Denis Suarez will be representing Arsenal until the end of this season, having completed a deadline day loan move from Barcelona.
The 25-year-old, who previously worked under current Gunners boss Unai Emery at Sevilla, joins a club fighting on two fronts with the ultimate goal of returning to Champions League football.
His addition will no doubt be a boost for Emery; not only in terms of strengthening their squad but also because of the versatility he possesses. Suarez, naturally having played more than 70 matches for Barça, is capable of playing in a multitude of roles.
Nominally a central midfielder, the native of Salceda de Caselas has often be utilized on the flanks, notably from the left where he can cut in and onto his right foot. This, whenever he’s played, has often been to Barça’s advantage given Suarez’s creative ability.
Hence it’s fair to describe him as a wing-creator and Arsenal are not alone in having such a player in their ranks, there’s seemingly one at each of the Premier League’s big-six club: Willian (Chelsea), Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool), Leroy Sane (Manchester City), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) and Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur).
We’ve put Suarez’s statistics from over the last four league seasons up against the wing-creators playing regularly for the current top six. Here are the results.
Denis Suarez
Goals per game: 0.15
Chances created per 90: 1.63
Passing accuracy in final third: 75.8%
Successful take-ons per 90: 1.85
Suarez becomes Arsenal’s sixth acquisition this season following the arrival of Emery, who succeeded the long-serving Arsene Wenger last summer. He is no stranger to playing in England, having come through Manchester City’s academy.
Suarez, though, is a far cry from the player City deemed surplus to requirements.
The Spaniard, who some have already dubbed Santi Cazorla’s spiritual heir at the Emirates Stadium, is a modern skilful playmaker who enjoys playing between the lines as well as running at defenders. If used on the flanks, he’s naturally able to open up spaces for himself to shoot at goal or play in a teammate via a clever pass
Given the plethora of options at Barça, he was never able to hold down a starting role and was only given 17 minutes of La Liga football this season, even if his list of admirers was vast. Under the auspices of his two managers, Ernesto Valverde and Luis Enrique, he would feature on no fewer than 71 occasions, registering eight goals and 11 assists.
Willian
Goals per 90: 0.18
Chances created per 90: 3.21
Passing accuracy in final third: 80.44%
Successful take-ons per 90: 3.1
Willian, unlike Suarez, has predominantly been used out wide since joining Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala five-and-a-half years ago. Now a staple at Stamford Bridge, the 30-year-old Brazilian international has been ever-present under Maurizio Sarri, having missed just one of The Blues opening 24 league fixtures this season.
Not quite an old-fashioned winger, there are still elements to Willian’s play that see him take pause before passing either sideways or backwards, or playing a long diagonal ball.
Nevertheless, he’s still nimble on his feet, even if he’s been a source of frustration among supporters this season. When it comes to chances created per 90 and successful take-on rate this season, he towers above his big-six rivals.
Xherdan Shaqiri
Goals per 90: 0.55
Chances created per 90: 1.66
Passing accuracy in final third: 70.43%
Successful take-ons per 90: 3.07
What a career Shaqiri has enjoyed up until now. A graduate of FC Basel’s esteemed academy, the Swiss forward had Inter Milan and Bayern Munich listed on his CV prior to joining Stoke City.
Having suffered the ignominy of relegation last season, many wondered what would become his fate. A move away was always on the cards but few could have foreseen Shaqiri’s destination being Champions League finalists Liverpool.
Since linking up with Jurgen Klopp he’s played a squad role – mostly as a winger though has popped up behind the centre-forward – and Shaqiri has proven worth his salt.
He’s chipped in with six goals, including a brace against Manchester United at Anfield which ultimately led to Jose Mourinho’s dismissal, and two assists. His scoring feat is worth noting as he’s strides ahead in this department compared to the other big-six wing-creators.
Leroy Sane
Goals per 90: 0.52
Chances created per 90: 2.14
Passing accuracy in final third: 81.09%
Successful take-ons per 90: 3.44
The presence of Benjamin Mendy at the start of this season limited Sane’s playing time, due to City boss Pep Guardiola feeling the French international left-back needing an entire wing to himself, but another serious injury saw the German winger come out of the cold and stamp his own authority.
Sane, who some have likened to a young Ryan Giggs, is among City’s most dangerous creators. That was evident last season when he created 15 goals and was beaten only by his teammate Kevin De Bruyne (16) to be crowned as the Premier League’s assist king.
At times he feels like a throwback, someone who loves to get chalk on his boots, and this wing display has often been to the English champions delight. The numbers don’t lie and in this case only Willan is enjoying a better take-on success rate than Sane.
Jesse Lingard
Goals per 90: 0.3
Chances created per 90: 0.99
Passing accuracy in final third: 79.46%
Successful take-ons per 90: 3.1
For a while, it seemed Lingard’s future would not lie at Old Trafford.
But he’s proven his doubters wrong and is now among the first names on Manchester United’s team sheet. A product of the club’s famed academy this season, Lingard has continued to show his importance on the wing or in the No.10 role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
His energy and fleet of foot has been integral to United’s counter-attacking approach.
But there is also end product. Lingard not only has a keen eye for goal, but his teammates clearly trust him to provide for them.
Although his numbers are not favourable compared to the other four who have enjoyed Premier League minutes this season, it’s worth pointing out Lingard’s worth also comes in terms of what he does off the ball.
Dele Alli
Goals per 90: 0.18
Chances created per 90: 3.21
Passing accuracy in final third: 65.13%
Successful take-ons per 90: 3.04
If he stays on this current trajectory Alli will surpass Premier League greats Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard when it comes to goals and assists. He doesn’t turn 23 until April, so it’s worth lauding what he’s already managed to achieve.
Now is the real test whether he can enjoy a long and productive career as those aforementioned two. Already in this up and down campaign, Alli has proven to be among Spurs’ most important players going forward alongside Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Christian Eriksen, who could generally be considered a wide creator but has also been fielded most frequently in a deeper role this term.
Unlike his big-six rivals, Alli is more of a floater; starting in a central role as a deep-lying forward he enjoys taking up spaces on the flanks, where he can demonstrate his dribbling abilities and crossing. This positional play enables Spurs to get on top of their opponents with Alli playing a pivotal role.
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