Arsenal: 4 Reasons This Team Is Different Than Years Past

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2. Rotation players like Gabriel and Campbell stepping up

Another problem that has plagued Arsenal in recent seasons has been the role players’ failures to capitalize on their opportunities in the first team. Once a star striker or one of the two starting center backs went down injured, their replacement would not have nearly the same impact on a game and Arsenal would suffer as a result.

It takes time for this to change. It takes a group of squad players that are Premier League quality. At the moment, the three squad players who have made the most appearances are Joel Campbell, Gabriel Paulista and Mathieu Flamini.

Flamini has played in the Premier League before, but it is not hard to see that his tenacity as a defensive midfielder is waning. The Frenchman is good at making untracked runs in attack. His offensive contribution against Spurs in the League Cup was crucial in the Gunners’ win.

As a defensive midfielder, however, he does not have the same function as Francis Coquelin. His going forward as frequently as he does leaves his team exposed in the area he is supposed to be patrolling. The statement of Premier League quality perhaps no longer applies to a player like Flamini, whose play-style is exploited by good top flight managers at the highest level.

His two younger team mates in Gabriel and Campbell have not yet played a full season in the Premier League. Yet they have stepped in during a difficult period and filled the roles that they have needed to.

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They are new to English football, so it is no surprise that there have been mistakes here and there. Gabriel’s poor decision earned himself a red card in a big game for the Gunners against Chelsea. Joel Campbell missed an easy chance that could have put Arsenal into the lead against Tottenham Hotspur.

These instances are by no means indications of their performance levels, however. In six starts in the Premier League, Gabriel has accumulated an average match rating of 7.39 on whoscored.com. Campbell who plays with more conviction when starting a match as supposed to coming on as a sub, has earned an average rating of 7.36 over six starts in attacking midfield.

There aren’t other squad players taking up the slack in attacking midfield and center back, for the reason that Campbell and Gabriel are proving themselves capable of doing the job. Not only do they keep some of the squad players out of contention, Arsenal’s two newcomers are forcing Calum Chambers and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to work a lot harder to earn themselves places as well.

Once the injury list begins to shorten itself, Arsenal will have two positions where their depth is one of the best in the league. There are other injuries which create holes elsewhere – like defensive midfield – and those have to be dealt with. There must be another way. Perhaps a January buy is in order.

Next: 1. Injuries Coming At The Right Time?