Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put in his finest performance in an injury curtailed season by netting both of Arsenal ’s goals in their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace yesterday. Yet, his performances will have sowed seeds of doubt in manager Arsene Wenger’s head as to the best role for Oxlade-Chamberlain in the team.
Against Palace, Oxlade-Chamberlain was deployed in a central role in midfield instead of the wide role that he is usually used in. The results of Arsene Wenger were outstanding as he managed to score both of Arsenal’s goals. Compared to arguably his best performance last season, the 1-2 loss against Chelsea, he played a much wider role. (All the stats taken from squawka)
If we look at the areas in which he operated in the two games, the difference in the roles played by him are apparent. Against Chelsea, he hugged the touchline to increase the width of the pitch. He used his pace and strength to gallop down the right hand side of the pitch. Against Palace, he played a more central role, which required him to make his movements in more central areas. He timed his runs from midfield really well, which shows in his two goal return from the game.
Against Palace, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s role was to keep the ball ticking. He played many short passes in and around the center circle as he went on to 84 passes, 70 of which found their target (83% accuracy). 5 out of the 7 long balls he attempted found their target the only through ball he attempted did not find its target. However, he failed to create any chances in the game.
Against Chelsea last season, he played a more adventurous game, and attempted 51 passes, 46 of which found their target (90% accuracy). They more mostly balls played into central areas to players who were better placed to carry on the attack, 46% of them being backward passes. He, however, managed to create 4 chances including the assist for Arsenal’s goal.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s outing against Palace proves that he may be equally adept at playing in a central role if Wenger decides to use him so, and his powerful runs through the middle of the pitch could be a handy tactic for Arsenal. However, with him playing in the middle, Arsenal lose the potency in terms of creating chances that they would otherwise have if they played the likes of Aaron Ramsey or Jack Wilshere.
With Arsenal’s game being built around creating chances in order to ensure that they convert enough to manage the win, playing Oxlade-Chamberlain in a central role offers the direct running at the cost of creativity. Thus, he should best be used in his more natural wider role, and the current experiment in central midfield should only be seen as a stop-gap solution to Arsenal’s current injury woes.