The three BEST players in Arsenal’s renaissance – statistically

Three Arsenal players who impressed during the first half of March by SE

Arsenal won all of their games during the first half of this month, a period during which they closed the gap between themselves and second-placed Manchester City to just one point on the Barclays Premier League table, while progressing to the semi-finals of this season’s FA Cup after defeating Manchester United in the quarterfinals at Old Trafford.

Those results were built on the back of some collective displays from the North Londoners, but it can’t be denied that three players, in particular, stepped up to the plate and made the difference in their team’s triumphs. Which were those three players who stood out during the first half of March?

Olivier Giroud
The French striker was in impressive goal scoring form during the first half of this month, scoring a goal in all three Premier League games against Everton, Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United. Not only did Giroud score the goals that set the Gunners on their way to victories in the aforementioned league fixtures, but he also created 8 goal scoring chances for his teammates to get on the score sheet. As Arsenal embark on a mighty crucial phase of their campaign, Giroud’s form in front of goal will be crucial to their chances of finishing in the top 4 come the end of this season.

Mesut Ozil
The German playmaker created the most number of goal scoring chances (12) during the first half of this month, proving his significance to Arsenal despite Santiago Cazorla’s impressive showings during Ozil’s time out with a knee ligament injury. Ozil also averaged a pass accuracy of 85%, misplacing just 24 of those passes. The former Real Madrid playmaker enjoyed a 67% success rate, as he completed 6 of his 9 attempted take-ons in close to 4 and a half hours of Premier League actions.

Francis Coquelin
Coquelin was instrumental in Arsenal keeping 2 clean sheets and conceding just 2 goals in 4 games in the first half of March. He won 16 of his 23 attempted tackles, including the 4 successful tackles he made in the FA Cup quarterfinal clash against the Red Devils, taking up good positions ahead of the backline and preventing the opposition from posing any real threat to David Ospina’s goal.

The French midfielder won 9 of his 18 aerial duels in three Premier League games, further indicating his significance in a defensive sense to this Arsenal side. In addition to his aforementioned exploits, Coquelin made 7 interceptions and 18 clearances, and attending to a potential danger at all times.

Final Thought
Wenger would be hoping that in addition to the aforementioned trio of Giroud, Ozil and Coquelin, more players step up to the plate during the rest of this month and until the end of this campaign, as Arsenal look to cement their place in the top 4 of the Premiership table and retain the FA Cup that they won last year.

Suhith Kumar

Tags Coquelin Giroud Ozil

14 Comments

  1. I’m happy with Ozil, Cazorla and Rosicky @ CAM

    As for Coquelin and Giroud, they are good but we still need to add depth to DM and forwards

    Flamini needs to go really
    Wilshere wants to be DM but he hasn’t proven yet
    Arteta basically has one more year but not as reliable as Coquelin
    Diaby is always injured and may be released

    So getting a player like Schneiderlin or Kondogbia
    seems important to me.

    With Walcott’s contract talks stalling, if he is sold I’m not sure if Wenger will replace him considering we have Ox, Welbeck and Akpom and of course Alexis. I wish we could get Reus but barring that a top striker would be great.

    1. Oh I forgot thY we also have Campbell as a winger so Alexis, Welbeck, Ox, Campbell, Akpom (Walcott???)

      1. I reckon Campbell could be sold, along with Podolski. Joel didn’t exactly shine for Arsenal, nor with Villarreal currently.

  2. We need to Sign GK, CB, CDM, RW/LW AND ST.
    We need to Sell Szczesny, Mertesaker, Arteta, Wilshere, Podolski, Walcott and Campbell. Release evergreen Flamini and Medical insurance Diaby.
    What will happen:
    Podolski, Campbell and Walcott will be sold. Diaby and Flamini will be released.
    We will sign one superstar wide player to replace Walcott and maybe a cheap CDM.

  3. This is the starting lineup I want next season.
    Cech
    Bellerin Subotic Koscielny Monreal

    Ramsey Kondogbia

    Cazorla/Ozil
    Ox/NewRW Alexis

    Giroud/New CF

    1. Lacazette
      Sanchez……Ozil….Reus
      Kondogbia…..Ramsey
      Monreal….Boss….Dragovich…..Bellerin
      Cech

      Bench:
      Giroud, Welbeck
      Gnarby, Silva, Ox
      Santi, Wilshere, Le Coq, Rosicky
      Chambers, Gab
      Debuchy, Gibbs
      Ospina, Martinez

      Sold:
      Podolski
      BFG
      Arteta
      Campbell
      Woj
      Theo

      Released
      Diaby
      Flamini

      1. Cavani

        Draxler Reus Isco

        Konbagia Pogba

        Gibbs Hummels Varane Debuchy

        Cech

        7 man subs: Ospina, Kos, Bellerin, Coq, Sanchez Carzola, Ozil

      2. @bigvalbowski Sczceny and Walcott are both home grown. If we sell both we have exactly 8 left. Just the bear minimum. We can offset that by buying Schneiderlin as he is homegrown too.

        City are in big trouble. They have an aging squad and not enough home grown players. They will spend crazy amounts to correct that. Hence why they are interested in Wilshere and Sterling. Millner will leave so that is one more gone.

        Chelsea do not have good depth in their squad and also lack good homegrown players.

  4. As much as i was frustrated with our UCL season ending, I have been really impressed with our Gunners. We’ve won all of our games this month and scored 11 while only conceding 2. Defense has stepped up, Giroud has been banging in goals, and with Coquelin to protect the back 4, our midfield has been able to create more. The cohesive is basically there, something we were missing at the beginning of our season. So keep it up Gunners. Keep making me proud to be a Gooner.

  5. Errrm fellas are we all forgetting about our Angel Gabriel, no one has even lined him up on the bench nor is he in the selling department has he been called back to heaven then

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