The Backwards Gooner: 5 reasons why Samir Nasri isn't suited to the no.10 role

Sunday, 17 July 2011

5 reasons why Samir Nasri isn't suited to the no.10 role

Given the recent injury problems of Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, one of the major areas of concern for Arsene Wenger is who best to replace him with in his absence. A fair proportion of Arsenal's midfielders favour the role, and one such player is the twinkle-toed Samir Nasri. But does he have the necessary qualities to deputise for the Spaniard, in a role that requires tremendous creativity and vision? Here are 5 reasons why I believe he's ill-suited to the position, demonstrated with the following video:

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darthmalor · 714 weeks ago

Only one friendly game to to prove it...

2 replies · active 714 weeks ago

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desigunner 13p · 714 weeks ago

I have a slightly different take on this.

I believe he cannot excel the way Fabregas does but he can succeed in a different system like Sneijder or Ozil have done. He needs a six man defensive unit behind him (Back four plus two primarily defensive minded midfielders). That would liberate him from a creative/attacking point of view and will not put the burden of retaining possession on him. I have noticed players like Sneijder and Ozil don't make that many passes like Fabregas or Xavi but have a very high assist/chance creation/goal rate. Nasri does not have the same technique as the Spanish stars to play in a system that works for them. From that point of view he'd be huge for United and even for City.

3 replies · active 714 weeks ago

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gooner · 714 weeks ago

Ramsey is the suitable successor. :)

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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powpow · 714 weeks ago

I liked the video very much. Easier to understand than written word for us who arent experts. ^^ Would be really nice too see more of this kind in the future.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Grafton · 714 weeks ago

I like the breakdown, but these are issues that seem to be summed up by "restraint." He needs to keep himself from dropping back and trusting his teammates, and needs to keep himself from making the dashing forward runs that take him out of the play. By picking his spots better (as Arshavin does, which you point out well), he'll be able to thrive in that role. It might take time, but hey, since when have Arsenal been in "win-now" mode?

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John · 714 weeks ago

Agree 100% been it saying for ages nasri just isnt penetrative, creative enough!

Ramsey, wilshere, fabregas, rosicky, arshavin are ll better behind the striker than nasri!

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OMG Arsenal · 714 weeks ago

I'm not convinced by any means that Nasri can't play an attacking midfield role, but unlike Cesc and Arshavin( who are more playmaking midfielders) he relies on beating the man or little dinks,passes and quick runs to get himself and occasionally his teammates in position. He likes to shoot at goal and to score before he likes to pass. Of the 4 chips he tried, 3 failed, not because he was at fault but because his target couldn't control the ball or took a poor shot.I do agree that he is NOT a like for like replacement of Cesc....Ramsey is far more like Cesc and if Fabregas plays for the Arsenal this season, don't be surprised to see him alongside Cesc learning his trade. with Gervinho and Miyachi likely to play a big part in the rest of the pre-season, Fabregas will likely be paired with him,Nasri and Wilshere in a 4 man midfield if AW stays true to his vision of total control of the centre.

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option1 · 714 weeks ago

surely everything that was in the video shows us why Nasri can play in that position. His calmness on the ball, ability on it and positive/forward is what you need to break teams down.. every #10 is different

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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James Bond · 714 weeks ago

...and that is why Wenger plays him on the wings.

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Chris66 · 714 weeks ago

Perhaps the reality is that Fabregas isn't really a number 10 either! We have spent the last 6 years trying to turn him in to one, when I challenge anyone to say he would occupy that role if Dennis Bergkamp was still playing. At the moment there are 2 people at the club who are better number 10's and they are RVP and AA23. If we had a forward to play in front of them then our midfielders could concentrate on moving the play more quickly and defending (like Vieira used to do), rather than trying to pass through defenses that only seem impenetrable because we move the ball too slowly.

We used to call it Wengerball. We should try it again.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Greg · 714 weeks ago

Hmmm... I agree that Nasri can't replace Cesc, but for different reasons than you state. Cesc likes to play a bit deeper, and I wouldn't say he's a number 10 at all. He's a midfielder. He picks passes, distributes then joins the attack. Nasri is a different player in that he likes to dribble and beat players around the penalty area, he's not the master passer or distributor. But he can also link up with the players around him and create. In many ways, he's a better number 10 than Cesc. And a couple of the things you criticise him for, I don't agree with. For example, making forward runs - that's an essential part of number 10 play, getting in the box.

But props to you for making the vid, it's enlightening. Thanks for the time and effort involved.

2 replies · active 714 weeks ago

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Dennis · 714 weeks ago

Very interesting and well done article! This website is brilliant! I would disagree with some points though, or at least see possible improvement in such areas. For example, I think the fact that he drops too deep at times may be because he wants to collect the ball in deeper areas, allowing one of the deeper midfielders to take up his place - as you brilliantly outlined in one of your previous videos. It may be that due to the fact that it is a preseason match, and/or the lack of chemistry with unfamiliar players lead to him being too deep with no one entering his vacated area.

Nonetheless, I think your observations point to the fact that Nasri is a player who lacks spatial awareness; he doesn't have Fabregas', arshavin, and arguably rosicky (a player I admire but most don't) awareness of the players around him, aswell as the defense's positioning in relation to the players. His awareness is dictated by two objects; the goal and the football. In a sense, that is why he is so effective for arsenal, as it is his awareness of where the goal is that gives him his directness, his goal scoring instinct. But it also hinders his abilty to be a 'true' playmaker, to play in the fabregas role.

3 replies · active 714 weeks ago

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Venn · 714 weeks ago

You have lost complete credibility in my view, your understanding of the no 10 role is very, very poor.

Further more, add in a video of someone playing their first game for weeks, in no competitive atmosphere whatsoever, as "evidence", and you continue to lose all credibility.

The reality is that Nasri was Arsenal's best player last season - countless times he saved the team when Rosicky, Arshavin, Chamakh, Walcott and even Fabregas and RVP were not performing well, the home matches against WBA and Fulham illustrate this beautifully.

Fans have very short memories and this video cannot be called analysis; it is dreadful

2 replies · active 714 weeks ago

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gazzap · 714 weeks ago

Firstly, thanks for a great blog - first time i've been here and i'm very impressed. Great analysis with proper video analysis.
I agree about Nasri and have been saying the same thing for a while. If wenger thinks Nasri can slip into the Cesc role he is flat wrong. Fabregas is a special talent and we wont just replace him, I dont expect to. But we dont need to. We can easily have a 4-4-1-1 with say Song and Wilshere or Ramsey in the centre, and Arshavin behind RVP. This would work a treat. I think the wingers would also have a better chance of protecting their full backs which would improve our defensive ability too. Right now, our wide players are too far forward too much of the time. Arshavin makes a lousy left sided attacker because he doesn't protect his left back. Note that Clichy had all his best defensive performances when he was behind Nasri. Nasri's best position though is on the right. I assume Gervinho will be on the left.

A good number 10 is all about Timing and Space. I dont think Nasri has enough of either attribute. Arshavin possesses them in spades. Wenger cannot see it.

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dardell · 714 weeks ago

You're not a Nasri fan, uh ^^
I believe it's a little bit fast to say he doesn't fit the role, since last year when Fabregas was injured he took successfully the no10 role (in CL...). He made a bad game against Guangzhou, that's all. But I agree on the fact that he make not enough good choices and that's bad for the team.

On Arshavin, not a good choices to say he fits better the role, since there's too many trash in his play ; and for a good reason, he has to make the difference on the wing !

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JavstRanger · 714 weeks ago

Well many argued that one friendly game cannot be taken as an example but actually it illustrates nasri's play from the middle in general. His vision is way inferior compared to Fabregas and simply do not supply enough killer balls from that position. Certainly he played his best football last season as a right forward, his stats dropped drastically when shifted out to the left....

I really don't understand why AA23 isn't used in the hole by Wenger, he is a natural no. 10, he played as a no 10 throughout his career until he arrived at Arsenal. In the 1 half of the whole of last season when he played in the hole( 2nd half aston villa away, Rosicky switched to the left to track A.Young), he tormented the villa defence and arguably played his best half of the season. AA23 is very ill suited to play at the left wing because he doesn't have the stamina to keep running at the defender and then track the defender for the whole game. His game is based on creating chances and he is most comfortable in that little pocket of space. Hope Arsenal's coaching staff wakes up.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Dan T · 714 weeks ago

I thought we were crying out for people to turn and beat their man as opposed to a sideways pass? I thought we wanted players to shoot rather than try and thread a tricky pass? I thought we wanted players to make forward runs into the box and penetrate the defense instead of passing accross the edge of the box? (and the run that you highlighted where he could no longer receive the ball, he had done the important job of taking a defender away thus creating space for team mates, if the defender doesn't follow then he is open and can be put through on goal). And btw is he too far back or too far forward? - I think you say he is both in the video

2 replies · active 714 weeks ago

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Obi · 714 weeks ago

I think nasri is more on an ineista...beatings playings with dribbles and mazy runs while cesc is xavi-like....both are still greal cm

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Kineas · 713 weeks ago

I'm a French fan of Arsenal, in national team Nasri is playing in no.10 postion, and i can tell tou that is definitly not suite for this role, 1 Assist 0 goals, he's substitute Yoan Gourcuff scored 3 goals and give like 4 assist, and Gourcuff was doing a poor season with Lyon. Hope that laurent blanc put Nasri of the right side. i think Rosicky is the only player who can play in no.10 role when cesc isn't fit. Ramsey need to progress sometimes he play just like nasri to much he come catch the ball to deep.

Sorry for my english.

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Sunday, 17 July 2011

5 reasons why Samir Nasri isn't suited to the no.10 role

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