Why Arsenal should target Schalke full back Atsuto Uchida

Atsuto Uchida

The Japanese national side is crammed full of real quality at present. While The Premier League provides home for two of the regulars in Maya Yoshida of Southampton and Shinji Kagawa of Manchester United, the majority of the European-based players are plastered over the Bundesliga. Shinji Okazaki and Hiroshi Kiyotake are possibly the most recognisable of those playing their trade in the German topflight, but there is another, less glamorous player who was attracting the interest of Premier League outfit Arsenal in the summer, although nothing transpired.

Atsuto Uchida is now in his fourth season at Schalke and has played in all but one of the club’s league games this term, proving again how important he is to the Gelsenkirchen outfit despite not having his strongest of seasons so far.

Arsenal currently have the choice between Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson to choose from on the right side of defence right now, and while Uchida isn’t as physically imposing as the former or as strong in the tackle as the latter, he offers far more going forward than either or them.

Uchida possesses an almost unnatural amount of speed in his legs and is at his best when he is zipping down the wing, whipping crosses into the box. He has sculpted eight key passes in his 11 Bundesliga outings this season and claimed two assists, more than the Arsenal pair combined.

He has also won the majority of his take ons (79%) whereas Jenkinson has struggled to get going in that department so far.

A switch to Arsenal in January would perhaps lead to a similar situation to what Nacho Monreal finds himself in right now at the Emirates. The Spaniard is currently playing second fiddle to Kieran Gibbs, who has proved defensively stronger over the last few months, and is being used as a defensive winger when needed. Although Uchida has won 31/41 tackles this season a lot have them have been high up the field as he harasses the opposition and forces them backwards.

He has averaged six defensive actions per appearance so far in the current campaign, the same as Sagna and double Jenkinson’s tally, although he has the weakest pass completion rate of the trio.

Jenkinson has surprised many over the last year or so and stepped into Sagna’s shoes almost with ease when needed. But since the Frenchman returned from his injury last season the England international has found his playing time limited.

He does, however, appear to be growing with every appearance and to hinder that with a move for a player who is unlikely to challenge Sagna for the starting slot could be somewhat detrimental.

To lure the best out of Uchida the Japan international needs to have a defence-minded winger in front of him, and although you could argue that Aaron Ramsey on the right of midfield could work as he is capable of tracking back, Theo Walcott is still to return to the mix and offers the speed and more of a threat in the attacking areas than the right-back.

Should Sagna decide to pack his bags and leave north London at the end of the season then it would be a whole different ball game, but with the former Auxerre defender currently doing the business and with Jenkinson in reserve, Arsene Wenger has a strong hand when it comes to his right-back berth.