My Arsenal FC
A blog about all things Arsenal
Arsenal Analysis: Round 21 player analysis and Round 22 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 and midfield block and attacking block, and taking risks with their forward passing, so as to allow for quick forward transitions and higher probability scoring opportunities.
- 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), win aerial duels, clear the ball from danger and block shots.
- 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.
N.B. the ‘defensive block’ is comprised of Arsenal’s goalkeeper, right and left full back, and centre backs; the ‘midfield block’ is comprised of Arsenal’s centre midfielders; and the ‘attacking block’ is comprised of Arsenal’s attacking midfielders and strikers.
The findings of the aforementioned analysis, 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 21 of the Premier League, the player rankings are as follows:
Goalkeeper:
Right fullback:
Centre back:
Left fullback:
Centre midfield:
Attacking midfield:
Striker:
Formation and lineup
Based on the above analytical comparison, Arsenal’s aforementioned tactical basis, and with Mkhitaryan, Holding and Welbeck unavailable through injury, the 11 players which comprise Arsenal’s most productive starting 11, for their round 22 clash versus West Ham, would appear to be as follows:
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