It’s still early on in the season, but Arsenal are looking near enough unstoppable at the moment.
Mikel Arteta’s side won their tenth game on the spin against Salvia Prague on Tuesday night, and for the eighth game in a row, kept a clean sheet.
Moreover, the Gunners sit atop the Premier League table ahead of a weekend in which Liverpool play Manchester City.
However, Arsenal are not the perfect team, and for large parts of the season, creativity has been a problem, although they now have a star in the side playing like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal’s creativity this season
Now, it should be said that overall, this Arsenal team is arguably the closest to being perfect out of every side in the Premier League.
After all, they have far and away the best defence, have managed to score 18 goals, and still, there is a sense that they could go up another couple of gears over the coming months.
However, as with every team, the Gunners have had some areas of weakness this season, notably in their open play creativity.
For example, in the aftermath of the draw with City, everyone’s favourite Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher, argued that the club’s problem “is creating.”
At that time, it was difficult to disagree with him, as Arteta’s side created just two big chances despite having 67% of the ball. Then, in the game against Liverpool a few weeks before, they didn’t have a single big chance.
Another way this lack of creativity is clearly visible is in the lack of assists for the club’s top players, such as Saka and Odegaard.
For example, while the former has put in some good performances this season, he has yet to register a single assist in the league.
Saka & Odegaard in the PL
Player
Appearances
8
6
Minutes
594′
204′
Assists
0
1
Assists per Match
0.00
0.16
Minutes per Assist
N/A
204′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Likewise, while the captain has had to deal with several injuries, his return of one assist in six appearances, totalling 204 minutes, is still underwhelming.
Fortunately, things have started to improve in recent weeks, and other players have begun to step up and enhance their own creativity, especially one star who is starting to emulate the best aspects of Saka and Odegaard in his own game.
The Arsenal star playing like Saka & Odegaard
Some of the players who have stepped up in recent weeks include Leandro Trossard, who provided an assist against Burnley, and Jurrien Timber, who did so against West Ham United.
However, there is another regular starter who has been steadily improving the creative side of his game and can now do some of the things fans expect of Saka and Odegaard: Declan Rice.
Yes, the all-action, tough-tackling midfield monster who, in the words of Thomas Frank, has been one of “the best in the world” since his £105m arrival in 2023, has now become something of a creative force for Arteta and Co.
For example, his incredible deliveries from corners and free-kicks are now practically a cheat code for the Gunners, and if they don’t result in a goal, at least they result in a brilliant chance.
However, it’s not just from dead-ball situations that the Englishman has started to show an Odegaard-esque range of passing.
For example, while the attack started from a corner, his delivery for Mikel Merino’s equaliser against Newcastle United was practically in open play.
Then, against Slavia Prague, he delivered a pinpoint-accurate cross into the penalty area for that Spaniard to once again get his head on it.
Finally, in addition to the five assists he has provided this season, his underlying numbers further highlight how his overall creativity has improved.
According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in the league for progressive passes, the top 4% for total passing distance, expected assists, and crosses, the top 8% for live-ball passes and switches, and more, all per 90 minutes.
Rice’s Scout Report
Statistics
Per 90
Percentile
Progressive Carries
2.80
Top 1%
Inswinging Corner Kicks
2.69
Top 1%
Total Passing Distance
1104.63
Top 4%
Passes Attempted (Long)
11.75
Top 4%
xA: Expected Assists
0.22
Top 4%
Dead-ball Passes
7.84
Top 4%
Crosses
5.82
Top 4%
Corner Kicks
4.03
Top 4%
Total Carrying Distance
304.48
Top 4%
Progressive Carrying Distance
143.28
Top 4%
Carries into Final Third
2.57
Top 4%
Shots from Free Kicks
0.22
Top 6%
Passes Completed
61.34
Top 6%
Progressive Passing Distance
281.08
Top 6%
Passes Completed (Medium)
28.54
Top 6%
GCA (Dead-ball Pass)
0.22
Top 6%
Touches
80.93
Top 6%
Touches (Att 3rd)
22.28
Top 6%
Touches (Live-Ball)
80.93
Top 6%
Passes Completed (Long)
5.93
Top 8%
Live-ball Passes
64.48
Top 8%
Switches
0.67
Top 8%
SCA (Dead-ball Pass)
1.23
Top 8%
Carries
48.69
Top 8%
Passes Received
55.63
Top 8%
Ultimately, Rice has been an incredible player for Arsenal over the last two years, but this season, he has taken another step forward and is showing a passing range and level of creativity you’d expect from Saka and Odegaard.
