Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

How Can Arsenal Stop Anthony Martial?

By Finn Laister-Smith

facebooktwitterreddit

After another disappointing defensive display in the Champions League against Olympiakos, Arsenal’s likelihood of a home victory against Manchester United this weekend looks smaller than ever. David Ospina got the start in midweek, and proceeded to make one of the worst goalkeeping errors seen by Gunners fans in recent months.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Not only Ospina was to blame, however. Even Arsene Wenger did not hesitate to mention that the Arsenal back line looked criminally out of touch with one another. They were undone three times against an Olympiakos side that is not world-class by any means. Arsenal’s ability to keep clean sheets looks worse than it has all season.

Their upcoming opponents are on a hot streak after their Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven in match day 1. While Arsenal faltered in Europe, the Red Devils beat Wolfsburg 2-1 at Old Trafford in a crucial game that puts them back on level pegging with the other teams in their group.

Arsenal’s chances at a round of 16 berth look slim already. Team momentum is not on the Gunners’ side going into this big game. They could go top of the table with a win against the Red Devils. The only trouble is that the team at the top of the table right now just so happens to be their opponent. Both teams have only lost once in their last six Premier League matches – but who is more likely to top this fixture?

Arsenal have scored seven goals in their last two games, but they have also conceded five. United’s attack is certainly not an easy one to stop. The most intimidating talent in their forward line is Frenchman Anthony Martial.

Unless cut off from the rest of the world, it would have been impossible to not notice Martial’s outstanding start to the Premier League. At just 19 years of age, he already looks capable of taking on defenders at will. Those kind of players have caused nightmares for Arsenal in the past, and the defensive line’s lack of confidence at the moment means that Martial could cause them irreparable damage.

So which of the Arsenal defenders ends up being the one who has to stop Martial?

The teenager’s runs are often from the left side cutting in and through the channels in the middle of the pitch. If he can gain that space on the left side of the United attack he will have to deal with the speedy Hector Bellerin. If he decides to use his pace in the middle of the pitch, Mertesacker and Koscielny (if healthy) will likely be the starters at the weekend, so they will be the ones who have to deal with the Frenchman.

More from Arsenal News

This is worrying for Arsenal fans. Gabriel Paulista looks like the only defender physically capable of competing with Martial. Per Mertesacker is far too slow to deal with Anthony Martial and he could have rings run around him if he is not careful when going in with a challenge on the Frenchman. Hector Bellerin, the likely right back, is an unbelievably quick defender but he may not be capable of dealing with the strength of Martial.

In truth, the only thing the Arsenal back line needs to be doing in the upcoming fixture is regarding the French forward as a very serious threat. There are counterarguments for this, but perhaps the reason he has been so effective is the underestimation of his talent by other sides.

Manchester United do not have more than one other player who has his strengths of pace and dribbling, and that is Memphis Depay. Depending on how present Depay is, Martial could be the only forward on his game on Sunday. If Arsenal regard him as the serious danger he is, they could fare much better than the other Premier League teams have so far.

Next: Arsene Wenger Has to Stop Shoehorning Aaron Ramsey Into the Arsenal Formation

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Home/Arsenal News