'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Not only was it Valentine’s Day, it was also Bacary Sagna‘s 31st birthday! That may not seem article worthy, but the full-back’s age is proving to be an issue for Arsenal of late as talks to extend his contract at the club broke down again this week.
To keep hold of the Frenchman, the Gunners would likely have to break their policy of only offering players over the age of 30 one-year deals. With an agreement between the two looking increasingly unlikely, the fans are already starting to speculate who might be lined up to replace him.
With that in mind we’ve jumped on the bandwagon to highlight a player from each of Europe’s top 5 leagues that has put in the sort of performances at right-back this season that should have caught the eye. We’ve used Sagna’s Premier League statistics as a template for replacement where possible, but come up with 5 very different options that Wenger could possibly pursue.
We start in England, and of all right-backs in the Premier League this season few have impressed to the extent that Seamus Coleman has managed. The Everton defender has netted 5 league goals and is perhaps better known for his attacking capabilities as a result.
He’s created 1.2 chances per game this season, which is twice the figure of Sagna’s (0.6) and is able to bomb on down Everton’s right flank, which proves particularly effective as Kevin Mirallas ahead of him likes to cut inside. His tendency to offer an option on the overlap would only stand him in good stead for a side like Arsenal too, who tend not to deploy out-and-out wingers.
Defensively sound, with 2.2 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per game also in excess of Sagna’s figures, the only area in which the Irishman is considerably weaker than the France international comes in the air, having won just 0.4 aerial duels per game compared to Sagna’s impressive 3.9. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal would be willing to fork out the sort of money that the Toffees would likely demand or whether the player himself would be tempted by the move, but Coleman could certainly be an interesting option.
Javi López
The options in La Liga aren’t exactly plentiful. The top rated right-back in Spain is, perhaps unsurprisingly, Dani Alves but there is one man that isn’t far behind. With an average of 7.30 over the course of the season thus far Espanyol’s Javi López has again displayed just how dependable a defender he is.
A late bloomer, the 28-year old only broke into Espanyol’s first team in 2010 but he’s been extremely solid at the back over the last two seasons. Our La Liga expert David Cartlidge sheds more light on López’s style, saying “Excellent physically, he is combative and energetic across the whole 90 minutes, pushing on when he can to support his winger”.
He’s not the best player from a technical standpoint but with a huge 4.6 tackles and 2.9 interceptions game he never disappoints at the back. “Defensively he’s always been strong and aware from a positional point of view and never makes rash tackles or decisions,” Cartlidge continues. If Wenger is more concerned with replacing Sagna’s defensive capabilities, López has certainly shown he’s up to the task this season.
Tony Jantschke
Sticking with the no-frills options, Gladbach’s Tony Jantschke has been extremely reliable for the Foals despite his tender years. Able to cover at centre-back as well as out wide, the 23-year old has had his place in Lucien Favre’s side cemented for some time, missing out on the starting XI from just 7 of a possible 88 league matches in the last 3 seasons. The fact that the Gladbach coach is a friend of Wenger’s may well make any switch between the two more likely.
Excellent in possession, the German takes a safety first approach, boasting a 91% pass accuracy. He rarely gets too involved from an offensive standpoint in turn though, but offers solidity to his side with averages of 2.1 tackles and interceptions per game, as well as winning his fair share of aerial duels (2.8 per game).
From a defensive view and in terms of keeping possession, Jantschke and Sagna are similar. Both possess strengths from WhoScored.com when it comes to passing and holding onto the ball but the issue may be whether the German, who has created just 6 chances for teammates all season, has enough about him going forward to fit into Arsenal’s system.
Lorenzo De Silvestri
Having failed to really cement a place in the Fiorentina side despite showing promise as a youngster – even earning a first senior international cap back in 2010 – Lorenzo De Silvestri has gone on to impress since a move to Sampdoria last season. Still only 25, the right-back is hoping to force his way into Cesare Prandelli’s World Cup plans and is going the right way about it in the current campaign.
With a rating of 7.31 from WhoScored.com, De Silvestri is the top rated player in his position in Serie A and offers similar qualities to Sagna from a statistical sense. With 0.9 key passes and accurate crosses per game, the Italian actually exceeds Sagna’s attacking output, whilst performing admirably from a defensive sense to boot.
The full-back is particularly adept in the air, and both he and Sagna have been awarded with a strength when it comes to aerial duels, with the Arsenal man winning 3.9 per game to the Samp defender’s 3.8. If he continues to develop as he has over the last two seasons, De Silvestri may well be a worthwhile option.
Serge Aurier
We end on the player that may not only be the most adequate replacement but also the most likely. Any followers of Toulouse powerhouse Serge Aurier on Twitter will be aware of his fondness for Arsenal, having been linked with the club on numerous occasions. Since he signed for the Ligue 1 outfit in 2011, the Frenchman has gone from strength to strength in more ways than one.
If you were to see a picture of Aurier and were told he was a full-back you’d probably be more likely to think that his sport was rugby union rather than football. Nevertheless, there’s more to the 21-year old then pure physicality, as our Ligue 1 expert Andy Brassell explains, “The striking thing about Aurier has always been his power and he uses this strength well when playing wide; he’s quick, strong, good in the air and can even dribble.”
He’s moved to centre-back frequently this season and that versatility could only stand him in good stead to replace a man that has been called upon to play the same role on occasion, particularly in recent campaigns. With superb defensive statistics, including 3.1 tackles per game, and an equally impressive attacking output, averaging 1.2 accurate cross a match, Brassell continues, to claim “with the right coaching, he could become something really special.” Don’t be surprised if that coaching ends up coming in North London.
