Arsenal has signed David Luiz on to a new deal despite his poor showing in the club’s defence. Most fans have been left disappointed by Mikel Arteta’s decision to stick by the defender for another season.
Luiz had started this year well under Arteta, however, on the return of football, he seemed to have lost his way yet again.
He was substituted into Arsenal’s first game against Manchester City and in less than half an hour on the pitch, he had managed to cost the Gunners two goals and he also got himself sent off.
After watching his recent showing at the back, former Liverpool star, Steve Nicol reckons that the Brazilian can no longer play in defence and he advised Arteta to convert him into a midfielder.
“I think Arteta’s looking around the squad and figuring ‘if I let this guy go I’ve got even less than nothing’, I think that’s what it is,” Nicol told ESPN FC.
“Listen, Arteta’s got an opportunity here to change David Luiz’s career because David Luiz’s career as a centre-back, in my opinion, is and should be over.
“He’s got to the stage now that whatever team he plays for, if he’s your centre-back, the whole crowd are holding their breath every time he goes to make a challenge or every time he goes to make an interception.
“That means you’ve got to change and the fact is he’s a good football player, this guy can pass the ball no question.
“So get him a step up, get him into the middle of the park because do you know what? They’ve got nothing in the middle of the park.
“[Granit] Xhaka, [Dani] Ceballos, [Matteo] Guendouzi, [Lucas] Torreira’s never fit – why don’t you push this guy into the middle and at least you’d get some football out of him.
“And when he makes mistakes in the middle of the park, they’ll be a backline to try and make up for it.”
This is not actually a bad suggestion, Luiz has the passing to become a midfielder and he has played in that position before, however, he will have to work on his concentration as that is still an issue.
It’s a good idea since we have managed to re sign him. Put him in deep six such that incase he makes a foul, there is already a back up. More so in this crisis time where most of the midfielders are on injury and not fit
There may have been a time when Luis could perhaps have done a decent job as a DM.However given the physical demands needed to be effective in the midfield area including energy, pace and close control I very much doubt if he could survive 90 mins in the hurley hurley of that area.He is bad enough when deployed as a spare man in a back four, but could never be effective in the EPL as a midfielder where you simply never have time to dwell on theball.By giving him a one year extension our Club has not only shown a lack of ambition, but has alienated the majority of its fans.
It has been discussed on here! Dare I say it is where Steve Nicol got the idea from a dis a reader of justarsenal ;).
It is not a bad idea he is probably more akin to the huddle and body checks of the midfield defensive position but the question is has he got the legs.
He’s arguably our best passer in the team because he can play all types of passing with a good accuracy and good pace on the ball. He’s good enough to be a deep lying midfielder and he can dribble, he could be an efficient midfielder if his odd bungling moment doesn’t immediately get punished.