The genius of Arturo Vidal

A glance at Vidal’s statistics this season offers us an insight into his importance in the Juve side. When compared to other notable names playing in similar positions, Vidal’s statistical parameters are a notch above the rest. As an attacking element, Vidal has contributed 10 goals and 8 assists in 31 appearances from central midfield, while Bastian Schweinsteiger has 7 goals and 3 assists in 28, Ramires has 5 goals and 1 assist in 35 games and Xabi Alonso has no goals and 5 assists in 28. Vidal also leads in the next most important attacking stat, with an average of 2 shots on target per game. Schweinsteiger comes second with 1.5, followed by Ramires with 1 and Alonso with 0.4 shots on target. Thanks to his clinical finishing and little interchanges in and around the box, Vidal proves to be a genuine threat in the attacking third.

Vidal leads the defensive department as well, with a mind-boggling average of 4.9 successful tackles per game (one of the highest in Europe); Ramires and Alonso with 3.2 come in at tied second, followed by Schweinsteiger with 2.8. Vidal leads the aggression chart too, with a 1.9 average foul count and 11 yellow cards. Schweinsteiger has an average of 1.6 and 4 yellow cards, Alonso 1.3 and 11 yellows and Ramires has an average foul count of 1.5 and 8 yellows and 1 red to his name. Vidal’s lethal tackling prowess and astute defensive positioning have made him an indispensable part of Juve’s defensive set up and PPP (Pirlo Protection Program). As a matter of fact, out of all the times that Arturo Vidal has featured for Juventus, they have lost only four league games in two years.

What makes these statistics even more overwhelming is Vidal’s ability to perform at such a high level of consistency, repeatedly putting in flawless performances. In Juve’s last 6 games of the past season, Vidal alone contributed five of Juve’s eight goals, netting three Man of the Match awards in the process (overall five in the season; Schweinsteiger – four, Alonso – two and Ramires – one.) His goals were responsible for 10 of the 18 points garnered by Juventus during this spell.

Tactically speaking, Vidal is adept at playing numerous positions, namely left back, left wing back, right back, central defensive midfield, central midfield, central attacking midfield and left wide midfield. At Juventus, Vidal plays as a box-to-box midfielder, making late runs into the box to assist the front line, also winning back possession to allow primary playmaker Andrea Pirlo to have more touches on the ball.

Technically gifted with an all round game as well as resolute physical and mental attributes, Arturo Vidal makes for an intimidating read on the opposition team sheet. With interest mounting in him even now as Real Madrid, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are rumoured to be interested in his services, Vidal might again find himself on the move to a big club. And with more and more top European clubs employing the 4-2-3-1 as the default tactical formation, Vidal’s services as the ideal box-to-box midfielder might just see the demand for his services rise even more meteorically.