Arsenal: Left-footed Pablo Mari shows Mikel Arteta has a plan

This week, Arsenal signed centre-back Pablo Mari on a six-month loan deal. That he is left-footed shows that Mikel Arteta has a specific plan, one that he is sticking to and executing.

Even 18 months into his tenure, questions hung over Arsenal head coach Unai Emery regarding his philosophy. What was his coaching philosophy? What were his key tactical tenets? Did he have an identity? How did he want his team to play? The very presence of these doubts was concerning enough.

Listen to the latest episode of the Pain In The Arsenal Podcast here!—The Rebuild 2.0

His replacement, Mikel Arteta, could not have been more opposite. Well-drilled and highly demanding, Arteta has a very clear approach that he requires each of his players to execute in a very specific manner. And if they cannot or do not, he will find someone that will. In summary, the Spaniard has a plan and he expects his players to carry out that plan.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

This was further illustrated by the club’s transfer business this week. Arsenal signed Spanish centre-half Pablo Mari from Flamengo on a six-month loan. The Spaniard is an experienced defender who will slot into the Gunners’ centre-half rotation as they deal with a slew of injuries that look set to derail an already shaky defence in the latter half of the season. Mari is not the saviour; he is simply another body to throw at the problem, one who is cheap and available.

But do not think that Arteta has not investigated how Mari will fit into his plans with great detail and attention. He has. The following is an excerpt from Sam Dean’s reporting on the Mari deal in The Telegraph. It helps illuminate the focus that Arteta affords very specific elements of a particular player — in this case a signing — and how they will fit into his overarching plan:

"“It is Mari’s left foot that represents the most intriguing aspect of the deal. All of Arsenal’s current centre-backs — David Luiz, Sokratis, Rob Holding, Calum Chambers, Shkodran Mustafi — are right-footed. Arteta is a coach who focuses on the finer details of their build-up play and the option of a left-sided defender will provide more balance in possession.”"

Arteta has very specifically asked for a left-footed centre-back to pair with the right-footed dominance of the present options — Arsenal currently have no other left-footed centre-backs in the entire squad. Recently, Granit Xhaka, another left-footer, has played his central midfield position with a major slanting towards the left flank, almost like a left-sided centre-back in a back three. This has allowed the left-back to push into a more offensive position and provides greater balance to the team in and out of possession.

Mari is not a central midfielder and will not replace Xhaka in this role, admittedly, but his presence at centre-back might mean that Arteta does not have to change the role of the Swiss international to such an extreme extent. He now has a deep-positioned left-footer who is known for his passing.

The point is quite clear: Arteta has a plan and he is now signing players that can execute very specific elements of that plan. Mari — and his left-footedness — fit into this overarching approach. And he will not be the only one.