What Will Be Arsenal's Strongest Defence in the 2015/16 Season?
For many years, Arsenal’s title aspirations were undermined by a vulnerable defence. Their exciting attacking play was offset by a habit of producing defensive disasters under pressure.
If they are to mount a title challenge in 2015/16, they will need to continue the progress that has seen them develop a more reliable defence over the last couple of years. Stability and consistency will be key, and Arsene Wenger must think carefully when deciding upon his first-choice defensive unit.
There is no debate about the goalkeeper. Having arrived from Chelsea this summer for a multimillion-pound fee, Petr Cech is certain to start the opening Premier League game against West Ham United. The Czech Republic international may wear No. 33 on his back, but he’s the undisputed No. 1 at Arsenal.
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Since Wojciech Szczesny’s loan move to Roma, Cech’s only realistic competition is David Ospina. The Colombian usurped Szczesny as Arsenal’s first-choice 'keeper last season but will now have to readjust to playing second fiddle once again.
Cech is the superior goalkeeper in every respect, possessing greater stature, experience and organisational ability. He is a proven Premier League performer and—as evidenced by his bulging trophy cabinet—a winner.
Wenger has been effusive in his praise of Cech since his arrival and has even suggested he could go on to top his performances at Chelsea in an Arsenal shirt. The veteran boss told Arsenal.com:
"Petr Cech was already at the top but I believe that you can never deny that you can improve. He’s at the stage of his career, between 33 and 37, where a goalkeeper can be at his peak and he has the desire [to do that].
As long as you have the right attitude you can always improve in life. I don’t think it’s down to different training methods, it’s just down to him to keep at the top physically and with his experience he will always improve.
"
Wenger is also sure to name Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny at the heart of his defence. This pair dovetail beautifully, complementing each other and atoning for the other’s weakness. Mertesacker lacks pace; Koscielny is rapid. Koscielny can be prone to panic; Mertesacker is possessed by a perennial sense of calm.
Together, their yin and yang combine to form a complete and convincing defensive partnership.
Over the course of the season, Gabriel Paulista will push for inclusion. In terms of raw attributes, he may be a superior footballer to Mertesacker. However, he does not have the presence of the giant German. Gabriel may represent the future of the Arsenal back four, but it is too soon to dissolve Arsenal’s key defensive duo.
Similarly, Calum Chambers is a big prospect and will need some game time to continue his development as a centre-half, but those opportunities are more likely to arise in the domestic cup competitions than the Premier League.
That axis of Cech, Mertesacker and Koscielny will be absolutely crucial to Arsenal’s hopes of success in 2015/16. It seems that Cech has found a kindred spirit in Mertesacker—the two giants were the first Arsenal players to embrace in the wake of the Community Shield win over Chelsea—and their experience and defensive expertise will be the foundation of Arsenal’s bid for silverware.
In the full-back positions, Wenger faces some difficult decisions. There is enormous competition for places, with four quality players jostling over two spots.
At right-back, the choice is between grizzled experience and promising youth. Mathieu Debuchy was signed last summer to replace fellow France international Bacary Sagna, but a series of injuries allowed Spanish teenager Hector Bellerin to break into the first team in his stead. A year or so ago, Bellerin was the fourth-choice right-back on Arsenal’s books. However, he finished 2014/15 by starting the FA Cup final ahead of Debuchy.
The indications are that he will continue as first choice this season. Wenger is a fan of long-term thinking, and Bellerin certainly represents the future for Arsenal. His speed allows him to atone for any positional errors caused by his inexperience, and his willingness to break forward affords Arsenal an additional attacking weapon.
There will be times when Debuchy’s superior aerial ability is required, but in the big games, it seems likely that Bellerin will remain Wenger’s preferred option.
Another Spaniard is likely to play regularly on the opposition flank. In 2013/14, Nacho Monreal endured a torrid campaign. It seemed as if he might never adapt to the physical demands of English football. However, an unexpected spell as a centre-half last autumn transformed the former Malaga man.
Tucked in alongside Per Mertesacker, Monreal was forced to toughen up. He occasionally struggled against burlier centre-forwards, but he never surrendered. When he returned to his preferred position at left-back, he looked a stronger, more confident player.
That meant that Kieran Gibbs was largely restricted to the substitutes' bench at the back end of last season. In some ways, that tempered Arsenal’s attacking threat on that flank: Gibbs had struck up a promising relationship with Alexis Sanchez, regularly dashing beyond the Chilean to get to the byline. Monreal is not quite as adventurous in his approach.
However, balance is essential. With Bellerin bombing forward on one flank, Monreal’s more conservative approach helps ensure Arsenal do not get caught out too high up the field. A cavalier approach has proved Arsenal’s undoing in the past. Just as Mertesacker and Koscielny create an equilibrium in the centre of the defence, offsetting the ebullient Bellerin with the more pragmatic Monreal will help achieve the same effect on the flanks.
Monreal, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Bellerin proved an effective unit in the second half of 2014/15—especially with Francis Coquelin, dubbed "the Policeman" by Thierry Henry, patrolling the area in front of them.
If they can continue to build on that collective understanding throughout 2015/16, they should provide the Gunners with the solid platform required to form the basis of a sustained title challenge.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.
