Arsenal: Numbers in midfield are somewhat slanted

Even with the impending signing of Lucas Torreira, Arsenal only have five natural central midfielders in the squad. That may sound concerning. But the numbers are somewhat slanted.

In the latter months of last season, Arsenal only had four clear and natural central midfielders that Arsene Wenger was willing to rely on in the more important matches: Granit Xhaka, who started almost every game, Mohamed Elneny, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey.

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There were concerns about the depth at the position — four is not an especially huge number — and had it been during the transfer window or prior to January, fans would have unquestionably been calling for investment at the position from both a quality and quantity point of view. But given that that was not possible, they simply had to lump it with what they had.

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And when the fans’ gaze cast towards the next season, many saw the development of Ainsley Maitland-Niles and the hoped return of Santi Cazorla would add some much-needed numbers to the position. With the already painfully injury-prone presence of Wilshere and Ramsey, it was argued that it is even more important for Arsenal to have reliable, depth midfielders in the squad. Makes sense.

So when Wilshere departed and Cazorla was not offered a new contract, the numbers suddenly depleted further. Even with the impending addition of Lucas Torreira, a scrappy, busy midfielder who will provide a balance to the creative players that Unai Emery already has at his disposal, and including Maitland-Niles as a more prominent contributor, some would argue that there is still a numerical concern at the central midfield position.

But I believe that such a viewpoint is missing one key element that the Arsenal squad has always been built around: the versatility, creativity and centrality of its wingers, and in Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi, this current iteration has two of the most centralised wingers to play at the club.

Officially, they were used in wide positions in the latter period of last season, if, in Iwobi’s case, they were used at all. But such was the license that they were afforded and their desire to roam throughout the pitch, they did not stand out wide and stay there. That comfort with playing in central areas means that they can start in central positions, if needed.

Both have stated that they believe they flourish in the oft-coveted central attacking midfield position in behind a central striker and they have the game to adapt from an advanced-wide to deeper-central role. It is not beyond either of these players, and both have proven as such on occasion in the past.

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So if injuries and suspensions come and Arsenal find themselves lacking at central midfield, they can turn to either of these as potential options. The midfield numbers, therefore, are slanted somewhat. They are not as nasty as they may at first seem.