Arsenal: Is it time to praise David Luiz, too?

Since Mikel Arteta has taken charge of Arsenal, David Luiz has had an undeniable resurgence in form. Is it too soon to start praising him?

Last summer, Arsenal were yet again desperate to acquire a solid defender to help revamp what has become a notoriously below-average department. The signing of William Saliba from St. Etienne was a promising one but, given that he would not join up with the team for another year, still left much to be desired. Then Nacho Monreal departed and Laurent Koscielny, and suddenly the club was scrambling to sign any centre-back they could find.

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In what many assume to be a stop-gap signing, the Gunners signed Chelsea’s David Luiz for a cut-price fee. The experienced Brazilian was set to occupy the gap that was left by Koscielny’s exit and Saliba’s arrival being pushed back a year.

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Upon Luiz’s signing, many were sceptical. The 33-year-old was and remains somewhat infamous for making catastrophic errors. Combining his hair-raising style with the already error-prone personnel in the squad, there was good reason for concern. There was sound logic to the move: Luiz was cheap, available, experienced, a proven winner, and notable character in the dressing room, all things that Arsenal required given their previous spending in the window and increasingly rushed timing.

But upon his arrival, under the irresponsible coaching of former manager Unai Emery, who was renowned for putting his players into disadvantageous positions and exposing their weaknesses, Luiz, like many others, endured a torrid time. He — and the entire defence — were made to look foolish, routinely cut open by lesser opponents.

Now, however, with Mikel Arteta in charge, Luiz looks like a new man. But while the resurgence of Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi has adorned much praise, Luiz has not received the same treatment. Is it not time for the centre-back to receive the same lauding as his teammates, or is there a reason that Arsenal fans have been seemingly reluctant to heap praise on the former Chelsea man?

There might be a fearful and cautionary feeling here. A mistake is always just around the corner, and those dumbfounding errors tend to arrive when complacency seeps in and the concentration levels drop. Such beautified praise would only allow those infectious mindsets to creep in once again.

Just like Xhaka and Mustafi, Luiz has his own reputation to fight against. Consistent inconsistencies have sadly plagued his image throughout his 183 premier league appearances between Chelsea and Arsenal. Though he is currently in an impressive run of form, you cannot help but understand the reservation to shower him in praise.

For now, all Luiz can do is work hard, focus on the message of his manager, and keep on performing. Fans will slowly but surely let their reticence over praising him fade away.