Nacho

[TeeCee]

been looking pretty crisp lately but doesn't have the zing of our Chilli man Sanchez

[Nuggets]

Useful squad option.
But not the top level left back or centre back we need.
Though under a different manager with better training he might be.

I agree, good stand-in but not the real deal, playing a lot better with a few starts in the team.

[Bro]

He's actually a decent player who struggles against the most physical players. One bad game at Everton last season and it was yet another bandwagon witch hunt. That game clearly affected him mentally, before that he did alright. Not a bad player to have in the squad despite the usual 'If you're not world class then you're shit' barometer on here.

[northbank123]

He's actually a decent player who struggles against the most physical players. One bad game at Everton last season and it was yet another bandwagon witch hunt. That game clearly affected him mentally, before that he did alright. Not a bad player to have in the squad despite the usual 'If you're not world class then you're shit' barometer on here.

Yep that was his one bad game. Spot on.

[Herd]

He's an good squad player that lacks pace but does have a footballing brain .
He like the rest of the back four have been made to look worse than they are by our lack of defensive mid-fielding cover
that has cruelly exposed all of the back four on numerous occasions .

When this hasnt happened he has played well ,lets hope this can continue !

[DB10GOONER]

He's actually a decent player who struggles against the most physical players. One bad game at Everton last season and it was yet another bandwagon witch hunt. That game clearly affected him mentally, before that he did alright. Not a bad player to have in the squad despite the usual 'If you're not world class then you're shit' barometer on here.

Yep that was his one bad game. Spot on.

[Yankee_Gooner_Dandee]

From ESPNFC:

"There's no doubt he had his struggles -- ask any left-back to play there (centre-half) and watch them endure the same kind of problems -- but he was a long way from the root cause of the team's defensive woes. Yet it looks as if the games he's played at centre-half have made him a better full-back. He's more aggressive in the air, his reading of the game is better, he seems more positionally aware and he's playing with a confidence that hasn't always been present in his time at the Emirates.

If you'd asked who was the first choice for the left-back position at the start of the season, I think the majority would have said Kieran Gibbs. Now, however, the England international has to sit on the bench because the form of Monreal in recent weeks means he thoroughly deserves his place in the team.

Not only that, statistically, the Spanish international's numbers are better. Via Squawka, we can see Monreal's pass completion is 87 percent to Gibbs 82 percent. He wins out in aerial duels won by 42 to 21, and interceptions by 47 to 34. He also leads the way in clearances with 73 to Gibbs' 40 -- and these stats come from playing the same number of Premier League games (17 each, with Monreal playing 31 more minutes in total).

In all competitions Monreal has played 25 games for Arsenal this season, and has been on the losing side only twice. It's hard to draw any real conclusions from individual records like that when it's very much a team game, but the perception that he's some kind of disaster zone is a long way from the truth. Even when he played in central defence, his performances were reasonably solid. The frustration came from the fact that everyone realised Arsenal should have a better option than that, not how he played in general.

So while all teams have their stars, the players who catch the eye and are capable of special things, they also need the men who just do a good job on a consistent basis, and Monreal is one of those."

[DB10GOONER]

From ESPNFC:

"There's no doubt he had his struggles -- ask any left-back to play there (centre-half) and watch them endure the same kind of problems -- but he was a long way from the root cause of the team's defensive woes. Yet it looks as if the games he's played at centre-half have made him a better full-back. He's more aggressive in the air, his reading of the game is better, he seems more positionally aware and he's playing with a confidence that hasn't always been present in his time at the Emirates.

If you'd asked who was the first choice for the left-back position at the start of the season, I think the majority would have said Kieran Gibbs. Now, however, the England international has to sit on the bench because the form of Monreal in recent weeks means he thoroughly deserves his place in the team.

Not only that, statistically, the Spanish international's numbers are better. Via Squawka, we can see Monreal's pass completion is 87 percent to Gibbs 82 percent. He wins out in aerial duels won by 42 to 21, and interceptions by 47 to 34. He also leads the way in clearances with 73 to Gibbs' 40 -- and these stats come from playing the same number of Premier League games (17 each, with Monreal playing 31 more minutes in total).

In all competitions Monreal has played 25 games for Arsenal this season, and has been on the losing side only twice. It's hard to draw any real conclusions from individual records like that when it's very much a team game, but the perception that he's some kind of disaster zone is a long way from the truth. Even when he played in central defence, his performances were reasonably solid. The frustration came from the fact that everyone realised Arsenal should have a better option than that, not how he played in general.

So while all teams have their stars, the players who catch the eye and are capable of special things, they also need the men who just do a good job on a consistent basis, and Monreal is one of those."

[Yankee_Gooner_Dandee]

I know DB. Like I said. I'm not his biggest fan, but it's kind of hard to argue with the results. And he HAS looked better at LB since he was moved out of CB. And I would keep him starting over Gibbs for the time being.

[DB10GOONER]

I know DB. Like I said. I'm not his biggest fan, but it's kind of hard to argue with the results. And he HAS looked better at LB since he was moved out of CB. And I would keep him starting over Gibbs for the time being.

Sorry, was growling at the original writer's use of unqualified stats.

TBH, I think Nacho has improved alot with a run of games at LB. True, he isn't world class, but I agree with you we should give him a run. Because we all know when Gibbs comes back one of his glass ankles will promptly shatter within 2 - 3 games.

[Bro]

Yep that was his one bad game. Spot on.

You clearly lead a very fulfilling life making a player out to be worse than he is.

Because we all know when Gibbs comes back one of his glass ankles will promptly shatter within 2 - 3 games.

Gibbs has been in the side for the vast majority of the season for the past two seasons, from what I remember any injuries he's had in that time have been minor.

[DB10GOONER]

Yep that was his one bad game. Spot on.

You clearly lead a very fulfilling life making a player out to be worse than he is.

Because we all know when Gibbs comes back one of his glass ankles will promptly shatter within 2 - 3 games.

Gibbs has been in the side for the vast majority of the season for the past two seasons, from what I remember any injuries he's had in that time have been minor.

... but regular.

Since becoming first choice LB in 2011-2012 season, His PL record is;

2012 - 16 apps
2013 - 27 apps
2014 - 28 apps
2015 - 17 apps so far

I seem to recall the PL season is 38 games....

[Bro]

Yep that was his one bad game. Spot on.

You clearly lead a very fulfilling life making a player out to be worse than he is.

Because we all know when Gibbs comes back one of his glass ankles will promptly shatter within 2 - 3 games.

Gibbs has been in the side for the vast majority of the season for the past two seasons, from what I remember any injuries he's had in that time have been minor.

... but regular.

Since becoming first choice LB in 2011-2012 season, His PL record is;

2012 - 16 apps
2013 - 27 apps
2014 - 28 apps
2015 - 17 apps so far

I seem to recall the PL season is 38 games....

Key phrases - vast majority, last two seasons. 28/38 and 27/38 is the vast majority.

[northbank123]

Well looks like we have an embarrassment of riches at left back then doesn't it

[arseofacrow]

I think our entire back four looks good unless they're cruelly exposed.