Gylfi Sigurdsson Flourishing as Main Man at Swansea City
Swansea City midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson helped his side to a 2-1 comeback victory at home against Arsene Wenger's Arsenal on Sunday, continuing his renaissance in a second spell at the club.
The mesmeric Icelander, who rejoined Swansea during the summer transfer window after a disappointing spell with Spurs, scored one and played a large part in another as the Swans came back from 1-0 down to triumph over the Gunners on a torrential night at the Liberty Stadium.
His goal, a superbly curled free-kick from 30 yards, was reminiscent of the remarkable poise shown in his first spell at the club during their maiden Premier League season under Brendan Rodgers.
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French striker Bafetimbi Gomis sealed the three points for Swansea after a typically elusive, jinking run from Sigurdsson and some excellent wide play from Jefferson Montero.
The result leaves Swansea fifth in the Premier League. And it was a new lease on life in South Wales for Sigurdsson that spurred this charge.
As the main man under Garry Monk, Sigurdsson is one more rising to the top.
Qualities
Sigurdsson possesses the qualities of an archetypal No. 10, paired with an unusual physicality for the position.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez, per EvertonFC.com, perhaps assessed the impact of Sigurdsson most astutely prior to the two sides’ Premier League encounter this season:
"Sigurdsson as a No. 10 has a really good understanding of the space and is good at finishing from long distance. He can also assist with a pass and it seems he has created a very good relationship with Bony.
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Though that fixture ended up as a stalemate, Sigurdsson still managed to underline his ability as the most creative player on the pitch. His three key passes, per WhoScored.com, were more than any other Swansea or Everton player provided.
Furthermore, and what is perhaps the most important quality in a modern No. 10, Sigurdsson possesses an infectious work rate.
Monk told reporters in analysis of Sigurdsson, per Adam Bate of Sky Sports, that, “it’s the work-rate he has that is the incredible thing.”
The manager credits his creative work, but suggest his influence is beyond the scoresheet, claiming, “he has got the assists but [the] amount of work rate he does is infectious. If you have got someone in your team doing it and you’re next to him then you’re thinking I have to put in a shift in.”
It is this mental determination, paired with an undoubted skill, that makes the 25-year-old one of the outstanding attacking players in English football.
So why did it go so wrong for Sigurdsson at Spurs?
The Main Man
Under Monk at Swansea, Sigurdsson has been re-established as the club’s most important player—and with the side playing to his strengths, the midfielder is continuing to flourish.
This could not be said of the Icelander’s time at Spurs.
Under successive managers Andre Villas-Boas, Tim Sherwood and, briefly, Mauricio Pochettino, Sigurdsson was marginalised in favour of higher-profile talents.
In two seasons at White Hart Lane, Sigurdsson made 58 Premier League appearances, according to WhoScored, scoring eight goals and making four assists.
During that time, the midfielder averaged 0.7 key passes and 0.3 successful dribbles per game.
Compared to this season, Sigurdsson has already topped his creative prowess at White Hart Lane with seven assists from 11 league games, along with two goals, 2.4 key passes and 1.1 successful dribbles per game.
At Swansea, Sigurdsson is regularly deployed in a variation of the No. 10 role, behind what is generally a lone striker in Wilfried Bony or Gomis, and is gifted the freedom to create and drive forward.
Take the victory over Arsenal, for example. Monk set his side up with what was effectively a 4-2-3-1 formation: Ki Sung-Yueng and Thomas Carroll sat in midfield behind Sigurdsson at No. 10, while Marvin Emnes and Montero were on the flanks supporting Bony.
While the Swans initially struggled—and went behind to a well-worked counter-attacking goal from Alexis Sanchez—it was the central role of Sigurdsson that sparked their comeback.
Not competing with the talents, and egos, of players such as Christian Eriksen and Gareth Bale, Sigurdsson is allowed to flourish. This can be evidenced by the midfielder’s free-kick goal—there is no doubt those two former teammates were demanding the set pieces over Sigurdsson at Spurs.
The midfielder’s rare talents—creativity, finesse, athleticism and balance belying his 6’1” frame—are being nurtured at the Liberty Stadium, with Swansea reaping the benefits.
Gylfi Sigurdsson is clearly a player who thrives on confidence and a central role, and he has the flair to match this. Garry Monk and Swansea City have proved the right fit for a truly exceptional player.
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