Arsenal 4-0 Standard Liege: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | Europa League 2019/20

#3 Has Dani Ceballos prompted Emery to look away from Mesut Ozil?

Ceballos turned in another brilliant display

Unai Emery decided to shuffle his midfield pack and he opted for the triumvirate of Ceballos, Lucas Torreira and Willock. Consequently, the creative burden fell on the Spaniard, on loan from Real Madrid. And, Ceballos didn’t disappoint.

The midfielder was a bundle of energy throughout the game and rarely put a foot wrong. He cropped up in between the lines when the Gunners were on the attack whereas he also took the responsibility of orchestrating the play from deep.

His dazzling dribbling abilities opened up numerous attacking avenues with that propensity attracting opposition players and in turn, leaving them out of position.

He capped off his display with a brilliant goal when he purposefully strode into the Standard Liege box to stab Martinelli’s cross into an unguarded net.

More importantly though, the performance would strengthen Emery’s belief of deploying Ceballos as the playmaker.

Over the past few seasons, that mantle has firmly lay with a certain Mesut Ozil. However, since Emery’s arrival, the German has been on the periphery, with several ludicrous reasons justifying his absence.

Yet, as the 2019-20 season has progressed, the Arsenal boss has made it clear that he demands a more dynamic style of play, a brand that might not suit Ozil completely.

In the process, Emery pulled out all the stops to sign Ceballos and with the latter relentlessly turning in virtuoso displays, maybe Ozil will have to keep himself consigned to the stands, more often than not.