Arsene Wenger Claims Luis Suarez Is Marginalised by Lionel Messi at Barcelona

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed Luis Suarez’s role at Barcelona could become marginalised, insisting the former Liverpool man will find it tough to emerge from the shadow of Lionel Messi.

The Frenchman, who famously tried to sign Suarez for £40 million and £1, per Sam Wallace of The Independent, has claimed that Messi will always be the main man while at the Camp Nou, and subsequently, Barcelona’s new No. 9 will find it difficult to reach the astonishing levels he showcased so regularly at Anfield, per Sport:

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The game goes through the strongest point of the team, so at Barcelona it passes through Messi. 

That makes the other players become more peripheral. It is what can be seen right now at Barcelona. 

Suarez was a super dominant figure at Liverpool and sometimes you think 'where is he?'. I'm sure he will find his place, but it is not easy for the players who are there.

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The Uruguayan, who signed for the Catalan giants in a money-spinning deal last summer, has only scored one goal for his new club, while Messi looks to have rediscovered his sparkling best, netting three hat-tricks in his last four games. Suarez has been a regular provider to his teammate, however, as noted here by football writer Paul Tomkins:

Wenger is right in his claim that Messi remains the strongest point of this team; there are very few players in the history of the game that could wrestle that mantle from him. But it’s worth considering Suarez’s predicament before labelling him an almost anonymous figure. 

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Indeed, the player has been thrust straight into the first team on the back of a four-month ban, is having to adapt to a host of brand-new stylistic principles and is settling in to a new culture. A period of transition and a dip in form and fitness are inevitable when you consider those kinds of circumstances.

And even though he has looked a little rusty in the infancy of his Barcelona career, Suarez is making an impact. He already has five La Liga assists, per WhoScored.com, and his unwavering energy and selfless running have also helped create space for the likes of Messi and Neymar. 

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Slowly but surely, that formidable attacking trio is starting to click, per Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez:

Luis Enrique has shifted Messi into a position on the right flank in recent weeks, with Suarez deployed in a more central berth, and the benefits have been clear for the Argentine. Messi has been much more difficult to pick up floating from a wide area, with the tenacious Uruguayan occupying defenders with his off-the-ball ferocity.

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If Messi can continue to affect the game from that position and Suarez is allowed to establish himself as the central striker—undoubtedly his most effective role—then it can only mean great things for this team. It’s something we saw in earnest during the Blaugrana’s 5-1 win in the Derbi Barceloni:

Messi is a godlike figure at the Camp Nou and always will be. It’s something that Suarez will have been acutely aware of when he joined the club, and he’ll know it’s going to take time before he’s revered at the level afforded to him at Anfield.

But despite lacking match sharpness and being unable to fully discover his goalscoring touch, Suarez has had a tangible impact and has helped expedite Messi’s return to form. There’s no need to worry about the Uruguayan's long-term goalscoring form—he’s simply too good a player not to shine on the biggest stage.