Cool and composed Mikel Arteta means Arsenal won't miss Mathieu Flamini's hustle

Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini

After Flamini limped off the Selhurst Park pitch last Saturday, many proclaimed his absence would leave a pool of opportunity at the base of Arsenal’s midfield for their opponents to exploit. Gone was the muscle, the steel and the defensive nous. Flamini, in a few short games, has established himself in the eyes of many as the only owner of such qualities. He’s exactly what they’ve been missing, or so said Jamie Redknapp, Alan Smith and… Olivier Giroud.

Flamini has been impressive this season, but that suggestion overlooks the essential role in defensive midfield that Mikel Arteta has played and continues to play for Arsenal.

This was no more evident than in this weekend’s fixture to Liverpool. Arteta patrolled the pitch with his subtle solidity that helped to keep a prolific Liverpool at bay. His four defensive actions in the game (two clearances, two interceptions) – twice as many as any other Arsenal midfielder – were essential in stopping the supply to Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez. Arteta won six tackles on Saturday night, the majority in areas where over-zealousness and carelessness can cost your side a goal.

This kind of performance won’t be unfamiliar to Arsenal fans. Arteta has been consistently effective as a defensive midfielder since his £10 million switch. Yesterday’s performance simply followed a well-established pattern at The Emirates. Arteta led the way for Arsenal midfielders in defensive actions last season. Morgan Schneiderlin was the only Premier League midfielder to amass more interceptions than Arteta’s 97.

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It all makes the idea that Flamini is now an essential cog in the Arsenal machine after just seven appearances just a little ridiculous. The difference between the two is only that Flamini likes to make his work obvious, while Arteta has more of a head-down, get on with it and let the boss see the results kind of a personality.

Flamini is impossible to miss. If he’s not charging into tackles he’s pointing, clapping and shouting at his team-mates or he’s confronting the ref with righteous indignation. His messy mop and sweat-stained shirt give even a casual observer a clear indication of what he’s been up to, of the dirty work he puts in.

Arteta, on the other hand, rarely has a hair out of place. While Flamini’s flamboyance and hustle is the TV producer’s dream, Arteta’s on-pitch persona couldn’t get much more boring. He wins his tackles without the mean spiritedness of Roy Keane, the brute force of Patrick Vieira, the classic bravery of Scott Parker or the mud-streaked scrappiness of Flamini. He doesn’t fit our image of an effective defensive midfielder. But that is exactly what he is.

Flamini has managed to create a reputation to rival Arteta’s in a handful of appearances by shouting a little bit and demonstrating the “bite” or “tough edge” or other such qualities that get such a rousing reception on certain Premier League highlights shows aired on Saturday nights.

There is probably still a lingering feeling that Arteta is being played out of position. We became acquainted with the Spaniard during his days at Everton where David Moyes moulded him into an attacking midfielder, sometimes even a winger. Playing far further up the pitch, he was much more accustomed to the highlight reel during his days at Goodison.

However, Arteta grew up at Barcelona as a midfielder in the image of Pep Guardiola; winning and retaining possession in equal measure. As one of the “panic-buys” in Wenger’s infamous trolley dash in August 2011, Arteta was seen as a good Premier League player, but not one who could help Arsenal get to where they wanted to go. As an attacking midfielder that was probably true, but in his more natural position at the base of midfield, he’s been the perfect fit. That’s not to say that Flamini’s fighting spirit isn’t a strength, a quality that Arsenal can feed off, but it is far from the essential ingredient to Arsenal’s current fortunes.

If Arsenal’s surprising surge to the Premier League summit this Autumn is the start of a first trophy in nine seasons, then the narratives have already been written: the big-money upgrade, the Aaron Ramsey evolution and, yes, the passion of Flamini. They’re the stories that jump out at you. The continued consistency of a quiet 31-year-old defensive midfielder is hardly romantic, but you can guarantee that any success at the Emirates this year will be just as reliant on Arteta’s cool than Flamini’s bluster.