Arsenal confirmed the first signing of the Unai Emery era as they announced the capture of the vastly experienced Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free transfer on Tuesday. The Swiss departs Juventus after seven successful years in Turin having landed a Scudetto winners’ medal in every season in Italy for the reigning champions.
Emery will hope the 34-year-old can bring the same winning mentality and experience to Arsenal as a new period in the club’s career starts. Indeed he was on the losing side just 13 times in the 174 Serie A matches he started during his time with the Old Lady with Lichtsteiner very much an able performer when called upon.
In the past, the Gunners would unlikely have considered a move for a player his age, yet for an Emery managed side, a robust player of his calibre is key. Under the Spaniard, it’s likely Arsenal won’t be as aesthetically pleasing as they once were, but they’ll certainly be tougher to break down and Lichtsteiner will be key to that.
What’s more, the Switzerland captain will, at long last, provide sufficient competition for a starting spot in Emery’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation. At present, the only out and out right-back available to Emery is Hector Bellerin and a lack of competition for a starting spot has seen the Spaniard’s development stall.
By resting on his laurels, his career has stunted somewhat and an experienced head in the same position will likely aid the 23-year-old in his bid to return to his best. Not only will his presence benefit Bellerin, but will have a positive impact on compatriot Granit Xhaka, who’ll likely look to Lichtsteiner as inspiration.
“Stephan brings huge experience and leadership to our squad. He’s a player with great quality with a very positive and determined attitude. Stephan will improve us on and off the pitch,” Emery said in the wake of Lichtsteiner’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium with the former trait a huge asset in an Arsenal squad going through a big change.
On the back of Per Mertesacker’s retirement and with Laurent Koscielny sidelined until later in the year with an Achilles issue, Lichtsteiner’s experience is a precious commodity that can’t be underestimated. The right-back will demand nothing but the best and is exactly the type of player Arsenal need. He won’t pull up any trees in north London, but Arsenal are acquiring a defender who is both versatile, which will allow Emery to play a four-man or three-man backline, and reliable.
Lichtsteiner is a solid addition to the Gunners defence as they look to make a return to the Champions League. Having won a total of 14 trophies during his time with Juventus, Arsenal have themselves a born winner, which can only be a good thing for the team. Emery’s appointment may have been viewed as the safe option, but in Lichtsteiner, the north London side have landed a assuring defender who will only boost the squad both on and off the pitch.
While I'm all for Arsenal adding greater experience to the club's top 22 squad, I'm really disappointed with the signing of Lichtsteiner. While the Swiss was a component of the highly successful system Juventus first implemented under Conte and have continued under Allegri, Lichtsteiner's actual contribution has been poor. Defensively, he has only averaged 1.4 tackles and 0.9 intercepts per game, and offensively, he has only averaged 0.6 successful dribbles and 0.6 crosses per game. Combine that with Bellerin's equally poor defensive and crossing contribution (1.5 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 0.4 crosses per game) and Arsenal are still in need of a significant upgrade at right fullback. Leicester City's new signing Pereira was the right fullback was the player I was really hoping Arsenal would target, though Bordeaux's Sabaly, Lille's Malcuit, Caen's Guilbert and Rennes' Traore are all still 'available' and would represent an upgrade on Bellerin and Lichtsteiner.
@Waldo- I fully expect Hector to be better than the three 26-year olds: Sabaly, Malcuit and Traore with (at least) two years of Emery's coaching but if Barcelona bid £50m for Bellerin next season and Guilbert (who is only a number of months older than Bellerin) is still available and for say £30m, then I can see that happening given Frederic is a more natural defender and it makes good business sense. We have too many positions in more urgent need this season so I can understand why Emery has persevered with Bellerin for the time being at least.
A good signing. Adding to the points made in the article, Lichtsteiner does not play like a typical 34-year old, he is still quick and has very good stamina so age is much less of a factor than it would be with the 'average' 34-year old RB, if that makes sense. I expect Bellerin to develop well under Emery though. Wenger is notoriously bad at coaching defenders unlike George Graham who excelled. I'm not sure why people assume we will adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation though. Yes, it was Emery's favoured setup at Sevilla but he went with a 4-3-3 most recently at PSG and with all the talk of Seri joining; Ramsey supposedly being "central" to Unai's plans (captain?) plus the fact that Oezil is not Emery's type of player (or man) at all, I expect the formation to be the latter (or 4-1-4-1) with Aubameyang playing LW/LF where he linked-up so well with Lacazette last season. I don't see us signing a LW as well as a GK, RB, CB x 2, DM and CM (which is what is expected) and Iwobi needs major refining.
@SteveHyland I think Emery had already commented on 4-1-4-1 being his ideal formation. Though he also said he would adopt the formation which best suited the strengths of the playing personnel.
@Waldo- I hadn't seen that but it makes perfect sense. Given how Emery fell out with Neymar (the archetypal lazy superstar who essentially ignored everything he was asked to do), I don't see how it can work with Oezil. If he does start with a 4-2-3-1, because Arsenal have invested so much time, effort and money in him then it would probably be an experiment lasting only to the winter transfer window.