Arsenal: Top 5 pros and cons to Axel Disasi

Pro: He is physically dominant

Most importantly and impactfully, Disasi is a physical powerhouse. He is athletic and quick enough to cover ground when pressing high up the pitch, but his real asset is his strength, his explosiveness in the air, and the cleverness with which he anticipates loose balls and then positions his huge frame to shield it from opponents and win possession for his team.

This season, Disasi won 61.5% of his aerial duels. In a limited sample size in 2018/19, he won a ridiculous 71.4% of his aerial duels. He also made 9.9 recoveries of loose balls per 90 and an amazing 5.74 clearances per 90. These are extremely active numbers that help paint a picture of his physical dominance.

As the likes of Kalidou Koulibally, Virgil van Dijk and even Harry Maguire, though to a lesser extent, having a dominating physical presence as the anchor of the defence can revolutionise a defence. Disasi is far from a complete defender, but he boasts all of the physical tools to develop into that type of player.

Disasi is a true unit, a sizable, 6-foot-2 figure who strides across the pitch with real presence and power. He has the tools to be the ideal modern defender. He just needs a little fine-tuning, which Arsenal and Arteta believe they can provide.