Why Arsenal’s Attack May Just Be the Best in the Prem

It’s a prevalent debate in practically every sport. There have been essays written, documentaries made, cases pleaded, heated arguments conducted and social media soapboxes stood upon. Who has the best offense? And more specific to Premier League Football, who has the best attacking rotation?

It’s a question that may never receive a definitive answer, but that won’t stop fans and pundits alike from throwing out stats or submitting their conjecture. So, since everyone else is doing it, I may as well have a go at it too. Here is my assertion for why Arsenal may just have the best attacking rotation in the Prem.

Numbers Never Lie

The most convenient and straight-forward place to start is to compare by statistics. Below is a table of the current top four and some of their offensive vital stats. As you can see, Arsenal are competitive in all of these areas, topping both possession and passing percentages. This comes as no surprise, as we all know the Arsenal way. Intricate passing and patient buildup has been the mantra for quite some time now, and the numbers definitely show it here.

We can see that the Gunners rank third out of four in both shots per game and shots on target per game. While this doesn’t always correlate with true chance creation, it is obviously still an indicator of offensive activity. You can’t score if you don’t shoot, so they say. And while Arsenal may not be outshooting everyone, they are at least holding their own.

Then there will be those who are shouting about the goal tallies for the season. To them I say, the side with the most goals isn’t always the side with the best attack. Goals are, of course, the ideal end product of an attack, but there are many other aspects to take into account. Simply saying that the best attack scores the most goals is a short-sighted injustice to the rest of the beautiful game.

But aggregated stats are but one piece of the argument that has to be made. One cannot properly discuss attacking prowess without highlighting the individual players themselves.

It would be tough to bring up stats without talking about the season that Ozil is having. His numbers show that he really and truly is Magic Mesut. He is on pace to break two important offensive records. The first should be familiar to most Gooner fans; Henry’s assist record of 20 in one season. Ozil currently sits at 17 and is well on pace to put himself past the Arsenal great.

The second record is the most chances created in one season. Ozil just passed both Ryan Giggs and Steven Gerrard’s season bests and is coming in hot towards the record that Frank Lampard (134) set back in the 08-09 season. If Ozil stays on his current pace, he will create 159 total chances for Arsenal this year. To me, the most amazing part is that he still has twelve games in which to break these two records.

Youth, Depth and Versatility

Aside from Ozil, the Gunners also enjoy a variety of other exciting weapons. There is some promising young talent to be found in Oxlade-Chamberlain (22 years of age), Joel Campbell (23), Jack Wilshire (24) and Our Hero Danny Welbeck (25). These are all players who can come in and make a major contribution to the attack. This group of youngsters provide Arsene with a plethora of attacking options that helps to foster internal competition within the side and allows for a healthy attacking rotation.

While Ox has struggled a bit as of late, I am confident that he will find his form and continue to play in a very positive manner, taking on defenders and looking to get the ball into the box. Joel Campbell has risen from the ashes a-la Coq and shown that he fully deserves a place in the squad with his creativity and work rate on the right. As for Jack, there’s not a Gunner fan out there that doesn’t feel bad for his situation. He’s such a bright young talent, a player that could definitely benefit the side. Hopefully he will break through his injury barrier and finally see a good run out of games.

Aside from the great deal of attacking youth, the Gunners also have three very potent weapons in Alexis, Walcott and Giroud. Let us not forget about the ambidextrous Santi Cazorla either. He may sit deep, but that does nothing to hinder his attacking potential. When all of these players are taken together, Arsenal have the ability to provide different looks in the attack.

Theo is obviously a pacey threat, able to pick his runs through the back line to burn defenders. He can find the end of a long ball and knows how to efficiently finish. Theo can provide a great way to stretch a back line. Giroud is a superb talent in the air. I feel that this was demonstrated to a great degree in the Leicester game. He showed that center forwards have other duties than simply scoring goals. And when those duties are fulfilled, the attack thrives. Welbeck is interesting because he offers up a sort of hybrid option between Theo and Giroud. He’s definitely got some pace in his boots, but he’s also great in the air.

The creative forces of Ozil, Santi, Alexis and Ramsey are the keys to unlocking the talented selection of forwards. We’ve already mentioned Ozil’s capacity for chance creation. Cazorla’s ability to keep the ball close and play tidy passes helps to tighten the attack movement up quite nicely. Alexis likes to make things happen by running at players and picking out great exchanges in the box, whether it be a one-two or a little lob over the back line. When Ramsey is on, his flicks and swerve passes do well to find our weapons too.

Tactical Flexibility

The more subjective (but still very important) aspect of my argument for Arsenal having the best attack in the Prem is the fact that the side can adapt to different situations. We have seen two formulas this season. Against weaker clubs, we have seen typical Gunner football; boss possession and build through intricate play. This allows Arsenal to control the tempo of the game and patiently wait for the defense to misstep.

The other, and newer tactic, we’ve seen this year has typically come in important games against bigger clubs, notably against City. In these games, Arsenal sit back and invite pressure, organizing the defense tightly. Then, once the opposition has pressed forward, the Gunners utilize their pace to spring the counter, usually spearheaded by an Alexis dribble or an outlet to Walcott. It has proven to be both exciting and effective.

Balance and flexibility are crucial components of a strong attacking side. Being able to throw different approaches at the opposition keeps from being too one-dimensional or predictable. It also allows a club to adjust mid-game if needed.

Putting the two general tactics aside, I believe there is much to be said about the freedom that Arsene allows his players on the pitch. He trusts their talent and instincts, and sometimes it fosters moments of brilliance. My bias will be absolutely showing, but I don’t believe that there is a club in the Prem that play more beautifully than Arsenal. Whether it’s a one-two exchange between Ozil and Giroud, Alexis threading a firm pass through the box, or even a blazing run from Theo to get underneath a beautifully weighted ball, there’s just nothing like the fluidity of Gunner football.

As I’ve explained above, all of our attacking options have the capacity for moments of brilliance. Wenger understands that players often find more success when they are playing unrestricted, in such a way that they can sincerely enjoy the game.

That’s why most everyone starts playing the game, after all, because they love it. And you can see on the Gunner’s faces that they enjoy their attacking football. And why shouldn’t they? It is, by my account, the best in the Prem.