Arsenal: Fullback revival encapsulates Mikel Arteta effect

Arsenal kicked the year off with a much-needed victory over Manchester United at the Emirates. While there were many eye-catching performances the improvement of Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles really crystalized the new manager’s effect on the squad.

Before his departure from Arsenal, Unai Emery’s last saving grace was the possibility of Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney returning from injury to save his system. Many fans, myself included, hoped that the introduction of the two youthful fullbacks could turn things around. However, in retrospect, it was rather foolish to believe that two players could salvage the Spaniard’s disjointed side.

Mikel Arteta‘s arrival in place of his countryman has brought a fantastic upturn in the atmosphere around the club. It’s far too early to make bold statements about Arteta’s nascent tenure, however it’s fair to say a corner has been turned. The former Manchester City assistant has brought about a greater appreciation for the basics and instilled the requisite intensity and passion that has been missing from this Arsenal first team.

Arsenal fans were ready to drive Kolasinac and Maitland-Niles personally to their next clubs as both players failed to impress and often frustrated supporters under Unai Emery. However, during the New Year’s Day clash with Manchester United, the much-maligned fullbacks put in perhaps their best performances in an Arsenal shirt.

In Arteta’s short tenure as Arsenal manager, Maitland-Niles has looked a player transformed. The young Englishman’s trouble in defense has been well documented and he has even come out to voice his displeasure with playing out of position. Now that Hector Bellerin has hit another injury wall, Maitland-Niles seems focused to make the most of this opportunity.

Maitland-Niles was one of the standout performers in the disappointing loss to Chelsea and has continued that good run of form. Against Manchester United, Ainsley was nearly perfect. There were a few stray passes, one early on in the first half that was especially worrying, but overall the 22-year-old looked calm, assured and most importantly like a right back on Wednesday night.

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Marcus Rashford had an unbelievably quiet night down United’s left flank and that was thanks to Maitland-Niles’ keen positioning and much-improved decision making. It seems as though Arteta has helped Ainsley distinguish the proper triggers of when to stay in his own half and when to go and join in the attack. He took up clever positions, sometimes pinning United back by linking up with Ozil and Pepe, while at other times, he remained quite conservative and clogged the channels that Red Devils like to exploit.

Perhaps the most significant development in Maitland-Niles’ progression is a slight shift to a more central position. Many times in the last three matches Ainsley has picked the ball up in more of a right midfield position akin to the inverted fullbacks made famous by Pep Guardiola and Manchester City. Throughout the United match, Ainsley showed a level head and kept things simple most importantly.

On the opposite flank, Sead Kolasinac reminded fans why he was such a cult hero when he first arrived in England. The Bosnian tank gave a storming performance, absolutely terrorizing United’s right side. Wan-Bissaka proved to be a stout defender for most of the match, but it was the regularity and intensity of  Kolasinac’s run that kept United in a constant state of fear. Arsenal’s early goal was a result of Sead’s clever wing play, hanging on the last defender and receiving the ball in the final third for one of his patented pullbacks. A deflection certainly helped but Kolasinac’s propensity to be in that position in situations like that is what makes him a valuable attacking asset.

Before going off in 69th minute, Kolasina marshaled himself well especially after picking up an extremely early yellow card, keeping the tricky Daniel James a non-factor. Arteta spoke after the game about Kolasinac’s willingness to put himself and his body on the line for the sake of the club. saying “He came to me yesterday and said, ‘boss, if you want me to play, I can play’. We decided to play him and that’s the attitude of the players that I want and he got rewarded.”

No matter what anyone wants to say about the Bosnians defensive abilities no one can fault his fight and spirit. The dual performance from Arsenal’s bemoaned fullbacks is proof of Mikel Arteta’s early impact on the squad. The Spaniard has been credited with smoothing the edges of Raheem Sterling and fine-tuning him into the world-class talent that we see today. There are quite a few diamonds in the rough in this current Arsenal squad and if Arteta can work his magic then there will certainly be bright days ahead.