Arsenal: Understated suits Nacho Monreal down to the ground

Arsene Wenger has heralded the impact of ‘silent leader’ Nacho Monreal. The Arsenal full-back is perfectly suited to an understated, overlooked persona.

I have become increasingly disenchanted and disillusioned with football in recent years. It has nothing to do with the money, though it perhaps plays an underlying role. It has very little to do with the growing disparity between the sport and its fans. I still love the game. I still love covering the game. I still love football. But I have a growing dislike of the players.

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Specifically, it is the cocky, arrogant, obnoxious types that are beginning to infect the game. They are often good players. But they endeavour to ensure that everyone and their dog knows it. It’s unnecessary, it’s boastful, it’s rude. It ignores that football is a team game and centres the attention all on the individual.

So when I get to watch a player who contrasts the growing norm succeed, I am immediately buoyed. I much prefer to support the humble, the quiet, the unassuming but the astonishing. That, for Arsenal, is who Nacho Monreal is.

Here is Arsene Wenger, after Wednesday night’s 2-1 semi-final win over Chelsea that secured the Gunners’ place in the Carabao Cup final, heralding the influence, the impact, and the character of the ‘silent leader’:

"“For me, he gets very much credit, but maybe there’s a bit less focus on him because he <…> doesn’t make many statements or maybe not enough on social networks. I like the world of silent leaders and that is when people come, they perform, they don’t talk, they go home and they come in the next morning, train well and then the next day they do it again. They are the real leaders in the teams.”"

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That is precisely who Monreal is. That is precisely the role that he plays in the team. Against Chelsea, for example, it was his desire to meet Mesut Ozil’s floated corner that led to the fortunate first goal. It was his experience and understanding that led to a team-high six blocks and four interceptions. It was his commitment and character that inspired nine attempts at a tackle, also a team-high.

This performance comes after a 34-minute cameo against Crystal Palace where he scored the opening goal with a thumping header, assisted the second with a smart cut-back to Alex Iwobi, and then teed up Laurent Koscielny for the third, emulating a very similar back-post run as for his own goal, this time volleying the ball back across the six-yard box.

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But he does not shout about it. He is not spraying his greatness all over social media. He is not showy or boastful. He is sound, safe, reserved, understanding, grateful for his opportunity and diligent in his duty. He is down to earth, humble, and relatable, and because of that, he is very quickly becoming one of my very favourite players.