Top 10 Traits Of An Arsenal/Barcelona’ Player.

By Aaron Danks – Full time Academy Coach West Bromwich Albion F.C.
 
Have you ever noticed how Arsenal and Barcelona have so many technically gifted players? I’ve been part of many conversations in which a comment like “he’s an Arsenal type player” has been used.
This lead me to think what are the traits of these technical players and how can we produce this kind of player in our youth development schemes.

Arsenal`s Cesc Fabregas

Commentators often remark upon how Arsene Wenger produces/recruits ‘clone’ like players. These players make up the core of the clubs footballing philosophy or it’s DNA. Some of the players in question are Fabregas, Ramsey, Wilshire, Rosicky, Arshavin, Nasri, Van Persie. Even the likes of Vermarlen who plays as a centre back could be included in your thoughts, I’m sure he would be a composed ball playing central midfielder which is shown in how he carries the ball out from the defensive third and over loads the midfield and even the attack.
Many of the world’s best teams have been included in my thoughts on this matter with Spain definitely showing a DNA in their philosophy and type of player winning the European Championship in 2008.
Barcelona are the perfect example with players like Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Pique, Pedro, Bojan, Busquets not only presenting the clubs DNA currently but also previously as graduates of the club’s Youth programme – it really is in their blood. 
 

 I have come up with TEN defined traits on these technically gifted players, which are as follows;
 
 1. Ability to play in the future, a vision to know what to perform before execution. Do players know how to look? What to look for? And they can make decisions upon next action depending on vision?
 
 2. Preparing self to receive ABC’s, A-Angle being available to receive, B-Body Shape never square but open to the pitch, C-Check looking over shoulder before receiving creating his vision.
 
 3. Mastery of passing details including the Height of the pass, the weight (speed) of the pass, the line (direction) of the pass and the spin of the pass.
 
 4. Has a whole range of Passes. Can make any pass, off either foot, off any surface, over any distance, at any time!!
 
 5. Plays with Disguise. Hides his intentions by; playing with little to no back lift, doesn’t give clues with his eyes or body shape, executes look away passes
 
 6. Has a forward thinking mentality. If playing backwards or square will predominantly do so on one or two touch. Player is always looking for best passing opportunity often through defenders.
 
 7. Masters communication in a chaotic environment. Use of hand signals to show preferred receiving positions and an indication of movement.
 
 8. Playing in tight areas, have the ability to ‘hide’ the ball from the opponents using their body to screen and protect the ball, waiting the correct moment to free the ball. Can play late and clever in the tight.
 
 9. Individualism, players with the ability to recognise the space to beat an opponent with a trick or feint and have the explosive pace to get away from them.
Also the ability to travel with the ball into and through space. Sometimes forwards to break defensive lines and create overloads or finishing opportunities, sometimes diagonally across space to move defenders and create new space to exploit and even sometimes backwards out of tight positions with the ball to keep possession or move defenders.

 10. First touch-MOVE, players with the ability to have a shifting or moving first touch. Often the first touch moves ball away from pressure and either breaks a defensive line or opens up a passing channel previously shut off. 1st touches with deceit, disguise and deception.
 
 
 Now we have these traits how can this impact upon how we coach our young players?
 How does it affect our elite player recruitment process?
 How many of these traits can be taught and how many are an innate gift?
 We all sat back and admired the Champions league quarter-final 2010 between Arsenal and Barcelona (which was billed as ART) in which Barcelona came out on top 6-3. Yet why do so many coaches fail to encourage their young players to play this way?
 
 Thanks for reading and I hope you found this thought-provoking.
 
 Please e-mail me your thoughts to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it