Arsenal: The start will be crucial for Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Arsenal have signed a talented, if a little unsure, Henrikh Mkhitaryan. His confidence is low and his self-belief needs nurturing. The start will be all-important.

The departure of Alexis Sanchez, while expected, will be detrimental to the rhythm and structure of the side. The attacking spark that he provides, his unique ability to beat defenders, his scoring and creating of goals will all be difficult to replace and replicate. Arsenal will have to work hard to build a team without perhaps their most influential and important attacker.

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Thankfully, Arsene Wenger has been able to sign a direct successor: Henrikh Mkhitaryan. In a rather surprising and complex move, Wenger engineered a direct swap with Manchester United for the two players.  Certainly, of the two, Sanchez is the more proven and perhaps talented individual, but that does not mean that Mkhitaryan lacks the natural ability to impress himself on his new team.

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In his final season at Borussia Dortmund, for example, the Armenian creator had 11 goals and 15 assists in just 31 Bundesliga appearances. He clearly has the calibre of a top player, but was never provided the opportunity to establish himself at United. He and Jose Mourinho certainly did not see eye-to-eye, with their footballing philosophies clashing badly, and he was often played out of position in roles that did not suit his game.

In his final season at Borussia Dortmund, for example, the Armenian creator had 11 goals and 15 assists in just 31 Bundesliga appearances. He clearly has the calibre of a top player, but was never provided the opportunity to establish himself at United. He and Jose Mourinho certainly did not see eye-to-eye, with their footballing philosophies clashing badly, and he was often played out of position in roles that did not suit his game.

That is a philosophy that will suit Mkhitaryan, a player who enjoys extended periods of possession. The problem, however, is not a tactical or technical one. It is a mental one.

Mkhitaryan’s self-confidence has clearly been affected by Mourinho’s management. This is not necessarily an indictment on Mourinho, although his dealing of Mkhitaryan was certainly misguided and unwise. It is a more a ramification of a clashing of styles.

Mkhitaryan’s self-confidence has clearly been affected by Mourinho’s management. This is not necessarily an indictment on Mourinho, although his dealing of Mkhitaryan was certainly misguided and unwise. It is a more a ramification of a clashing of styles.

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As such, the start will be crucial. If Mkhitaryan enjoys a prosperous first few appearances for Arsenal, his confidence is restored a little and he grows into his new role and team, then he could proceed to replicate much of Sanchez’s impact. If he struggles early on, then this is an issue that could snowball out of control rather quickly.