Alan Shearer has highlighted the importance of Arsenal’s full-backs in attacking areas as well as defensively, following Saturday’s 2-0 win over Burnley.
At this point, it’s nothing new to give Arsenal credit for their defensive strength this season. The team have only faced one shot on target in four games, and the last time they conceded was eight games ago.
Yet the defenders are also cropping up with contributions at the other end. Gabriel Magalhaes is the obvious one, providing his fifth direct goal contribution of the season on Saturday (two goals, three assists).
But Alan Shearer highlighted for Match of the Day that full-backs Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are also getting involved in the attacking third on a regular basis.
The show noted that Timber and Calafiori are both in Arsenal’s top-six players for shots (6th and 2nd respectively), expected goals (2nd and 3rd), and touches in the opposition box (4th and 6th).
“Such an important role is played by the two full-backs, Timber and Calafiori,” Shearer said. “Their stats really are off the charts. It would be easy to say, ‘well okay, because they dominated for large periods today, particularly in the first half’. This is not today, this is all season.
“Today was [just] another great example of what a great strength it is to have them both.
“It’s something that we maybe haven’t picked out before, but it’s something very different, and those two players give great options for Arsenal in those forward positions, and have done all season.”
Timber’s recent contributions were recently recognised with a Premier League Player of the Month nomination, with voting currently still open.
It’s unusual to have two players proving so vital at the back whilst also ranking among the team’s top options going forward, and Arsenal fans will be very grateful to what Timber and Calafiori are offering right now.