My Arsenal FC
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Arsenal Analysis: Round 17 player analysis and Round 18 team selection
Following each round of the Premier League, each Arsenal player’s season-to-date performance is analysed and ranked against their internal competition.
In assessing the respective players’ on field production and their comparative internal rankings, each player is allocated into seven positional categories. Those positional categories consist of:
- goalkeeper
- right fullback
- centre back
- left fullback
- centre midfield
- attacking midfield
- striker
Once categorised, each player’s output in defined key performance indicators (KPIs) for their respective positional category is then considered, using data sourced from Whoscored.com.
Different weightings are then assigned to the KPI data considered for each positional group based on the assumption that the cornerstones of Arsenal’s tactical approach is as follows:
- To stretch the game vertically, by creating generous spacing between their defensive, midfield and attacking blocks, so as to allow for quick forward transitions, and space in behind the opposition’s defence.
- Arsenal’s goalkeeper’s primary aims are to stop shots and claim crosses.
- Arsenal’s centre backs’ primary aims are to recover the ball from their opponent (tackles and interceptions), block shots and win aerial duels.
- Arsenal’s fullbacks primary aims are to recover the ball from their opponent (tackles and interceptions), cross the ball multiple times during a match (with the intent of providing assists), and contribute to the team’s offensive transitional play through multiple forward dribbles per match.
- Arsenal’s central midfielders’ primary aims are to recover the ball from their opponent (tackles and interceptions), and contribute to the team’s offensive transitional play through accurate passing, multiple long range passes, and multiple forward dribbles per match.
- Arsenal’s attacking midfielders’ primary aims are to provide assists, score goals, create goal scoring opportunities through multiple key passes, multiple through passes, and multiple forward dribbles per match.
- Arsenal’s strikers’ primary aims are to score goals, and record multiple shots and successful aerial duels per match.
Specifically:
- the ‘defensive block’ is comprised of Arsenal’s goalkeeper, right and left full backs, and centre backs;
- the ‘midfield block’ is comprised of Arsenal’s central midfielders; and
- the ‘attacking block’ is comprised of Arsenal’s attacking midfielders and strikers.
The findings provide an invaluable insight as to:
- how each player ranks against their internal competition within their positional category; and
- which 11 players make up Arsenal’s most productive team.
Internal player rankings
Following Round 17 of the Premier League, the player rankings are as follows:
Goalkeeper:
Right Fullback:
Centreback:
Left Fullback:
Centre Midfield:
Attacking Midfield:
Striker:
Formation and lineup
Based on the above analytical comparison, Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis, and with Kolasinac, Mkhitaryan, Mustafi, Bellerin, Mavropanos, Holding and Welbeck unavailable through injury, the 11 players which comprise Arsenal’s most productive starting 11, for their round 18 clash versus Burnley, would appear to be as follows:
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