Taking Aim: Declan Rice's Double-Pivot Partner
Scouting for the best fit alongside our No. 41
Our second instalment of this summer’s scouting series takes aim at potential additions to our midfield. More specifically - if we are to follow the vision laid out by our Reconstruction crew from Episode #83 - who should be partnering last year’s statement signing, Declan Rice, in a double pivot? In this article, five midfielders, who 1) we’ve been linked with (however loosely) and 2) we could imagine alongside Rice at the base of midfield, are profiled.
We won’t be giving any yes-no verdicts or preferences here, however. If you want those, go ahead and give the corresponding podcast episode a listen, where we cover these names in a bit more detail, including wider discussion about what is needed from this role and how each player might fit in.
We’ll start with the player who is arguably closest to our #41 in mould and, as a result, would best safeguard Arsenal's system if signed…
All stats from fbref
Amadou Onana
Games watched: Everton 0-0 Liverpool 22/23, Everton 1-2 Man United 22/23, Everton 3-0 Bournemouth 23/24, Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton 23/24, Newcastle United 1-1 Everton 23/24, Chelsea 6-0 Everton 23/24, Arsenal 2-1 Everton 23/24
Positives
When looking at the appeal of a profile such as Onana’s it makes sense to start with his exceptional physical gifts, as they form the foundations of the best facets of his game – particularly in defence.
Standing at 6’5”, with a broad frame to match, Onana is a naturally imposing presence in midfield. But where players of comparable size may be found wanting for high-level mobility and/or agility, the Belgian pairs his stature with a springy explosiveness and an exceptional level of coordination, especially for someone who is 90% limbs (according to fbref).
Perhaps his most uniquely valuable (tactical) quality is a truly world-class ability to cover ground across the pitch. He’s a powerful runner and his telescopic legs enable him to eat up yards of space in a few strides. This not only makes Onana ideal as that all-important ‘big space defender’ in transitions but also platforms him well as a more front-footed ball-winner, which suits his out-of-possesion aggression. His gigantic frame and deceptive speed effectively cut off passing lanes, allowing him to shepherd them with ease - he acts as a sheepdog for the ball, directing play where he sees fit, in pressing and counter-pressing scenarios.
These physical qualities make him valuable at intercepting passes, too. While Onana is a split second slower off the mark than the game’s best defensive midfielders at reading (and reacting to) plays, much like how Usain Bolt is slower than his competitors over the first 30 metres - before burning them in the final 70 - the twenty-two-year-old usually compensates for this lag by being able to cover the necessary ground in time and pluck balls away just before they reach their intended recipient.
Sitting in the 92nd percentile at over 3 tackles attempted per 90 illustrates Onana’s readiness to lunge in, but he’s even more proficient at coming away with the ball than his tackles won per 90 numbers (84th percentile) suggest. Again, his athleticism helps a lot, but it’s combined with technical know-how (on how to make the most of his physique) as well as a cool sense of timing for when to go to ground.
When sliding in, Onana’s flexibility and reach see him able to wrap his leg(s) around his opponent in octopus-like fashion, winning the ball cleanly and regularly from angles other players wouldn’t even consider making a challenge from. Before realising their fate, his victims tend to feel a false sense of security, either because of how far Onana is from them moments before committing, or because they mistakenly believe they’ve already escaped him.
It would be remiss of me not to point out that the 6’5” guy is an absolute behemoth in the air. Add in a powerful leap and it’s no surprise that he comes out on top in a whopping 74.3% of his aerial duels; no one boasts a better win rate. Not bad for someone who competes in a high volume of aerial duels per 90 (>3) and thus doesn’t benefit from being selective of the ones he throws himself into.
It should come as no surprise then that Onana is key set-piece asset for Everton, central to their plans in both boxes and from goal-kicks (and at throw-ins too, if you’re as much of a sicko as Jake is and care about that).
Onana possesses a supreme marriage of body orientation and technique, best exhibited by his comfort receiving under pressure and/or on the turn. A big plus, in respect to the former, is the manner in which is able to shield the ball, utilising those long legs and frame in such a way that it’s practically impossible to pick his pocket.
Just look at him bossing this shit guy:
This already makes the ex-Lille man a secure, press-resistant option in the first phase, but it’s when he’s given the opportunity to swivel and move with the ball running across, or past, his body that Onana is at his most incisive - and most slick - as a (deep) receiver.
Just look at him bossing this shit guy:
(not you Martinelli you’re doing great honey)
His preference for receiving the ball in stride makes sense given, as recently as a year ago, Onana found it difficult to receive when stationary, often finding the ball stuck beneath him and hence impacting the quality of his first touch (regularly guilty of the ball initially bobbling off of his foot, having to then calm it with his second touch).
In the time since, however, he increasingly invites passes into his feet with his legs further extended from his body, hips ready for the swivel, which has not just resulted in improved (immediate) control of the ball, but has become a comparative strength of Onana’s in his ability to find new passing angles and move the ball on quickly when needed. In addition, these technical gains are a positive indication of Onana’s capacity for learning and considerable development at this point in his career, drawing parallels with Arsenal’s very own Declan Rice.
Much like Rice, he has serious physical ability to be a devastating ball carrier over distance when given the opportunity — someone who is able to carry the ball from his third into the opposition’s within seconds. In more congested zones or against organised blocks, Onana isn’t as provocative as guys like Frenkie De Jong and Bruno Guimarães, but uses the sole of his foot well to dribble (or Cruyff turn) away in response to incoming challenges.
Lastly, there’s a lot to like about Onana’s passing, particularly in the opposition half. The midfielder is decisive in possession, enjoys associative pass-and-move play, and is far more penetrative than given credit for. His ability to control the ball far from his body, plus a flexi pair of ankles, gives him access to a greater variety of angles from which to feed passes through: once again his technical ability is delightfully platformed by his physical qualities. This is made even more potent by his talent for disguised passes, as he can manipulate the direction of the pass at the last moment, and is often happy to let his man jump to press before doing so. Combined with good vision, Onana offers a lot of promise as a progressive line-breaker and genuine creative threat.
Negatives
Sticking with passing, while there’s a lot to like about his shorter passing game, some issues remain. Occasionally passes are overcooked - Wenger might accuse Onana of lacking technical empathy upon witnessing a pass fired into the knees of a teammate - and other times they go to nowhere because, in his mind, he’s already committed to a play that was never on in the first place. While he’s capable of spraying Hollywood balls worthy of compilations, his passing over range can be a bit hit and miss, largely boiling down to a lack of consistency in his ball-striking (something which extends to his shooting). A good passer, but not a great one.
The best, most progressive parts of his passing are also far too often absent in the buildup, which is disappointing given his press-resistance and capacity for central incision (via short ground passes). As alluded to earlier, this comes down in part to certain difficulties being the first receiver in buildup (i.e. when he’s more stationary he can struggle controlling the ball as it gets under his legs/body); but it's also due to a lack of scanning, meaning that while he’s generally aware of danger approaching when the ball arrives, he doesn’t have a clear enough picture in his head of what angle he’d be able to escape at. As a result, Onana can end up being too conservative with his passing in the first phase as he opts to be a tidy recycler rather than reference point and progressor from deep.
There are other issues in the buildup phase for Onana. Primarily, he still has a lot to improve on positionally (or more specifically, how to pin) as he has a habit of wandering too close to his teammates when asking for the ball, invariably collapsing space, passing lanes and options for his side. On top of that, the reality is that where other #6’s seek to dictate the game from deep, Onana can be more lethargic than inventive and doesn’t impose himself by getting on the ball to orchestrate how his team uses its possession to (intelligently) progress out of the first phase.
Defensively, when Onana’s given zonal responsibilities, defending in a block or needing to plug holes on the retreat, his lack of concentration, scanning and somewhat lackadaisical approach can be exposed. He tends to wander when he senses an opportunity to close in on a ball-carrier or potential receivers nearby, and resultantly forgets about guarding the area his opponents are trying to access (whether that be via arrival or intending to pass through).
Lastly, though he’s more calculated with his tackling in central areas, the young midfielder can be guilty of rashness when making challenges nearer to the flanks. This is likely due to an overestimation of the distance he can (or should) lunge in from to win the ball cleanly, perhaps a possible downside of his long, long legs.
How does this work for Arsenal?
Throwing Onana into a double-pivot alongside Rice would unquestionably see Arsenal boast one of the most defensively secure and physically dominant midfield bases in the history of the game, helping bolster an already airtight ship out of possession.
The biggest appeal of adding Onana is that he’d not only be able to fill in for Rice’s space-protecting duties (when the latter’s bombing forward) better than any other name on the market, but Onana would also help safeguard a system that is built around having a #6 like Declan Rice, when Declan Rice is out injured.
That said, while he’s more comfortable receiving with his back to goal under pressure or inside the block than Rice, Onana isn't that prototypical ‘true #6’ in possession who will dictate play and oversee Arsenal’s buildup. In fact, while he’s the ideal candidate to give Rice the security to get forward without compromising much in terms of rest defence, Onana himself is arguably at his most valuable in possession when allowed to roam and connect play as more of an #8, than circulate and progress as a #6.
This could work out well in that the team would remain shielded when either makes forays forward, giving the side some flexibility and unpredictability, but would come at the cost of having a genuine solution to the central incision issues of last season — at least in the immediate term.
… Anyways, congrats on your move to Villa. I guess.
João Neves
Matches watched: Benfica 2-0 Porto 23/24, Chaves 0-2 Benfica 23/24, Benfica 3-3 Inter Milan 23/24
Positives
What immediately stands out with Neves is his positional awareness in possession, which is far beyond his years. Playing either side of a double pivot for Benfica, he is often the first receiver in deep build up, dropping off to either offer a wall pass to the opposite centre back or turning to progress either by passing or carrying the ball. In higher areas, he positions himself behind the play on the ball side to create an option to circulate or switch the point of attack.
Neves is a short king, but his stout frame makes him a lot more robust than his height might suggest, and he looks to make the most out of his build. When receiving deep under pressure, he positions his body between the ball and his marker to act as a shield, before letting the ball run across him, rolling his defender and facing play. His remarkable acceleration over his first steps combined with a low centre of gravity and flexible hips mean he's able to create separation from his marker and play on. Neves usually uses these carries as his primary progression tool in central areas, using his body to ride contact from opposition defenders. He’s also really adept under pressure (with 2.84 attempted take ons per 90 at 56%) able to dribble out of congested areas or use small flicks to evade it.
While only being 5’8, Neves is remarkably good in the air, aided by an astounding leap. He wins 58.6% of his 2.73 aerial duels per 90, and, unlike some other shorter players with good leap, usually directs his headers, picking and choosing his duels, rather than just focusing on attacking the ball aggressively.
On the ball, Neves is an astute passer. He’s generally more circulative in deeper areas, looking to make gradual progression through horizontal passes, or drawing defenders on before releasing the ball to a local teammate and bursting into the space behind the defender. While he does have the ability to solve congested situations with sharp passes between the lines in central areas, his more expansive passing often comes when he has pulled into wider areas away from opposition pressure, where he can slip an attacker in behind, stab the ball between the lines to one of the central attackers or switch the point of attack. Neves is right footed and, apart from safe short passes, avoids using his weaker foot, preferring to use the outside of his right when trying more adventurous passes. His long passing technique is one of his biggest strengths, with a diverse set to pick from and always at the right times, from lofted balls to a full back, chipped switches when consolidated in the final third or driven, clipped switches when looking to accelerate attacks.
While not being a direct goal threat and rarely crashing the box, Neves has potential to contribute a fair few goals from range over the course of a season due to his excellent volley technique. He’s able to control his body well and strike the ball cleanly, leading to very driven and precise shots in these situations.
Defensively, Neves is an aggressive tackler and presser. When facing play, he snaps into opponents, often able to cleanly get to the ball and use the momentum of his challenge to continue play after regains, winning an impressive 2.06 tackles per 90. When facing his own goal, his height, and therefore his relatively short legs, prevent him from stabbing the ball from an opponent that has his back to him. To compensate Neves uses his frame, especially his hips, to separate his opponent and the ball. He’s very aggressive in these moments, hanging on to his opponent for multiple seconds, only stopping when he wins the ball or concedes the foul, a valuable trait but also a potential hurdle as he moves to the notoriously physical Premier League .
Positionally, Neves is cognizant of using his cover shadow when the opposition have the ball in their defensive line, looking to prevent sharp passes into opposition attackers. When the ball progresses to midfield, he often looks to aggressively press the player on the ball.
He also tucks his shirt in, which gives him immediate plus points.
Negatives
The biggest worry with Neves is his sometimes overt confidence under extreme pressure. When pressed aggressively, he has the tendency to overdo it, dribbling himself into congestion which can lead to turnovers in dangerous positions.
Defensively, while being able to be positionally disciplined, he ‘goes fishing’ too often for a holding midfielder, which is where we can see the downside of his all-action nature. He often presses up to an opponent, sometimes while a teammate is already on said player, leaving a considerable amount of exploitable space behind him. His tackling facing his own goal is also a potential concern. Being so reliant on his hips in duels means if he doesn’t time his action perfectly it easily leads to a foul in deep areas.
While on the topic of space, Neves is primarily a small space defender with a great ability to intercept and tackle players coming into his zones, but when a game gets stretched, he tends to struggle more, not being able to cover large spaces as well - perhaps not a surprise given his stature.
How does this work for Arsenal?
The good thing about Neves is that he’s not necessarily “defined” yet, having played on both sides of the double pivot, slightly advanced in midfield and even a few games at right (wing)back. His ability to play on either side of the pitch especially means he can be deployed in either midfield berth, depending on where Arsenal see the long term development of Declan Rice.
Neves solves a lot of issues that have crept up on Arsenal over the course of the season. As an adept receiver under pressure, he could take on the burden of receiving from the backline while being comfortable receiving inside the block. His means of passing progression and general risk management mean he profiles closer to Jorginho than Partey in that respect, with room to further develop his line breaking passing.
His profile roughly fits Arsenal's OOP identity, being a tenacious dueller and surprisingly adept in the air. The deficiencies in large spaces are largely compensated by Rice's presence and the ability to squeeze the pitch with Gabriel and Saliba. Even with his limitations, his physical potential in comparison to Jorginho and Partey would still be a quantum leap.
The biggest thing Neves would need to work on would be his defensive discipline. With Rice moving ahead in possession and pressing up without it, Neves has to be more of a screener. While he has shown glimpses of screening well and being very cognizant of working with his cover shadow, he would need to develop this further and cut out his aggressive jumps, which are often a consequence of boredom rather than any systematic requirements.
Heard you’re off to PSG, huh. Hope that works out for you.
Martín Zubimendi
Games watched: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad 23/24, Real Sociedad 0-1 Barcelona 23/24, Real Sociedad 3-1 Benfica 23/24, Inter Milan 0-0 Real Sociedad 23/24, Real Sociedad 1-2 PSG 23/24, Real Sociedad 2-0 Cadiz 23/24
Positives
The Busquets (and Jorginho) comparisons are flattering but not unfounded. Immediately apparent when watching Martín Zubimendi is how sophisticated his positional game is, both in and out of possession.
When his team has the ball, the Basque midfielder operates expertly as the fulcrum around which his teammates, well… pivot. Already, at a green-ish age of twenty-five, Zubimendi showcases an intricate understanding of where to stand, how to pin (to keep passing lanes open), and when to show for the ball versus when it’s okay (in fact, advantageous) to allow himself to be marked out of the game (as this creates space or passing lanes for other Sociedad players to capitalise on).
It’s hardly a flashy trait, and difficult to illustrate through five second gifs, but you do some lovely little moments like this where he can tie together whole moves with a bit of subtle positioning and a single touch:
Owing to Sociedad’s buildup patterns, Zubimendi sees the ball less than one might expect, but it’s hardly because he lacks any security or value in the first phase. As a result of having short, stocky legs that belie his height - he’s around 5’11” - the Spain international is bestowed with a low centre of gravity and small turning radius that complement his two-footedness, tidy technique and speed of thought. Put together, this adds up to a footballer who is entirely comfortable receiving in areas where pressure arrives from all sides, plus has the ability to move the ball quickly (and usually in the direction he pleases) thereafter.
Zubimendi also shows a lot of promise as a progressive passer, and is adept at squeezing balls through the centre of condensed blocks in a way rarely seen from Arsenal’s #6 last season.
Along the ground at shorter distances, he’s consistently great at playing passes which are ideal for the receiver (into their stride, preferred foot, at a good pace), and instructive of what to do next with the ball. These might be small, less flashy details, but they contribute to Zubimendi’s ability to dictate the game, included alongside a high-level comprehension of when to speed up the tempo through quicker exchanges, or take the bite out instead.
The Spaniard is similarly fastidious out of possession. Generally the deepest-sitting midfielder, he compensates for a lack of high-level mobility by reliably taking up the optimal position, whether it be protecting space in transition or plugging gaps in a block.
However, it’s his anticipation that stands out most. Zubimendi combines decisiveness with elite decision-making and, as such, when he opts to push up aggressively it usually pays off in seeing him successfully nip the ball off his opponent before they’re allowed to get any ideas of what to do with it
In general, Zubimendi (for Sociedad) can be labelled a ‘low volume, high value’ action player, and this is certainly true of him in duelling situations. I wouldn’t call him anything near a destroyer but when he chooses to intervene, more often than not he’s coming away with the ball.
This is most notable in the air. Zubimendi keeps his eye on aerial balls diligently, is adept at reading where the ball will land, and times his jump well - plus some other nice little tricks, i.e. employing a run-up and/or nudging his opponent in the back before jumping - to regularly come out on top against players his height or taller, as supported by his 65.2% success rate (96th percentile).
That said, the stats do flatter him a fair bit - boosted by his selectiveness - and it’s notable that he’s usually not in the mix for attacking set-pieces, where he’s less effective jostling against a number of bodies. Not to force the Jorgi comparisons again but in the Premier League there’s likely more value in him contesting for the second balls from aerial duels than taking part in the initial challenge.
Overall, the appeal of Zubimendi is that he’s as tactically refined a #6 as you’ll find on the market, let alone in his age group, and one whose football IQ and technical security enables him to platform others to perform at their level of talent — or even notably beyond that. The consistency with which he makes the right decision is genuinely startling in the nerdiest way, and it’s no surprise he has such big fans in cerebral control freaks (and ex-midfield maestros) such as Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso.
Negatives
The major issue with Zubimendi is the cap placed on his defensive ceiling due to his physical limitations. For all his positional nous and expert reading of play, he simply lacks the mobility to be that ground-covering security blanket one wants responsible for large spaces.
Furthermore, he isn’t blessed with the frame and leg span that would allow him to envelop his opponents and cut off their options in the way other DMs (Fernandinho, Javi Martinez, Onana, even Rice…) are able to. As such, this often means the best solution available to him is to reduce his opponents’ options and/or force them into low percentage gambles, in the absence of being able to cut out the action altogether. Again, this is an admirable optimisation of his qualities and what he can achieve in these scenarios, and it works for him most of the time, but in absence of being able to swallow his man up in these instances one leaves room to be exploited, and these are the margins games at the highest level are often decided on.
This is broadly the critique one can level at the Basque. His defensive IQ affords him a prowess that is usually more than enough against most opponents, but his lack of physical dominance (strength, span, mobility over distance) sees him found out against the very best.
In possession, the biggest downside of his game is his carrying over distance. While Zubimendi possesses an initial zip in his first couple strides (usually to navigate his way out of congested areas and away from danger) he’s relatively slow over distance, and his control over the ball loosens more the further he tries to carry it.
Lastly, while a gifted technician, and able at playing the ball across the ground, Zubimendi’s passing bag is arguably a bit bland, and even limited. He doesn’t use them often, but his ranged passes can be uncharacteristically clunky on occasion: he seems to be a ‘small space’ guy both on and off the ball. Meanwhile, he lacks that extra touch of quality unlocking defences in the final third.
How does this work for Arsenal?
In Zubimendi, Arsenal would have the perfect heir to/replacement for Jorginho, and someone who would be able to replicate the latter’s partnership with Rice from last season. There is little doubt his game would translate excellently to a more volumetric role as the side’s metronome. In addition to being proportionately progressive as Rodri, it’s clear watching him that he can be trusted as the orchestrator and reference point of our buildup (thus easing responsibilities placed on Rice and Ødegaard).
However, at risk of being reductive, it’s arguable that for every other name on this list Rice would be the primary #6 in the double-pivot — but that isn’t the case with Zubimendi, who is particularly specialised in this regard. That perhaps limits any pendulum-like usage of the pivot, and creates structural questions when considering rest-defence: Zubimendi is more likely to be operating deepest but far less capable than Rice at defending the space Arteta tasks his #6 with being responsible for.
There’s of course the possibility, then, that Arteta uses his fellow Basque similarly to how he used Jorginho on occasion this past season - as the facilitative interior who would play higher than Rice much of the time - but this raises questions over whether Zubimendi has the necessary output, variety of offensive tools or extra splash of game-changing magic in the final third to be the midfielder who moves the needle for Arsenal (though I’m intrigued to see whether seeing more of the ball higher up, as he would for Arsenal, may unlock this in him).
Declaring your loyalty to Sociedad and being a One-Club Man in 2024? Grow up.
Mikel Merino
Games watched: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad 23/24, Real Sociedad 0-1 Barcelona 23/24, Real Sociedad 3-1 Benfica 23/24, Inter Milan 0-0 Real Sociedad 23/24, Real Sociedad 1-2 PSG 23/24, Real Sociedad 2-0 Cadiz 23/24
Positives
Whether looking through his numbers or following him around the pitch, what immediately stands out about Mikel Merino is the sheer amount of work he’s able to get through in 90 minutes. He is truly an all-action, all-phase, all-rounder, all-everything midfielder.
His aerial duelling stats are a perfect representation of the above. The ex-Newcastle man somehow manages to be in the 99th percentile for aerials won per 90 (5.99, no midfielder wins more) as well as the 1st percentile for aerials lost per 90 (3.99, no midfielder loses more). This works out to a healthy 60% win rate overall, enough to place him in the 87th percentile — and all the more impressive given his indiscriminate approach to contesting high balls. Being 6’2 and broad-shouldered certainly helps, but what truly makes him such a menace in the air is the bravery and combative intent with which he leaps into these duels, though without becoming overtly reckless and/or losing sense of the ball. It’s an apt encapsulation of him as the controlled chaos player he is: he leverages his physicality to throw off his sparring partner (even if he’s not getting his head to the ball first) but consistently makes sure to keep his eye trained on the ball, and is ready to challenge again once it falls.
Merino’s level of puts-himself-about-ness™ naturally spills over into his pressing and tackling. Relentlessly energetic, the Pamplona native is the leader and most important part of Sociedad’s effective high press. And, while they don’t live up to Amadou Onana’s Kraken-like limbs, Merino also benefits from a reaching set of legs, which he utilises the full extent of, to: cover ground, sweep up second balls, cage in opponents, and make up that oft-crucial extra half-yard when sliding in to dispossess his man. In terms of success, the results are a bit mixed, but he boasts an exceptional recovery speed after going to ground which makes him incredibly hard to shake off or outright beat. This is a lovely little detail in his game, and one with outsized value given his aggressive and opportunistic approach to defending. More often than not, the pesky Spaniard gets a second bite of the cherry.
The twenty-eight-year-old’s directness in possession broadly matches the high-octane out of possession playstyle described thus far, but he can be surprisingly composed and controlled on the ball when required. As part of Sociedad’s flat midfield three, Merino is regularly called upon to drop in and receive under pressure with his back to goal; it is here where his press-resistance and value in the buildup phase comes to the fore. He primarily serves as a passing board for recycling purposes but likes to act on instinct and, thus, when the opportunity presents itself is very capable taking the ball on the half-turn (when played into his left foot), or otherwise spinning away horizontally to open his body up and get front-facing.
He can get a bit trapped in when pressed at angles that don’t allow him to use his left foot to pass or rotate with the ball, though it’s in stickier situations such as these where Merino displays a much-welcomed guile and game experience to buy fouls and break up play — something we’ve been missing since a certain Swiss midfielder left us last summer.
No really, he’s a little bit of a shithouse:
When facing play, Merino’s inclination is to get the ball forward as quickly as possible, especially when he senses that the opposing side’s defence isn’t fully organised. It lacks the consistency in execution of the best passers, but his vertical and ranged balls from deep are typically accurate, well-weighted and dangerous — particularly when played into space. He’s also a very capable half-space crosser, whether from the left or in-swinging from the right.
In fact, it’s his closer range (lateral) passing that tends to be more bobbly or errant — partly because he has a habit of letting his foot swing through the ball sometimes, even if at a gentler pace, rather than guiding it with more care. That said, this doesn’t apply to his one-to-two-touch layoff-style exchanges where he’s allowed to combine dynamically — usually in transition or arriving into pockets deep inside enemy territory. Partial to a roulette, Merino exhibits an impressive level of trickery and improvised decision-making in around the box when on the attack.
Plus he has some cute tricks up his sleeve closer to his own goal, such as:
The midfielder’s off-ball movement is another string to his offensive bow. He’s more hammer than needle, but is a willing runner who stays on the move and alert to unfolding opportunities, in addition to posing considerable threat when attacking the seams or the box. More generally, as a mover around the pitch, Merino’s adaptive in the runs he needs to make, and positions he needs to take up, to serve the team — evidence of a tactical acumen that can get lost amongst the rest of his chaos.
Lastly, his forceful movement, positioning in around the box, aerial prowess and general desire to get on the end of things - on top of a decent volleying technique - make Merino a healthy source of goals from midfield in the right system.
Negatives
Whereas the others on this list come with a few glaring weaknesses, Merino comes with broader doubts and a number of nagging questions.
Merino’s role for La Real, on and off the ball, is the key reason for this. As the frontline presser for his side, it’s difficult to get a read on how suited he would be to sitting in and defending in a passive block — that’s Zubimendi’s job. That said, Merino’s over-eagerness to lunge in can make him quite a rash operator who commits fouls even more than he wins them, and places considerable doubt on his suitability to being a holding midfielder tasked with screening in front of the backline.
Merino’s ball retention and volume of touches in deeper areas also appears to be under instruction, as his pass completion numbers (76.5% over the last year) don’t square with his technical security under pressure and passing ability. Nevertheless, even though he has shown he can be safer with the ball when Imanol switches his FM settings from “attacking” to “balanced” to “cautious”, the Spaniard can lack awareness and technical execution under pressure. This is specifically when he’s more isolated and/or already had a couple touches of the ball (as opposed to his slickness with the immediate layoffs mentioned earlier).
Besides that, he has a very annoying habit of trying to force the issue with his passing - though perhaps this has more to do with my own disdain for ‘shot clock’ midfielders - and take gambles in areas of the pitch he really shouldn’t.
This temperament (and occasional sloppiness) undermines the Spaniard’s capacity to be that reliable midfield ‘controlla’ who quarterbacks buildup and acts as a tempo setter. While he’s great at accelerating play and breaking it up, he struggles to find (and maintain) a balance between these two extremes. Altogether, his all-action approach can be a bit ‘Jekyll and Hyde’, which makes for an ugly, frustrating watch when the midfielder’s not on it and/or things aren’t coming off for him.
Moreover, his creative statline is more than a touch underwhelming. For a player with something approaching a Bruno Fernandes-esque attacking mindset in possession, the Spaniard banks a modest 0.08 xAG per 90, putting him in creative company of the likes of Sean Longstaff, Josh Brownhill, Jefferson Lerma and Moises Caicedo from 23/24. While, to my eye test at least, he looks to have more incisive vision and passing than those numbers indicate - and, to be fair, Sociedad were hardly an unstoppable force as a whole last season - it does suggest that there are clear individual limitations to what he can offer as a creative force.
How does this work for Arsenal?
Leaving discussion over needle-moving quality aside for a moment, it’s not a reach to say Merino is the exact LCM profile Arteta would have cooked up in a lab: a relentless 6’2 duel monster with a good technical baseline who offers experience, tactical flexibility and impact in every phase of play. Lefty (and Iberian!) too.
I would have loved to see him in the “Xhaka role” of 22/23, but when thinking about how he fits into our midfield of 24/25, a useful (if lazy) summation is that Merino is that compromise between what Rice is, and what Rice needs alongside him.
His press-resistance, comfort dropping in and ability to progress from deep via passing will go some way towards alleviating our buildup issues of last year. Admittedly, he does fall short of his Sociedad colleague Zubimendi in this department, but makes up for it by being better suited to protecting the big spaces Dec may leave behind on his forays forward, in addition to being a box-to-box bloodhound who poses more goal threat and serves LHS dynamics going forward.
Building on that last point, 1) being able to swap out with our LW to hold width on the left flank (while they go inside) would be extremely welcome, and 2) I can already envision a fruitful relationship brewing between Merino’s balls in behind and Martinelli’s runs onto them.
Additionally, while he wouldn’t be the direct replacement that Onana would, in the aggregate Merino just about helps safeguard the system when Rice isn’t in the lineup, thanks to his athleticism and quality as a ball-winner. Though, for all his all-roundedness, Merino’s profile means he will likely always be better suited as the more #8-leaning member of any double-pivot — with or without Rice.
For the reported fee, Merino represents a superb market opportunity who fits Arsenal in a handful of ways, would make sense paired alongside any of our current (deeper) midfielders, and would be able to breathe life into our LHS. Depending on how well he’s able to adapt his playstyle to Arsenal’s needs (re: ball retention and OOP duties) he has everything to be an incredibly astute signing at this level.
Perhaps the key consideration with regard to Merino is, if he is to be The Guy we add to our midfield this summer, that he’s arguably a player who is at least 7/10 across the board, but 9/10 nowhere? (Besides levels of dawg, perhaps). This can be seen as either a positive or a negative depending on the level of specialisation desired from this role.
Looks like he might be The Guy, so…
Joshua Kimmich
Matches watched: Hertha BSC 1-4 Bayern Munich 21/22, Wolfsburg 2-4 Bayern Munich 22/23, Bayern Munich 2-2 Leverkusen 23/24
Positives
Put simply, Joshua Kimmich is one of the best passers in Europe. His technique is sublime, and he’s able to execute just about every type of pass there is. Short circulative passes, lobs to full backs invading space, disguised through passes, stabbed passes between the lines, longer passes to wingers making runs - he’s capable of it all, with equal to better execution than just about everyone in Europe, and remarkably he is just as adept at executing these while running as he is from a standing position. Especially noticeable and impactful are his chipped balls behind an opponents defensive line when he is positioned deep, a pass Jorginho also excels at, or precise, angled crosses from the right half space when his team are consolidated in the final third.
Kimmich scans *a lot*, constantly assessing his options and looking for solutions ahead of reception, and adopts a posture that allows him to take quick steps to adjust his body position to angle his passes. That said, he is not a tempo setter like Jorginho: his passing mainly focuses on progression, but with a healthy assessment of risk. If an ideal progressive pass comes with too much risk of a turnover, he’s choosing a safer option instead. Having played at right back for the first half of his pro career, and returning to the role in the last months, Kimmich also boasts a very clean crossing technique from wide areas, both from deep positions and high positions. In the latter, he’s adept at making an overlap, taking a touch to separate from a defender before expertly crossing into the box (at a rate of 0.53 per 90, no less), athough it’s worth saying that situations to earn these deliveries are limited when he is deployed in a midfield role.
Kimmich is not really a carrier, not looking to take on defenders to progress, but if space is afforded to him centrally he will carry into it,, before releasing the ball just as an opposition defender engages him.
He is, however, very adept under pressure. Kimmich is relatively agile, has very good close control and, combined with his 'closed’ body positioning as discussed above, he’s able to wriggle out of tight spaces exceptionally well. He often receives the first pass in build-up, facing his own goal, and uses all these assets to get out of pressure with ease. Other times, he can also delay his action, waiting for an opponent to engage him, before doing a ‘Croqueta’ or otherwise turning to lose his man and move into the space created.
It would be wrong to describe Kimmich as a goal threat, having only once exceeded five goals in a league season and with a fairly unremarkable 0.94 shots per 90 (42nd percentile), but his shots from range are an asset. He often positions himself just in front of the box during attacking sequences, able to collect second balls at the edge of the box, and executing either curling or driven finishes at goal. He’s also willing and able to make late diagonal runs into the box when he’s on the far side to finish moves, as seen with his headed goal vs. Arsenal in the Champions League last season 🙁.
More widely, Kimmich is a competitor, aggressively competitive in everything he does, and that translates to how he plays football, especially out of possession. He is a tenacious tackler, who looks to immediately regain the ball if he himself loses it. In transition he is a good interceptor, who is able to stay with and engage his opponent even if he loses the first interception. In settled possession he is more measured, picking and choosing when to engage and when to hold his position and use his cover shadow to cut out passing options, though he is not a dedicated sitter that screens the backline. He has deficiencies in the air, which is why he rarely ever engages in aerial duels, preferring to obstruct his opponent before he jumps and contesting the ball once it’s on the floor.
His time at right back has also showcased in a much larger sample just how good Kimmichs footwork in 1v1 situations is. He constantly shuffles his feet, keeping himself on his tows to allow for sudden shifts in direction and eagles his body to cut off lanes for his opponent and direct him to where he wants to make the defensive action. While the wide defending isn’t necessarily something he has to do a lot from midfield, his footwork is evident when he shuffles in central defensive situations.
Negatives
There aren’t many significant weaknesses in Kimmich’s game; simply put he is an elite player. There are two issues that are especially important given his potential role at Arsenal, however.
First, while he is largely very good when receiving under pressure, due to the sheer amount of times he receives in these zones, there are bound to be a few bad touches within them, and in those situations he looks to use his back to absorb contact and fall on the ground in an effort to get a foul call. This can be extremely frustrating, and throws up question marks as to how it would be officiated in the Premier League, and therefore if he would be able to get away with it as much as he does in Germany.
The second concern is one of position. As outlined above, Kimmich is not a screening pivot or a ‘Holding Six’ as Thomas Tuchel referred to it as in his numerous tangents about his frustrations that Kimmich “defends in reference to the ball rather than the space”. This isn't a problem, especially considering player Tuchel earmarked as the complimentary Holding Six was a certain Declan Rice, but it would mean Rice would have to be more of a screener out of possession, perhaps limiting his potential as a presser. His competitiveness can also get the better of him, hanging onto opponents for too long and drawing unnecessary fouls and yellow cards.
How does this work for Arsenal?
Kimmich and Rice are, on paper, extremely compatible profiles. Kimmich is excellent at relating his movement with his midfield partner and staggering the pivot (think of how Pascal Groß and Moises Caicedo played together at Brighton) and with Rice being as good a large space defensive presence as he is, he could allow Kimmich to move further up the pitch to fully utilize his offensive potential through his passing.
Kimmichs defensive profile does mean that Declan Rice would have to become more of a screener out of possession for Arsenal, but that is a role he can definitely fulfill, and one that allows Kimmich to leverage his best defensive traits and minimize the potential for unnecessary fouls in deeper areas. A good comparator would be how Jorginho and Rice split their defensive duties vs. Liverpool in the home game, with the former pushing up in the press and the latter covering and screening.
In a double pivot, Kimmich would operate on the right hand side of it, which is more favourable for the angles he likes to use as a primarily right footed player, especially in the final third. His wide defending also allow him to be an able help defender, pushing over to the right to create a 2v1 against a winger or covering behind when the full back pushes up.
Kimmich would give Arsenal a level of progression into attacking areas that has been missing for large stretches of the 23/24 season without having your 10 drop in as the deepest midfielder to progress. At 29, Kimmich has a few years left to give at the highest level, and the fact he can also deputise at right back, inverted or orthodox, is another benefit for an Arsenal team that values multifunctionality highly.
German at Bayern. It was always so.
Well, that’s everything from us in this article! And a sincere apology from Alex for how late this has arrived. But, if you’re still interested in getting the Pot Shot Crew’s thoughts on who we should be getting from the beginning of July, then please do give the above episode above a listen, and let us know what you think! Cheers.
Just a note - "as well as the 1st percentile for aerials lost per 90 (3.99, no midfielder loses more)" should surely read "no midfielder loses fewer, yes?
What would you think about Curtis Jones? I’m not sure if Liverpool would sell, I’ve always admired him and still think he has untapped potential and talent.