The fall, rise, and rise of Arsenal's Nacho Monreal

Nacho Monreal celebrated his birthday this week, hitting the big three-oh while undoubtedly in the best playing form of his footballing career. Bought from Malaga in the January of 2013, Monreal has braved the rough-and-tumble blizzard that the Premier League throws up for all foreign plyers, battled through demoralizing periods on the bench, stomached out-of-position stints at centre back, and overcome the cesspool of challenges to play with a consistency and reliability arguably unmatched in England this season. As Nacho deservedly celebrates his cumpleanos with paella and pastry, let us look back at his rise through the ranks over the last three seasons.

However, the constant physical strain of the Premier League took its toll from the summer of 2013. The relentless pace, no winter break, oppositions biting and snarling even when 2-0 down, and wingers as likely to deposit an elbow to the face as a nutmeg between the feet: England’s inclement learning curve had Nacho gasping. Arsenal’s strategic approach of having the full-backs press high up the pitch also went against Monreal, who has never been the quickest and was often found wanting on the counterattack. In 2013-14, Monreal started 20 games to Gibbs’s 37, and was on the bench for the all-important FA Cup final against Hull. With age fast catching up, things looked bleak.

On the face of it, things were about to get bleaker for Monreal. In the autumn of 2014, Arsenal had a defensive crisis of gargantuan proportions even by their standards. Mertesacker was suffering from a World Cup hangover, Koscielny had to confront a belligerent Achilles, and Szczesny was displaying a surprising degree of erraticism after a Golden Glove winning campaign. Monreal was asked to deputize at the centre of defense alongside versatile tyro Calum Chambers. A struggling full back being tasked with a role where physical robustness is even more of a prerequisite sounded like a recipe for disaster, but this fire test turned out to be the making of Monreal as an Arsenal player.

He took the athletic challenge by the scruff of its neck, steadily improving his ability to outmuscle opposition defenders and his aerial prowess. As he was responsible for distribution out of defense, his ball-playing and confidence on the ball also increased. By the time he shifted back to full back, Monreal was a far better player and his only way was up from there.

He has come a long way from the full back who struggled to deal with Arsenal’s high press requirements. Constantly available on the overlap, sending in accurate crosses, and flooding the box on for loose balls and rebounds, Monreal’s attacking contribution is as underrated as Bellerin’s is (rightly) lauded. Three assists, roughly one key pass per game, and an implicit understanding with Alexis Sanchez on his wing make Monreal an indispensable all-round asset.

The writer may be tempting fate here, but Monreal’s astounding fitness has also contributed to his ascent through the North London ranks. One of Gibbs’s main shortcomings is the pull, twang, and niggle that usually comes his way before he builds up a run of games under his belt. Fortunately for Arsenal, Monreal’s muscles are compliant to his indomitable will.

Having recently signed a new contract, Monreal will see out the prime years of his career at Arsenal, while also mentoring the younger batch of Bellerin, Chambers, and Jenkinson to follow in his wake. Gunners’ fans will hope that Arsenal’s league title count witnesses a resurgence mirroring that of their steady Eddie left back.

As for Nacho, let him put his feet up on his birth week and toast what has been a successful personal year. Come the weekend, the feet are sure to be back on the field and endlessly motoring, the only way they know how.