As we approach the end of the season, I have recently begun thinking about one of our experienced players in the backline, our "Mr 7/10" Nacho Monreal.
As the season has progressed, Mr 7/10 has somewhat dropped to a much more consistent 6 or a 5, as a mixture of injuries, form and system changes have affected our likeable left back.
Back in January 2013, when Arsenal signed a full back with a handful of Spanish caps for 8 million quid to play second fiddle to Kieran Gibbs, fans were hardly jumping for joy. And for the first few months, Malaga looked like they had pulled off the deal of the century as Monreal looked off the pace on the pitch (I seem to remember him being given the absolute runaround by Bale and Lennon at White Hart Lane) and unable to speak English.
However, the next couple of seasons, we began to see what Arsene Wenger saw, seizing his chance when Kieran Gibbs became the latest victim of the curse of the "Next Ashley Cole" tag, with form and fitness decimating any run in the side for the left back. Nacho provided consistency. A steady head with the ball, and a tough competitor without it, he even forced his way into the squad for the 2015 cup final mauling of Aston Villa.
In 2017, we began to see another side of Monreal's game- goalscoring. I was lucky enough to be behind the goal when he came in at the back post against City in the cup semi final, and this was just the start of a number of goals in the following season, notably Swansea away and Palace at home.
Unfortunately for Nacho, the switch to 3-4-3 with wing backs probably came at the wrong time in his career. With Sead Kolasinac brought in to provide the power and pace in the wing back position, Nacho was moved into a sort of "half position" on the left side a of back 3 - not a left back, not a centre back. It's left him without a set position. Alongside this, age has begun to catch up with him and we now face a big question over whether it's time to move him on this summer.
I love players that give everything they have for Arsenal football club, which he has done (and has won 2 FA cups). But unfortunately there is no room for sentiment in football now, and it would take a very optimistic fan to say that Arsenal will win the title with Nacho Monreal at left back (or centre back or wing back). So when Unai Emery adds the list of players he needs to sell this summer, I'm afraid that Nacho Monreal needs to be on the list.
Gracias Nacho.
@joehurd16
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