Arsenal: Nacho Monreal found his new mastery

Nacho Monreal spoke this week about how he feels more comfortable recently after shaking off injury problems. In the left-sided centre-back role of a back three, the Arsenal veteran has found his new mastery.

Nacho Monreal is a rare commodity in Arsenal circles. He is consistent. For many of the players in the Gunners squad, that is something that they have never been able to achieve. Their purple patches may be at a higher level than that of Monreal, but over the course of a full season, the individual errors pile up and their overall efficacy is diminished.

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That has not really been the case for Monreal. He is always fully committed, he understands his limitations and plays according to them, and, as an experienced presence in the dressing room, he is an invaluable individual to have at the club. That cannot be said for many of his teammates.

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However, this season, injuries have started to hit, his age has begun to have an impact on his playing style, and, when played at left-back, his lack of top-tier athleticism and speed has been exploited. This week, Monreal himself conceded that he has struggled more this season than others, while iterating that he has been more comfortable as his form has returned in recent weeks:

"“This season has been a bit different for me because it’s been the first one when I’ve had a few injuries in a row and I’ve missed a lot of games. I lost my form over the last few months, but now I’m back I’ve started to feel better again. The team is happy and lucky to have two left backs who try to help the team. I’m really happy with my past performances, but as I’ve said, I just try to give my best every single day, every single training session and every game. I try to help and I’m happy doing that.”"

The improved form of late, however, I believe, has more to do than just getting match-sharp after dealing with a slew of injuries earlier in the year. In wins over Manchester United and Rennes, two of Arsenal’s best performances of the season, Unai Emery employed a 3-5-2 shape, with Monreal inserted as the left-sided centre-half and Sead Kolasinac at left wing-back.

This left-sided centre-back position is perfect for the Spaniard. The demands of the position — reading of the game, comfort in central and wide areas, an excellent reading of the game, purposeful and quick decision-making, stepping into midfield to instigate attacks from deep –are the type of tasks that Monreal has the ideal skill set to complete to a high level. Very much like Cesar Azpilicueta at Chelsea, the full-back, centre-back hybrid role is ideally suited for Monreal.

Perhaps the greatest element of this new position is that his depreciating speed is not exploited in the same manner as when playing left-back. Because of the slightly deeper and more central starting position, Monreal must read the game and anticipate danger, rather than press up to dangerous attackers and prevent them from spinning into space in the first place. In this position, he can read and react. That is beneficial in two ways: He is brilliant at it and it protects his lack of athleticism.

Nacho Monreal has found his new mastery. How long it will exist with Emery likely preferring a back four is another question. But this versatile, intelligent, wonderfully consistent defender will always find a way to make himself valuable. And in recent weeks, he has done it once more.