sensiblepuffin

As the season is entirely wrapped up now and before we turn our attention to the transfer market and next season, I want to go through the squad and look back at how each position performed.

We are starting today with the right-back position.

This is essentially Ben White, who played 34 of 38 times at right back, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey each adding in a pair of starts. As a group, they performed quite well compared to what other teams got from the position.

Considering that Arsenal played the right back in a more conservative style it is interesting to see that they still ranked quite high in deep completions and ball progression from this position. White also added solid defensive numbers from this spot.

Thinking back to the start of the season, it was not expected that this would become White’s position at all. After a good first season as the right center back it didn’t feel like there was a need for him to change but an early injury to Tomiyasu plus the addition of William Saliba to the back line saw him shifted out wide and he never looked back.

I am not sure many saw this level of performance at this position coming from him and it was one of the nice surprises of the season.

White played at a consistently good level, thinking back on each match he always felt like the 4th choice to be given a stock rising with a good but not necessarily spectacular performance. I think that pretty much sums him up, he did a lot of the work that went noticed but not always remarked upon.

He was a key part of the ball progression, but not as drastic of a change as Oleksandr Zinchenko. He was a key part of the attack on the right-hand group but very clearly the third in the ranking. He was a key part of the defense in the first half of the season that looked very impressive but wasn’t part of the center back partnership.

His contributions were often overshadowed in the team but White still put together a very good season. Among Premier League Right backs he comes out very high on the statistical ratings with an incredibly well-balanced overall performance.

Overall this was an excellent season from White. I think overall with his combination of being available every week, his consistently good performances and his adaptability to fit into multiple slightly different needs give him an 8 out of 10 total for the season.

Arsenal are on the lookout to strengthen their defence this summer. Losing both Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba to season-ending injuries with around ten matches left of the campaign proved devastating to the Gunners’ title hopes.

With that in mind, Mikel Arteta is on the lookout for players who can offer the competitive level of depth and quality they need. One such player who, according to the Belgian football journalist Sacha Tavolieri has reported that talks are underway between Arsenal and Leicester City, is Timothy Castagne.

The Belgian international was relegated with the Foxes and therefore the Gunners might be looking to exploit a financially viable opportunity. They have already had success in this field when they took Aaron Ramsdale from relegated Sheffield United and have since seen the now-England international rise to become one of the most valuable keepers in the world.

Yet some supporters have made their views of Castagne clear on social media that the Belgian is perhaps a somewhat underwhelming link. With that said football.london takes a dive into the statistical comparisons of Castagne between him and the exiting right-back at Arsenal Ben White in addition to an understood alternative Ivan Fresneda.

Arteta sees defensive ability as a priority when it comes to the majority of his back four, outside of the inverted role Oleksandr Zinchenko provides. Castagne does indeed compare well in this field, with more tackles per 90 (2.4) compared to White (1.77) and slightly below Fresneda (2.47) according to FBREF.

However the context is key here, with both Arsenal and Leicester operating at different ends of the table, Fresneda’s Real Valladolid another side that was relegated, perhaps the two non-Arsenal players had more opportunities to make challenges. Therefore taking tackle success into account Castagne again ranks well at 70.9% compared to White’s 51.4% and Fresneda’s 70.9%.

At 6’1, it’s unsurprising that Castagne wins more aerial duels (47%) compared to Fresneda (30.8%) and White (44.6%). Perhaps this is an aspect that might help the Gunners defend set pieces?

Interceptions per 90, again Castagne (1.19) beats White (0.65) and Fresneda (0.77). Regarding clearances per 90 the Belgian (3.04) has slightly less than Fresneda (3.09) but more than White (2.33) but perhaps this again is down to the context of the players.

Moving into the passing side and how the Belgian might contribute further forward, his pass completion (80.1%) is better than that of Fresneda (77%) but not as impressive as White (84.2%). With White operating in a pass-heavy Arsenal side his opportunities as far more frequent than the relegated pair.

However shot-creating actions see the Belgian dip with 1.41 per 90 compared to White’s 1.89 and Fresneda’s 2.01. That said, with two goals and three assists he still demonstrates his threat in the final third and that was for a very disappointing Leicester side, where Fresneda failed to record a single-goal contribution; White ended the title-winning season with five assists and two goals.

Castagne may not be the most high-profile name Arsenal will be linked to this summer, yet he presents as a potential shrewd piece of business that the club can do and open up further opportunities in the market elsewhere in the team. No doubt having Castagne and Tomiyasu provides an excellent amount of versatility to cover several areas of the field.

Here is your morning Arsenal digest on Monday, June 12.

Vieira backs Palace duo

Former Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has backed Eagles duo Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise as good enough for Arsenal.

When asked by Mirror Football which Palace players would be good enough to play for the Gunners, Vieira said: "Listen at Palace I had the chance to work with some really talented young players, and the two that come to my mind are Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze.

"They are young and still have a lot to improve on, but they have the potential to play in the top teams in Europe."

Positive Rice talks

Arsenal have held positive talks with West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice in recent days, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who has claimed that an official offer is expected to come in next week.

Writing on Twitter, Romano said: "Arsenal will enter into crucial stages of Declan Rice deal next week.

"Official bid expected very soon after positive talks in the recent days. (White moji) (Red emoji) #AFC Gunners feel they’re ahead of Bayern as player priority is to continue in England — but timing will be crucial for Arsenal." (sic)

Gundogan hope

Arsenal academy manager Per Mertesacker has spoken about the prospect of Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan joining Mikel Arteta's side this summer.

Speaking as a pundit for German broadcaster ZDF, via Metro, Mertesacker said that City's Champions League final victory could convince his comptariot to leave the Etihad. "To say, okay, mission accomplished", Mertesacker said when discussing the impact the Citizens' treble win could have on the German international's future in Manchester.

Mertesacker continued by saying: "I think the clubs are queuing. Because Arteta knows him and we probably haven’t broken off contact, we’re in a good position.

"I think he’ll let it all sink in first and then choose from one of the four clubs."

... aka, nothing new.

Arsenal's approach for a right-back is stepping up this summer as Mikel Arteta looks to add yet another option to his backline for next season. Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu have been the two players that have held down the right flank over the past year, but injury issues to the latter has resulted in only the former being available most of the time.

Given the addition of Champions League football next campaign, on top of the desire to push for yet more trophies and a Premier League title, the need for squad depth is clear. A whole host of names have been linked for a transfer at full-back over the coming window.

Amongst those names have been the likes of Ivan Fresneda and Joao Cancelo, both adding quality in depth to the side for the upcoming season. However, there's another player in the frame and that's Leicester City's Timothy Castagne, who could be available following the Foxes' relegation from the Premier League.

With that said, here's a look at the latest on the Belgian international's potential switch to the Emirates Stadium for the upcoming season.

Arsenal have held talks with Leicester City over a potential deal for Timothy Castagne this summer, according to a report from journalist Sacha Tavolieri. The full-back is believed to be a second choice option for the Gunners behind Ivan Fresneda, but Tavolieri claims that talks could ramp up as the north London outfit look to get a cut-price deal.

My birthday was on Friday, and I have a tradition of requesting weird birthday cakes from my girlfriend. Thus, the Neapolitan birthday cake.