After
Arsenal completed the signing of Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle as another
Frenchman joined the ranks of gunners, it has ignited a debate as which team
has the best right back in the Premier League now. Starting from the top where
Pablo Zabaleta holds the right wing back position for the reigning Champions,
we take a comparative look on the right wing backs of Liverpool, Man City,
Chelsea and Arsenal in an effort to determine on statistical basis that which
team has that position best covered next season?
 |
Here
is the comparative look:-
Defense:
In
a season where Liverpool conceded a half century of goals their defenders were
under huge criticism from all sides due to the absence of clean sheets. Arsenal
and Manchester City had the best defensive record as they both kept afloat of
chasing Everton and Liverpool respectively in the later stages of last season. Here
is a look on how the defenders fared for all the 4 teams here:-
Glen
Johnson
|
Pablo
Zabaleta
|
Mathieu
Debuchy
|
Branislav
Ivanovic
|
|
Who-Scored
rating
|
7.12
|
7.25
|
7.42
|
7.3
|
Tackle
per match
|
2.2
|
3.4
|
3.3
|
1.8
|
Being
dribbled
|
0.8
|
1.1
|
0.8
|
0.4
|
Total
defensive errors
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
In
agreement with the above mentioned stats, it is the Arsenal new signing that
has glittered last season even having played the lowest number of matches among
the quadruple mentioned above. In addition to the rating, it is the tackles per
match stat where the Frenchman is the torch bearer and just Zabaleta denounces
him in that respect. Keeping in mind the gap between both of the players’
teams, it would be cruel not to praise the former Newcastle right back.
Attack:
Being
part of sides both of whom scored a century of goals, Glen Johnson and Pablo
Zabaleta are expected automatically to be elevated in this position. However
since Jose Mourinho tactics of encouraging and using beautifully his defenders
on set pieces is in-front of us, the Serbian Ivanovic can impress a lot here.
Here
is the statistical comparison:-
Glen
Johnson
|
Pablo
Zabaleta
|
Mathieu
Debuchy
|
Branislav
Ivanovic
|
|
Chances
created
|
28
|
32
|
23
|
29
|
Assists
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
Key
passes per game
|
1
|
1
|
0.8
|
0.8
|
Dribbles
per game
|
1.6
|
0.2
|
0.6
|
0.5
|
Goals
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
So
the stats mentioned above are myth buster aren’t them? Glen Johnson
contribution to the century of goals that his team have scored is less than
0.1%. On the other hand, Pablo Zabaleta shows why he is the 1st choice right
back ahead of the Englishman Micah Richards who might be looking a way off from
the Etihad this season. Again Mathieu Debuchy leaves a mark in almost all
aspects there so Arsenal fans can expect a better turnout from the Frenchman
next season.
Conclusion:
Keeping in mind the defensive contribution and blending it with the utility of going forward and along the touchline, it is the World Cup runner up who might have enough artillery left in his ranks to run along the flanks.
Keeping in mind the defensive contribution and blending it with the utility of going forward and along the touchline, it is the World Cup runner up who might have enough artillery left in his ranks to run along the flanks.
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