PLAYER ANALYSIS: Ryan Fraser and Improving Arsenal

While many like to look at Robin Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas or Nasri as some of Arsenal’s sales that have left a whole in the squad, Santi Cazorla is a hole they seemingly cannot replace. The Spaniard had one of the best debut seasons in the past decade, reaching double figures for both goals and assists. As Arsenal added expensive signings like Ozil, Sanchez and Xhaka, Cazorla remained to be their most important player. After the Arsenal medical staff failing to foresee the long term ankle injury (an injury that was noticed but not resolved until it was fatal), it left Cazorla in a terrible position, as well as Arsenal. While a midfield of Coquelin and Cazorla isn’t perfect, they balanced out each other and allowed them both to play to their strengths. Cazorla helped take pressure away from Ozil in the creativity department. In the 2015/16 season, Ozil was the best creator in Europe, making 4.2 key passes per game. The German was the only player who created more chances than Cazorla’s 2.5 key passes per game. It made Arsenal less predictable, ensuring that there was always one technically superb player on the pitch to assist the forwards. Cazorla was also influencial in transition, completing 2.5 dribbles per game. The Spaniard was arguably their best player during Wenger’s final years in charge.

So what does Cazorla have to do with a Scotsman who was sent out on loan to Ispwich while Arsenal were challenging for a title? Well with Arsenal in desperate need for creativity, thanks to Ozil seemingly falling out with Emery, it seems the Gunners will turn to Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser as the saviour. He could help give Arsenal extra creativity from the wide areas, so let’s find out if he is the man to help Arsenal challenge for top four.

Since breaking into Bournemouth’s first team back in the 2013/14 season, Fraser has found it difficult to find a place in the starting XI. While he did start 23 games in his first season in the Premier League, he was in a very poor Bournemouth side. However thanks to Eddie Howe building a much better attack, it gave all of his forwards a spark, and Fraser was by far the one who benefitted the most from the change. While Wilson finally seemed to be scoring the amount of goals we’ve all been waiting for him to reach, Fraser turned into one of the best creators in the league. The former Aberdeen winger formed a deadly partnership with Wilson, with the pair nearly breaking Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton’s record for most goal combinations between two players with 12. It highlights where Fraser strength has been in the final third. He is one of the best players in the league for making that final pass. It’s where he has become so vital for Bournemouth. His eye for an assist has turned him into the most important player for the Cherries. Fraser is the player the rest of the team look for. He is technically gifted and his passing is spectacular. his 2.4 key passes per game rank 4th in the league, with the likes of Maddison and Hazard ahead of him. His crossing is also an area to be admired. The Scottsman completes 2 crosses a game, the 2nd highest in the league. He is his side’s chief playmaker, and seems to embrace the responsibility entrusted in him by his manager.

So is there anything wrong with Fraser? There is actually a few things to note, starting with his dribbling. He isn’t exactly a good dribbler.  Fraser is completing less than a dribble a game. While Bournemouth rank 14th for dribbles per game, it’s an area of concern. The reason why Cazorla was spoken about so highly is because he is still a player they need to replace. His combination of high chance creation and expert transitional play made him an almost perfect Wenger player. If Fraser will be able to replicate Cazorla’s creativity, there is still a hole to be filled. This isn’t to complete diminish Fraser’s strengths. In fact, his lack of dribbling does highlight one of his better qualities. His ability to get into positions where he is able to cross for his team is what has made him such a threat for Bournemouth. He doesn’t have to dribble because there is no one to beat. It’s a concern for if he signs for Arsenal because it’s hard to know if he would be able to adapt in a way to suit what Emery might want. Arsenal have let Walcott, Sanchez, Cazorla and Oxlade-Chamberlein go and haven’t replaced them in what they added to the team, being the ability to beat players an add that element of unpredictability, something Fraser might not be able to add.

I like Fraser a lot, and would suit a side like Southampton, one which is starved of creativity, but are full of players who are excellent dribblers. These are more of the players that Arsenal should be looking for. Players who amase high dribble numbers. While players like Januzaj, Thuram or Sarr might not offer the same amount of assists as Fraser, they will make Arsenal a much better side.

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PLAYER ANALYSIS: Daniel James and Improving Manchester United

Manchester United’s defence is always an area of discussion when it comes to improving the team, but the wide areas are definitely an area that has needed improving since Sir Alex Ferguson departed the club. While United have players like Martial, Rashford, Lingard and Mata, who can all play there, it isn’t their favoured position. They actually haven’t had a natural winger since Januzaj and Depay left the club. It has meant that United have been largely too predictable. Many of United’s best players are left sided, meaning if a team can just overload that area of the pitch, it massively limited United’s creativity. While a large 43% of United’s attacks go down the left side, they only attack the right side of the pitch 31% of the time, the lowest in the league. It’s understandable why United are like this. Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard, the two players who usually play there, like to come inside, meaning Ashley Young is usually the only option on that side of the pitch. Young is simply not good and shouldn’t be relied on to this extent, and it’s a side of the pitch that needs better options. If recent reports are to be believed, United are in talks with Swansea City to sign 21 year old Daniel James for £15 million. Is he the player to solve this problem?

James has more of an involvement this season than anyone really expected. After an unsuccessful season loan at Shrewbury Town, and later deciding not to go on loan to league 2 side Yeovil Town, the Welshman remained at Swansea to fight for his place, and it’s safe to say he has made an impression. He originally caught the eyes of football fans for his incredible solo goal against Brentford in this year’s FA Cup, which saw him single-handedly run 80 yards, through 3 players and score a great solo goal. He also scored in Wales’s first game for the Euro 2020 qualifiers, dispossessing one of their defenders, thanks to his blistering pace, and putting the ball away to win the game for Wales. It is by far his strongest attribute. While it is quite straight forward, having such speed gives you a natural advantage over defenders. His pace is a factor helps with other parts of his game, one being his ability to press. It’s why Leeds were desperate to sign him. He constantly keeps pressure on opponents and can the speed to be able to cover a lot of ground for his side. His versatility also deserves praise. Graham Potter likes his players to be able to play in numerous positions, to help tactical flexibility and formation changes. James has been stand out in this regard. He’s played both as a left winger and on the right side, while also playing as a number 10 and as a striker. Potter has used him in very inventive ways, and has brought out unique qualities in him. When looking at his numbers, we will only be looking at his performances only as a left winger. This is because it’s the position where he has seen the most minutes, so there is more to look at. He has been taking 2.9 shots a game, with 2.1 shots coming from inside the box. James is showing himself to be an intelligent player, taking shots in very good positions. He’s been making 1.3 key passes a game, with all coming from a short range. One of the only areas of improvement for the 21 year old would be his dribbling. While completing 1.3 dribbles is pretty good for a player who isn’t involved heavily in transition, he is only completing half of his attempted dribbles. He should be aiming for at least completing 60% of his dribbles, but it isn’t a huge area of concern at the moment. One of the best parts of James’s game is his ability on the counter attack. The Welshman is so fast that he has more control over counter attacks than any other player. He is the player who his teammate’s first want to pick out. His viral goal against Brentford shows this. When he receives the ball in his own half, he first hits it forward to chase onto it, knowing he can outrun anyone he is up against. He beat 3 defenders to score a brilliant individual goal. It was by far his highlight of the season. Many will look at James and see a player who has only managed 4 goals and 7 assists in the league. While that is a relatively small number for a player who is being linked to a top 6 club, his numbers show a player who if given more time on the pitch, could add more goal contributions.

The stats are showing a player who is putting in the shots and creating the chances that you see from elite players. Even comparing his stats to other players in the United squad, he would rank 2nd for shots per 90, with only Pogba being ahead of him. James is far from a finished article, but his ability to press, his versatility and his pure electric pace, especially on counter attacks, gives United additional options in an area they are in desperate need of fixing.