In the fifth edition of Transfer Tip Tuesday, I look at Barcelona vice-captain Javier Mascherano.
Javier Mascherano is currently a Barça player, and has been for the last 5 years. He moved there after spending 3 years in Merseyside, with Liverpool FC, where he didn’t win a major honour but established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. The Argentinian has previously played for River Plate, Corinthians and West Ham, the latter being the club where he made his mark on English football.
At the Catalan club, Mascherano has been primarily used as a centre-back, where he has experienced perhaps mixed success, at times overshadowed by that of Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol and Jeremy Mathieu. However, when played at his favoured position at the base of the midfield he has excelled – most recently shown last season when Sergio Busquets was injured. With a large trophy cabinet whilst at Barça – 11 trophies won which entail every major honour won in the game – and a sense of leadership, he was voted to be the fourth choice captain of Barcelona by his team-mates.
His international career has been successful as well. He has achieved over 100 caps for La Albiceleste, his first coming even before he’d made an appearance for the River Plate first team, captained the team in the 2010 World Cup, and has won 2 Olympic gold medals. His performance in last year’s World Cup was unrivalled in many respects, putting his heart and body on the line to produce great defensive efforts, as the team’s midfield general. As a result, he was nominated for the Golden Ball, as Argentina made their journey to the final before losing out to eventual winners Germany.
The 31-year-old is known for being a near-perfect defensive midfielder in terms of the play-style he offers. A player who puts his body on the line, as well as being a tough tackler, averaging 2.9 tackles a La Liga match (WhoScored), who therefore provides a neat balance in the side, in comparison to the technically gifted of that Barça side.
On a tactical level he is fantastic, and as a result can read the game very well and snuff out oncoming attacks. A great passer of the ball, shown by an averaged 91.2% pass success rate last season and over 65 passes made per match (WhoScored), the Argentinian vice-captain is relied upon to build an attack from the base of the midfield.
Finally, he’s experienced, illustrated by how many honours he’s claimed with Barça, and is a leader, shown by his vice-captaincy at the Camp Nou and with the Argentinian national football team, and by how he was commended for his leadership at last year’s World Cup. A player who, when playing as a defensive midfielder, really should be considered as “the complete package”.
Why would this be important to Arsenal however? It is clear that following Sunday’s frankly embarrassing defeat to West Ham that Francis Coquelin’s style of play must be analysed. It appears that he is a player who cannot help to build the play in the first phase of attack, deep in the pitch. Being unable to do this is quite worrying in an Arsenal side that is famed for its passing play and possession-holding style. Whilst there are no doubts that he is a good player, and one who would do marvellously over a thirty-eight game campaign for a team of a perhaps more direct play-style, it’s failing here at N5.
Cast your minds back to the first half of the 2013/14 season. With Mikel Arteta fully fit and his legs actually working at that point, the Spaniard was part of a great partnership at the base of the midfield with Aaron Ramsey, Arteta being a distributing defensive midfielder. Goals galore and great football being played, propelling Arsenal to the top of the table – no coincidence that as that partnership broke up, Arsenal’s form dwindled.
It’s therefore important to restore what I feel is the best partnership that we can play at the moment as a pivot, but with Mascherano as the defensive midfielder, because of Arteta seemingly on the decline. The UEFA Champions League winner has what the former Everton player had, and much more, perfect for what we need at the moment. Also, if drastically needed – perhaps when Per Mertesacker experiences a bad run of form – the La Liga winner can deputise there, in the heart of the defence.
Could we persuade the Copa America finalist to join though? Absolutely. Mascherano doesn’t appear to be first choice any longer at both the centre-back or defensive midfielder position in Catalonia – a shame, but also testament to the level of quality in the treble winners’ squad. Despite the problems of last Sunday, a title challenge is still possible, and overall an ambitious project is coming together in North London, a very promising reason to sign up.
Reports suggest that Mascherano does want to put an end to his 5-yet tenure in red and blue this summer – it’s the perfect time for Arsenal to pounce and secure what would be one of the biggest transfers of the summer. The stage is set for Mascherano to play in red and white this season, but will Arsenal take their cue?
To win the league, all the holes must be plugged, and all problems must be fixed. Mascherano is the perfect solution to the club’s woes in the defensive midfield position, and it’s up to Arsène Wenger to sign one of my favourite players from the game.
