Arsenal Corner : Yann M’vila Can Put Alex on ‘Song’

Statistically Alex Song has been one of the most efficient midfielders for Arsenal in the recently concluded Premier league season. Song is 3^rd in the list of most assists in EPL last season with 11. His stat of 1.4 key passes per game also makes for good reading. The Cameroon International has been one of the main reasons why Arsenal have been able to recover from a poor start to the campaign and managed to qualify for Champions League next season. But stats and the euphoria of finishing 3rd, did hide a lot of things.

For the Gooners, the end of the season brought with it a paradox – something which has been lingering for many seasons now. At one end of the paradox was a feeling of exultation for finishing 3rd and qualifying for Champions League specially after such a dismal start to the season. At the other end was a question – should a club of Arsenal’s stature be pleased with a 3rd place finish and such long barren trophy-less run? In truth the fans shouldn’t be pleased.

The story of Alex Song is a mirror image of the above questions. Should the fans be pleased with Song becoming such an attacking threat or should they worry about the lack of tactical discipline that is present in his game?

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Song at Arsenal : A tactical enigma

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Alex Song, over the past two seasons, has seen his stock rise unprecedentedly. He has improved immensely, specially his attacking side of the game. Having established an almost telepathic connection with Robin van Persie, the duo has been involved in many breath-taking attacking moves for Arsenal where Song has regularly found his captain’s wonderfully timed runs with superbly executed through balls. But despite such moments of brilliance the question still remains – does Alex Song justify the role of a holding midfielder in the team?

For a holding midfielder, the primary task should be that of protecting his defense, covering the spaces left behind by marauding full-backs/advancing midfielders and protecting the team against counter-attacks when they lose possession. This is where question marks are raised upon Song. On paper, the Gunners have good individuals lined up in their defense, who may not be ‘world-class’ but these names should theoretically be good enough to keep far more clean sheets than they actually end up doing. The problem lies in defensive organization of the team.

In a 4-2-3-1 formation that Wenger employs, the two holding midfielders play a pivotal role. When the wing-backs move forward in attack, these two holding midfielders are expected to cover the space left behind. Similarly, when opposition attacks down the wings, they are expected to double with the full-backs to stop them as in this formation the wingers/wide forwards are placed higher up the field plus Walcott or Gervinho are not known for tracking back and helping out the defense.

This adds more responsibility on Song and Arteta to cover for them. Apart from the full-backs, Vermaelen is an offensive minded center back and he often joins the attack higher up the field, hence leaving space for the opponents to exploit if the possession is lost. This is where Song is expected to drop back in defense and help out. But problematically for Wenger, this is where Song’s short comings are exposed, more often than not. His biggest weakness is positional discipline.

Some of these disciplinary frailties in Song have been covered up this season due to the presence of Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard has allowed Song to move forward more regularly, but Arteta is not a permanent solution to Song’s problem. The former Everton man is more adept at playing a deep-lying play-maker’s role, than being an anchor man. In fact, quite opposite to what has happened last season, as ideally it must be Song providing the required defensive cover to Arteta.

Song’s adventurous runs forward, neglecting his defensive duties have left Arsenal exposed too often at the back. What this Arsenal team needs most at present is someone like Gilberto Silva or even Mathieu Flamini. Someone, who will do all the dirty work in front of the back four, someone who will resist moving out of his position to join in attack; an invisible shield. This is where M’vila comes in to the picture.

21-year-old Rennes midfielder Yann M’vila has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal. The Frenchman, one feels will be the anchor man for Arsenal in their midfield. M’vila has had another wonderful season at the French club, and he brings to the plate what Song doesn’t; discipline. His offensive stats are not as spectacular as that of Song, but his defensive stats are definitely better. Having averaged 3.1 tackles and 2.5 interceptions per game, M’vila will add a lot of steel to the Gunner’s midfield.

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Arsenal target M'vila : The solution

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The Frenchman’s transfer doesn’t necessarily mean Song’s career would take a setback at the Emirates. In fact, M’vila’s presence will help Wenger deploy Song in a position which is far more suited to his game. The Cameroonian would excel in a far more attacking role, without having to worry too much about his defensive duties. Alex Song and M’vila can form a wonderful partnership in front of the defense with Song playing the deep-lying play-maker’s role and joining attack, while M’vila staying back and covering the defense. It makes for a perfect pair.

In recent football history, the role of a midfielder who plays in front of a defense and that of the one who plays just behind a striker, has changed significantly. A gradual change of approach has been noticed where, the defensively combative players are being employed in much attacking role, while a creative midfielder plays behind them. Players like Yaya Toure, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Arturo Vidal have excelled in their advance role, while players like Pirlo & Seedorf dictated play from behind.

Instead of providing the creative midfielder a cover from behind, these players provide cover from the front. They act like a shield, which allows the deep-laying play-maker to dictate the game from behind. With M’vila in their ranks, Arsene can release Alex Song to a similar role, but for that there needs to be a change in formation. The 4-2-3-1 cannot support Song in an advanced role, atleast not effectively.

Wenger needs to employ either a formation with a 3-man defense or a narrow formation similar to AC Milan in a 4-3-1-2 (which looks highly unlikely). But either way, Song would provide an excellent tactical option with M’vila taking up his defensive responsibility. For what tactics would suite Arsenal next season, with Wilshere back in the team and possible arrival of M’vila, let’s leave that for another discussion.

Arsene Wenger needs to sign M’vila, to not only secure Arsenal’s midfield, but to also get the best out of Alex Song.