Arsenal’s Premier League title charge was initially built upon a solid rearguard.
While that does still ring true to this day – they have conceded just 13 league goals this season – cracks have started to appear in the dam. Having kept seven clean sheets in the opening 10 league games, the Gunners have managed just three in the subsequent 11 matches.
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In recent weeks, they have looked a touch suspect defensively. Indeed, they shipped twice at Bournemouth to kick off the year. They conceded two at Chelsea in midweek. They won both games, yet the defensive resolve has been found wanting. That’s not to say Arsenal have endured a defensive collapse to kick off the year. Rather, opponents are beginning to find a way in.
“With the right level of organisation, but especially with the desire to play, shown every day, and the commitment that they show to do all the duties that are necessary for us to be a team that is very difficult to play against and to score against,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta recently said of the club’s impressive record.
Calafiori key at left-back
The Spaniard is right to praise the collective. Arsenal brought in two new defenders over the summer – Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, Both have caught the eye when they have needed to step up. The team effort has outweighed the work of the individual. That said, there has been a drop in the steadfastness of the side when a regular starter has been unavailable. And none more so than Riccardo Calafiori.
The Italian, who moved to the Emirates in 2024, made just 11 starts in his debut season in the capital. Injury issues hindered Calafiori’s impact, while Myles Lewis-Skelly’s form at left-back limited his playing time. The roles, however, reversed at the start of the campaign. Calafiori has been Arsenal’s first choice left-back when fit. He’s started 16 league games this season, all on the left side of the back four.
Arsenal, as a collective, have looked far more assured with Calafiori at left-back. A centre-back by trade, the former Bologna man brings the requisite defensive solidity to the role. This allows left central midfielder Declan Rice to push on and support the offensive, safe in the knowledge that Calafiori is there to cover the space.
Calafiori vs Hincapie
Saying that, Calafiori has pushed forward where possible. He has, after all, managed 22 shots this season, the sixth most for Arsenal. 12 chances created, meanwhile, ranks fourth. Additionally, Calafiori ranks fourth for tackles (28) and fifth for possession won in the defensive third (19). The history of playing at centre-back has benefitted both player and club.
In his absence, though, Arsenal have looked a little more exposed, particularly down their left. That’s not to say stand-in Hincapie is a poor defender. Instead, the Ecuadorian is a more aggressive operator. Calafiori is a touch more reserved. Hincapie is happy to push up to win the ball higher upfield to turn defence into attack.
Despite only make 12 league appearances, Hincapie ranks fourth for interceptions (14) for Arsenal this season. For context, Calafiori has made 13. The latter doesn’t quite step out as readily as the former. While this has seen Arsenal become a touch more offensive as a result, there is space that can be exploited by opponents when Hincapie gets forward. It drags the defence across leaving holes at the back.
The above image is a case in point. Calafiori’s heatmap at Everton shows a player who was prepared to sit a little deeper. Hincapie’s at Bournemouth, meanwhile, was a little more offensive. Arsenal dominated both games, but it’s not a shock that Calafiori made more clearances and won more aerial duels against Everton than Hincapie did in the win at Bournemouth.
Attack-minded Hincapie leaving Arsenal exposed
While it’s no bad thing to utilise an offensive-minded left-back, this does come with its risks. Calafiori’s return at the start of February will allow Arteta to field his first-choice backline, and this in turn should see Arsenal revert to their resolute selves. Conversely, the introduction of the more attack-minded Hincapie has helped improve Arsenal in front of goal.
Yes, they are still winning games by one goal, but they are scoring more freely that in previous matches when Calafiori started. Even so, with both an attack-minded and a defensive-minded left-back on the books, Arteta can rotate accordingly depending on whether Arsenal are expected to dominate a team, or whether they need to remain compact to shut teams out.
This tactical flexibility is what’ll prove the difference between silverware, or another year without a trophy.
