It’s been the same old story season after season for Arsenal of late; a promising campaign ultimately falls flat and fails to deliver, scuppered by a perceived lack of battle and defensive nous at the back. For years now, Arsene Wenger has chosen to ignore the many calls for Arsenal to buy a “Premier League type” centre-half, a ball-winner with a physical presence and a never-say-die attitude so synonymous with England‘s top-flight.
Instead, the Gunners boss has mainly placed his faith in less robust, ball-playing types, with the likes of Thomas Vermaelen, Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny arriving at the Emirates over the last few close seasons. While Vermaelen’s debut season in 2009/10 saw the Belgian establish himself as one of the stand-out defenders in the Premier League, injuries ruined his campaign last time round and saw him make just 5 appearances for Arsenal.
In Vermaelen’s absence, Wenger’s side relied upon Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou and Sébastien Squillaci in the heart of defence and the Arsenal the trio coped admirably for the first three-quarters of the season, with 11 Clean Sheets in the first 28 league games, a ratio of 39%. It was in the final few games, with the pressure on as they challenged for the title, when Arsenal capitulated; just 2 Clean Sheets in the last 10 matches (a drop down to 20%) -conceding 2 or more goals in 6 of those games- an indication of their inability to prevail when it matters most.
This time, however, the story looks like having a different ending, with the news that a move for Blackburn Rovers’ Christopher Samba in very much on the cards for Arsenal. Here’s a look at Arsenal’s current centre-half situation and what Samba will offer if he does, indeed, make his way to the Emirates.
Christopher Samba
68% Aerial Duels won. 1.5 Tackles, 2.1 Interceptions, 11 Clearances, 1.2 Blocked Shots, 1.2 Shots per game. Total Goals =4.
Arsenal Centre-Half average (Koscielny, Djourou, Squillaci)
54% Aerial Duels won. 1.56 Tackles, 2.23 Interceptions, 5.9 Clearances, 0.53 Blocked Shots, 0.36 Shots per game. Total Goals =4.
What’s noticeable immediately is the extra dominance in the air Samba will give the Gunners. Djourou was the best of the Arsenal trio on 58%, with Koscielny and Squillaci down on 53%. Samba’s 68% is more in line with the likes of Nemanja Vidic (67%) and Vincent Company (70%), who scored.com’s Premier League centre-halves of the season.
Both Samba’s 1.5 Tackles and 2.1 Interceptions are similar to the Arsenal average here but it is his 11 Clearances and 1.2 Blocked Shots per game that really stand out. The Arsenal three averaged 5.9 Clearances apiece per game, almost half that of Samba- Squillaci was as low as 4.6. This is a vital stat, indicative of a player’s anticipation and ability to clear his lines when the ball is in the danger zone- exactly what Arsenal are lacking. Again, Samba is in league with Vidic (9.5) and Kompany (9.1).
Samba’s 1.2 Blocked Shots per game highlight his reading of the game and fearlessness (Vidic and Kompany both averaged 0.9) and is a substantial improvement on the stats of Arsenal’s main trio. His Shots per game indicates the threat in the opposition box- with 1.2 per game, Samba was Blackburn’s second highest for attempts last season and with Koscielny, Djourou and Squillaci averaging 1.1 Shots combined per game, his contribution will be crucial at both ends of the pitch. He finished the season with 4 Goals, the same number of the three Arsenal players put together.
Thomas Vermaelen
73% Aerial Duels won. 2.0 Tackles, 3.4 Interceptions, 4.2 Clearances, 0.6 Blocked Shots. 1.4 Shots per game.
A look at Vermaelen’s stats over his five games show just what Arsenal missed last time round. Great in the air (73% Aerial Duels won), his ratio is a massive 19% higher than the other three’s average, and his 2.0 Tackles and 3.4 Interceptions were also superior.
Vermaelen’s defensive game is different from Samba‘s, but in a way that suggests they would dovetail perfectly; Vermaelen tends to make more Tackles (2.0 to 1.5) and Interceptions (3.4 to 2.1) than Samba but his 4.2 Clearances are dwarfed by Samba’s 11.0. Both are impressive in the air and their combined Shots per game (1.4 and 1.2) will give Arsenal plenty extra goal threat.
It’s clear that a fit-again Vermaelen will be crucial to Arsenal’s hopes for next season and, combined with the power and presence of Samba, would undoubtedly give Wenger a much-improved rearguard next term and offer the stability and resistance previously missing in all those seasons gone by. Gunners fans will be hoping Arsene slaps in an offer to Ewood Park any time now before the notion passes.
