Arsenal stifle Europe’s most creative midfielder
Arsenal’s disciplined performance left Mathieu Valbuena frustrated (Getty Images)
Marseille’s Mathieu Valbuena made 117 key passes last season, second only to Everton‘s Leighton Baines in the top five leagues in Europe but Arsene Wenger’s side didn’t allow the diminutive midfielder make even one key pass on Wednesday night. In fact the midfielder only managed three passes into the Arsenal box, and none into very worrisome positions. His passing map below (via Squawka.com) highlights how Arsenal’s discipline did not allow him to pass into central areas and forced him into spreading play to the wings whenever he received the ball in the centre.
Feedback
