It was clear from last season that we needed
a better central defensive pairing.
Jose Giminez at Athletico Madrid, one half of this season's
best central defensive pairing in Europe - hardly conceded any goals in La Liga or the Champions League this season.
Using some statistics, and some thinking, I try to determine Arsenal's
best central defensive pairing.
Not exact matches
We do have some
good news with the return of our summer signing Shkodran Mustafi who comes staright back in to renew his
central defensive pairing with Koscielny.
Well it's done now...... but I'd hazard a guess he wanted an established
central midfield partnership with strongest possible
defensive qualities (Coquelin / Elneny) infront of an untried, young, emergency centre back
pairing.
The back four should be unchanged as the
central pairing of Koscielny and Mustafi are playing
well and are looking like a really solid unit, while the full backs do their
defensive jobs
well and also add width and threat to the attack.
We need to start thinking about integrating a new
central defensive pairing because although monreal and debuchy try their
best when per and kos are out they're both approaching 30, we need to partner chambers with another younger centre back so he can develop a
better understanding of his strengths and form a partnership as fruitful as the current one.
The
good news is that we have our first choice
central defensive pairing of Mertesacker and Koscielny back, which will hopefully mean a clean sheet as a platform for an Arsenal win.
In a slow and boring first half, two of the
best chances went to Sunderland as Defoe tore apart the
central defensive pairing of Vertonghen and Alderweireld only to hit the post.
Apart from the scoring situations, Lukaku was very
good in running the channels, holding up play and giving the Liverpool
central defensive pair lots to do in the game.
The
pair have worked
well for England and with Phil Jones injured and Chris Smalling not favoured by the manager for the
central defensive pairing, the duo of Cahill and Jagielka have little to worry about in terms of job security.