Arsenal: Surely the Premier League awaits for Joe Willock

Joe Willock again put in a superb performance in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night. Surely a return to the Premier League XI now awaits the 20-year-old.

As Arsenal toiled to hang onto the coattails of Etienne Capoue, Will Hughes, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Roberto Pereyra in Sunday’s calamitous and jarring 2-2 draw with Watford, one thing became increasingly clear about the gutting shortcomings of the team: there was a complete and utter lack of dynamism and mobility in central midfield.

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Granit Xhaka is notoriously unbalanced and slow. Dani Ceballos is a technical player with deceptive acceleration but not especially powerful. Mesut Ozil is painfully unathletic, either as a result of his actual physical deficiencies or — more likely — his lack of effort and application. Watford overpowered and outmatched the Arsenal midfield.

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In Thursday night’s 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, 20-year-old central midfielder Joe Willock provided the kind of explosive, high-energy athleticism that was desperately absent at the weekend. Alongside the equally busy and rumbustious Lucas Torreira, Willock pressed relentlessly, hounded and harassed his opponents in defensive phases, fouled when he had to, won aerial duels, and then provided the crucial missing piece in possession: the ability to drive forward with pace and power with the ball at his feet. It was a complete midfield performance.

He also showcased his eye for goal, both in his cut inside and finish for the opening strike and with his surging late runs into the penalty area, eerily reminiscent of Frank Lampard — or Aaron Ramsey. He completed 100% of his dribbles, had three shots, more than anyone other than the ever shot-heavy Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and had a heat map that looked as if he touched the ball on every single blade of grass. He played in a manner that was missing against Watford.

Willock started the season in the Premier League XI. Torreira was still working his way back from Copa America, Ceballos had just arrived and would take a week to make his first start, while Ozil did not feature at all until the dreaded Watford draw. Willock would play the first three games of the season, including away at Anfield, before being dropped.

He did not start two matches: the North London Derby and the Watford draw. Torreira played in his stead in the former. But against Watford, neither started. In Willock’s absence, Torreira provided that essential energy and impetus in central midfield against Spurs. But last weekend, there was no one to run the dirty yards, to drive the team forwards, to inject umph and explosiveness into the performance.

Perhaps, then, head coach Unai Emery was watching the intensity and energy that his Arsenal team played with on Thursday night and considered what could be different when the Premier League rolls around once more on Sunday, with Aston Villa coming to the Emirates.

It is unlikely that one performance was enough for Willock to force his way back into the Premier League XI. But the evidence is quite clear: Arsenal are a better team with him, Torreira or both in the midfield. And for how long Emery can deny that, I am not so sure.