Arsenal Vs Sporting CP: Henrikh Mkhitaryan must master

Arsenal host Sporting CP on Thursday night in a Europa League group-stage match. After a poor start to the season, it is a game that Henrikh Mkhitaryan must master.

Under Unai Emery, no player is safe. With Arsene Wenger, there were preconceptions as to the relative quality and influence of the players in the squad. It took reserve players extended periods to displace those that Wenger trusted. The same cannot be said for Emery’s Arsenal iteration.

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One player who has really made hay under the new management is Alex Iwobi. Currently enjoying the best season of his career, the Nigerian has exploded in a new wave of confidence and production, tallying a goal and four assists in 583 minutes of Premier League and Europa League action.

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Iwobi’s emergence has come at the cost of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Armenian previously seen as a starter in the Gunners’ attacking midfield. While Iwobi has flourished under the detailed, almost obsessive instruction of Emery, Mkhitaryan has floundered. His work rate is still high and he is still committed to the team, pressing when required and undertaking his defensive duties from the right-wing position, but his attacking efficacy has declined substantially.

In 681 Premier League and Europa League minutes, he has one goal and three assists, one fewer than Iwobi in almost 100 more minutes. But more than just the raw statistics, Mkhitaryan has looked poor. Wayward passes, poor decision-making at crucial moments in counter-attacks, a lack of influence on games, struggling to regularly touch the ball in advanced areas of the pitch.

As Arsenal continue their Europa League exploits on Thursday by hosting Sporting CP, Mkhitaryan, if started, has the opportunity to take the game and wrestle it under his control, mastering it with his skill, ingenuity and creative attacking play. A player of Mkhitaryan’s ability should be dominating these type of games.

A prime example is last week against Blackpool. Playing against League One opposition in Blackpool, Champions League finalist Mkhitaryan should have been completely bossing the game. But he was largely anonymous, resigned the peripheries once more, as he has been for much of the season.

As Iwobi continues to impress, Mkhitaryan repeatedly disappoints. He has not yet lost his starting spot — he was handed the start against Liverpool at the weekend. But Iwobi was excellent when introduced from off the bench, providing the key assist for Alexandre Lacazette’s equaliser. Mkhitaryan, again, did almost nothing.

If Emery hasn’t swapped Iwobi and Mkhitaryan in the pecking order just yet, at this rate, he will do soon. Mkhitaryan no longer has Wenger’s loyalty to fall back on. He must prove himself with his performances, starting against Sporting CP on Thursday. It is time for him to master.