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Arteta must drop Arsenal's "Player of the Season" for their "future captain"

9 hours ago 6

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Jack Holmes was a member of the Snack Media Academy before becoming an evergreen writer and then opinions writer with Football FanCast. Jack has previously written for the Liverpool Echo and Mersey Sports Live and currently writes for AFTV. 

Jack completed a History and International Relations undergraduate degree at Exeter University in 2021 before undertaking a Masters in Sports Journalism at Liverpool John Moores University a year later. Jack is a football fanatic and a keen fan of Cricket and Formula 1. A lifelong fan of Arsenal, jack specialises in football writing.

The fans might still be basking in what ended up being a brilliant Premier League weekend, but Arsenal now have to shift their focus to the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta's side are currently sitting on a 100% record in the competition after wins against Athletic Club and Olympiacos, but will face their biggest challenge against Atlético Madrid.

While famous for their defensive nous in seasons past, Diego Simeone's side are looking a far more potent threat this year, and should give the Emirates faithful a spectacle.

diego-simeone-atletico-madrid

However, to ensure his team comes out on the right side, Arteta might need to make a few changes and keep a keen eye out for two particularly dangerous Atleti stars.

Atlético Madrid's dangermen

Unfortunately for Arteta and Arsenal, more than a handful of Atlético Madrid players could cause them some real trouble on Tuesday night, but there are two who perhaps stand out above the rest.

Chalkboard FFC

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The first is, of course, Julián Alvarez, who the Gunners will already be all too familiar with due to his time winning Premier League titles with Manchester City at their expense.

However, while the Argentine has ultimately had the last laugh over the North Londoners, his personal record against them isn't great, as in the four matches he's played against Arteta and Co, he has won two, lost two and failed to score or assist a goal.

Yet, the player fans saw leave England last summer is not the same one who's become Atléti's talisman, as in 57 appearances last season, totalling 3967 minutes, he scored 29 goals and provided eight assists, which works out to a goal involvement every 1.54 games, or every 107.21 minutes.

Then, so far this season, the Calchín-born monster has scored seven goals and provided three assists in ten appearances, totalling 800 minutes, which is an astounding average of a goal involvement every game, or every 80 minutes.

Alvarez's Atléti record

Season

24/25

25/26

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Appearances

57

10

Minutes

3967'

800'

Goals

29

7

Assists

8

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

1.00

Minutes per Goal Involvement

107.21'

80'

There is no doubt that Alvarez is the most dangerous player for the Spanish side.

Even so, Arteta and Co cannot forget about Antoine Griezmann, as while he's no longer as prolific as he once was, he is still more than capable of causing trouble and pulling strings from just behind the centre-forward - plus he scored his 200th goal for the club last month.

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their second goal

In all, the attack is what Arsenal have to worry about most from Atlético, so it's good that the Gunners' defence is their biggest strength, although Arteta should make at least one change to it.

The change Arteta should make

It should go without saying that for a game of this magnitude, William Saliba and Gabriel Mageheles simply have to start, and Jurrien Timber probably should as well, leaving Riccardo Calafiori as the man to come out of the side.

riccardo Calafiori

Now, this is no slight on the Italian international, as he has been exceptional for much of the campaign, so much so that it would be hard to disagree with one analyst's opinion that he has been "Arsenal's Player of the Season so far."

However, there are a few reasons he should come out of the lineup for this game, the first of which is his fitness record.

Calafiori's injury record

Season

Days Out

Games Missed

All Stats via Transfermarkt

24/25

175

30

23/24

4

2

22/23

53

15

21/22

73

18

20/21

118

33

19/20

43

5

18/19

291

75

Since joining the club last summer, the former Bologna gem has missed 30 games for club and country through injury, four of which have been problems with his knee.

So, considering he has already started nine games this season, it would make sense to let him sit this game out, as losing him to fatigue could be detrimental to the league campaign.

Second, while he is a maverick on the pitch and really helps out with attacks, it would be fair to say he has not shown himself to be quite as solid defensively, especially when compared to the player who should come in to replace him: Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The incredibly talented Hale Ender was Arteta's starting left-back for much of last season, and while he has the ability to help out offensively, and has a wand of a left foot, he's even better when it comes to locking down attackers.

Lewis-Skelly-Modric-Arsenal

For example, he helped keep a clean sheet at home against Real Madrid last season, and then looked brilliant at the Bernabeu as well.

The 19-year-old has a real tenacity about him, an edge that makes opposition attackers think twice before having a go, and that is why he has been hailed as a "future captain" by club insider Hand of Arsenal.

Ultimately, with Calafiori needing a rest and Lewis-Skelly being more than good enough to lock down Alvarez and Co, this change feels like a no-brainer for Arteta.

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