a long way to helping.
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