Arsenal: Go ahead and count one major problem as solved

Arsenal had a handful of glaring problems last year, and individual flair was one of them. Go ahead and count that problem as solved.

I get that we’re only two matches into the season, and we only played Newcastle and Burnley, but if you’ll allow me, I want to go ahead and get a bit overly optimistic about Arsenal. Actually, even if you don’t allow me, I’m going to anyway.

There were lots of problems last year that the Gunners were fighting through. Defense was the biggest and baddest, but there were issues in the attack as well. There’s really no reason why an attack spearheaded by Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should have trouble scoring goals, but the problems didn’t come from them.

It came from the supply line. A lack of a consistent creator and a lack of individual flair and inspiration left the two star strikes creating for themselves more times than not.

While I’ll withhold final judgment on the chance creation (though I really don’t want to) until everyone is back at full health, it looks like that little bit is fixed. But that’s not what I’m here to talk about. I’m here to talk about individual flair.

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Dribbling.

Once a great Arsenal strength, last year it became something of a luxury. No one completed anywhere near 2.0 dribbles per match, with Iwobi being the closest at about 1.5.

Against Newcastle, the old guard of the Gunners completed… 1 dribble. But it you factor in all our youth and new promotions, we completed… 12. That’s one hell of a jump.

And the same held true against Burnley. The old guard completed… 3 dribbles. But factor in the new signings and youth promotions and Arsenal completed… 14 dribbles.

I don’t often harp about a single isolated stat, but the Gunners’ inability to create space for themselves led to so much wasted possession last year. They’d pass the ball around without a sense of purpose or direction and end up firing in a cross to a crowded box or some other nonsense. They had no one to take on defenders and drive at them without the overwhelming risk of losing the ball and leaving the defense exposed on counterattacks.

Ceballos and Pepe alone completed eight dribbles. That is awesome. And it’s just another reason why we know that this summer transfer window absolutely changed the game for this squad. This is an attack that can do everything.