Upon Arsenal’s return to Premier league proceedings, we have managed to lose both the league games we have taken part in. Both losses have come away from home, however that should hold very little relevance given the fact that stadiums do not have any supporters in them. Notwithstanding, it is apparent that Mikel Arteta’s men are struggling. Whether that is because said fixtures were both away from home, or possibly because of other inner ongoings – it is simply impossible to determine.
Nonetheless, in my opinion, one major factor contributing to the club’s ever-obvious misfortunes is the centre-back crisis. David Luiz is suspended, Pablo Mari is expected to be ruled out for the rest of the season, Sokratis has a minor problem and Calum Chambers the long term absentee. Given the issues in the area the question arises, should Zech Medley be given a pop, or is it too soon for the Greenwich-born, 19-year-old?
Against Brighton hove Albion, a centre back pairing of Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi was deployed because in all honesty that was basically the only option available to Arteta. Some inquired about the possibility of Kieran Tierney being shoehorned into the role, however the head coach left out the Scottish left-back altogether given the fact that he just returned from injury. I believe that was the right decision and also do not think playing Tierney in a central defensive position would be wise unless there was an even more serious crisis than the one we are currently in.
Neither Holding nor Mustafi played all that badly on the day, however for both goals they did show a lapse in concentration. Is that reason enough to leave one of the two out for that of Medley, though? Let’s find out.
While the idea of the 6 foot 5, left-footed Englishman may be attractive, he is quite simply not ready for such a monstrous role with the club yet in my opinion. Medley only managed 9 appearances with the U-23’s this season and should gain some more experience with the youth side before being fully promoted to a starting role with the senior squad.
Medley’s imposing figure and assuredness on the ball will undoubtedly reward him a crack at the whip sometime in the future, it would be foolish to rush his fermentation period. While it may be tempting to promote him given the fact that left-footed central defenders are rare and Arteta has shown that he believes in a centre back pairing comprised of players who each prefer an opposite foot, it may be damaging to promote such a bright youngster during such an unstable period.
Maybe when the performances and overall mood improve, Medley can be given a more formal promotion to the first team, slowly learning his trade with experienced defenders, but at the moment it is best to keep the full-of-life and full-of-potential youngster away from the decrepit side unless an even more serious conundrum arises, which would not surprise me in the slightest to be honest.
Medley did make the bench against Brighton, but that was more to make up the numbers and maintain balance more than anything else. I have no problem with that at all – if one of Holding or Mustafi got injured, I’d rather Medley come on in their place than a makeshift central defender like Tierney, personally. If that did occur, that would be the even more serious crisis I was eluding to the possibility of in the last paragraph.
If we somehow manage a positive performance against Southampton this Thursday and find ourselves winning comfortably in the 70 minute, Medley can and should be given a good little 20-minute cameo. I do have my doubts over that happening given our torrid from though.
From my perspective more injuries, or us winning comprehensively in a match are the only ways Medley should be given extensive minutes. It is too early for the former Chelsea youth product of Jamaican descent, he needs time to age before we fully rely on him. At this stage of his career, if that much pressure is bestowed onto him, it could absolutely ruin Medley’s promising career altogether.
Daniel Finton
Proud Floridian ginger being physically burned by the sun and mentally by Arsenal. I like to write stuff and try to be funny, sometimes it comes off.
