Personally think he is definitely better than Silva and on par with Ozil. Mikhi has more pace but I don't think he has the vision/playmaking ability of Mata.
8
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 42
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 6
- Yellow cards
- 5
- Status
Personally think he is definitely better than Silva and on par with Ozil. Mikhi has more pace but I don't think he has the vision/playmaking ability of Mata.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant today.
A proper nr. 10 performance.
So glad for the guy. Took his goal brilliantly.
A proper nr. 10 performance.
So glad for the guy. Took his goal brilliantly.
I was not too fond of his transfer to us because it simply seemed like a panic buy, but the guy was outstanding today. It is to see the deficits in the game, but he's incredibly intelligent and accurate with his passing and thus possesses a skill not many players on our team do. I actually believe two relatively athletic wingers who can move well without the ball a la Rashford and Lingard or Martial or Mkhitaryan are perfect for him, because he's very good at picking out those players' runs.
With Herrera controlling the midfield deeper and Mata controlling the midfield up front, it also allows Pogba to roam freely and makes him a better player because he doesn't shoulder so much responsibility at all times and can rather work on those several brilliant moments.
For me, Mata was our MOTM today.
With Herrera controlling the midfield deeper and Mata controlling the midfield up front, it also allows Pogba to roam freely and makes him a better player because he doesn't shoulder so much responsibility at all times and can rather work on those several brilliant moments.
For me, Mata was our MOTM today.
Mata isn't even that slow; people often also say that Özil is slow, but look at his run today leading up to his goal, far from slow that. Mata isn't physically gifted, but he is quite nippy off the mark, and I think had anyone played against him they would experience him as being quick. His close control is usually very composed and he is quite agile. As a winger he lacks a little pace to go past players, but he is quick enough and agile enough for the 10-position.
I like him as a player, incisive, very good on the ball, good at keeping the game moving and is always available for a pass. He needs runners around him though.
Just bizarre we've never really played him as the number 10 much before, LvG tried to break him on the right.
Him and Miki fighting it out for that position would be perfect, if Miki loses he can go on the right, if Mata loses he can go on the bench.
Him and Miki fighting it out for that position would be perfect, if Miki loses he can go on the right, if Mata loses he can go on the bench.
I just think with Mata at the 10 we would have Rashford, Miki, Martial, and Zlatan to rotate around him and Pogba supporting... 
.
.LVG used Herrera alot as the number 10, madness
We didn't really use Mata at number 10, it was more like number 8, exactly where Rooney played against Watford. But this time you could see the massive difference in quality.
I'm a massive critic of Mata, but when he's not on the right and is instead helping the midfield in a 3 you see a different player. One that we haven't seen in ages.
I'm very glad we've kept him and he has to continue in the same position as today otherwise we will start to look shit again.
Against Fenerbache he was on the right and was absolutely awful. Let's not use him there again please.
I'm a massive critic of Mata, but when he's not on the right and is instead helping the midfield in a 3 you see a different player. One that we haven't seen in ages.
I'm very glad we've kept him and he has to continue in the same position as today otherwise we will start to look shit again.
Against Fenerbache he was on the right and was absolutely awful. Let's not use him there again please.
I don't think he is as good as Silva or Ozil.
Of the three, Mata is the most productive (certainly with regards to goals anyway) but I'd definitely choose Silva or Ozil before him.
Agreed
You're right, he definitely wasn't a pure ten he was more a false ten dropping to an 8. Ibra was dropping so deep and Pogba was going so far forward that he was just basing his position on where the space was left by those two.
Prime silva he is nowhere near. But that was about 2 years ago. Ozil is certainly better than him.
Yup, that's right for me too.
Where Mata excels for me, is his efficiency in goal scoring and playing the final ball. Impressive stuff when you remember he's playing in a team which has played on a shit football, no confidence roundabout, headed by incompetents since he arrived.
But let's not have his direct approach detract from his technique, which is polished to a tee, albeit in a area narrower than the real top drawer 10s. For instance, Juan's first touch stacks up well against anyone, but he can't turn on the ball with the same frequency as Oezil, neither can he glide past the challenges like Coutinho or our own Micki.
Mata on par with Ozil? I wonder if some lnly watch United but that's nowhere near true. Mata had a very good game and fair play to him for that, but even Mata at his absolute best isnt as good as Ozil is. Ozil's vision, skill in the ball and weight of his pass, sets hin apart from other no 10's. Arsenal are very lucky to have him, he even made Welbeck look like a world beater when he just arrived.
Read today that he covered more ground than any other player on the pitch. Impressive.
The best thing with Mata at 10 is that we can finally pass the ball to someone high up in the middle of the pitch in tight spaces to bring others into play.
well putting smart players together will raise everyone's level a bit at times.
Him, Ander, Blind etc certainly did that. Especially I love watching blind, carrick and mata passing thru and into all the pockets all over the pitch whenever they play together.
Him, Ander, Blind etc certainly did that. Especially I love watching blind, carrick and mata passing thru and into all the pockets all over the pitch whenever they play together.
I would chose Mata over Silva any time. Ozil would be a tough one. I just think his (Mata's) vision and execution is near flawless.
Possibly. I just have more of an affinity to Mata's style of play
When playing like that he improves everyone else.
Those silky one touch movements between our front line...it's what we have been missing for ages now.
Those silky one touch movements between our front line...it's what we have been missing for ages now.
Said this earlier, will say it again: He is the most intelligent player we have and is technically superior to every player in our squad. His vision, the passing should make him an automatic starter
The way i see it, we will have a luxury problem in midfield soon, which is just bizarre considering how shit our MF has been at timesHim and Mkhitaryan combining should be a thing soon. And when it happens you will see some sexy football from us
Assuming we keep playing 4231 with Zlatan up top i'd say Pogba HAS to start, so that leaves four positions to fill. We then have Rashford, Martial, Mata, Mithrakyan, Fellaini, Blind, Schneiderlin, Fellaini, Carrick, Rooney and Depay battling it out for the four remaning spots
While this is true now I doubt Ozil would look like a world beater himself if he played in the United of the last 3 years. 2013 Mata probably even on the caf was rated on a par with those 2, though he's the best goal scorer and worst playmaker of the 3.
Yep. Jose said that too in the post match interview. He said he expected the game to be fast and thus needed quick players. Then went on to say Mata is quick in the mind and Lingard + rashford are quick on the turf.
Hugs
I've been saying it all along. Mata is crucial to us playing good football. He needs to be in the number 10 position behind Zlatan.
Last season, we had Rooney up top. He can't make the runs Zlatan does. But now we have Zlatan, we need to have creators behind him. Pogba/Mata/Herrera/Mkhitaryan hopefully.
He was brilliant yesterday. MOTM for me.
Last season, we had Rooney up top. He can't make the runs Zlatan does. But now we have Zlatan, we need to have creators behind him. Pogba/Mata/Herrera/Mkhitaryan hopefully.
He was brilliant yesterday. MOTM for me.
One average game and people will say he is not good enough. Just two or three new pages after impressive display where he scored a great goal and put a great assist tells you everything.
True but it depends on what you want. For all his skill Ozil is poor in front of goal. 21 goals over the last three years. The last time Mata was played consistently in his best position he did that in one season.
I agree that he has to start. We need to fill our team with intelligent players.
For me, De Gea, Blind, Herrera, Pogba, Mata and Zlatan all have to start. Finish the 11 around them. Rashfords pushing to be in that though.
For me, De Gea, Blind, Herrera, Pogba, Mata and Zlatan all have to start. Finish the 11 around them. Rashfords pushing to be in that though.
Ozil is a steadily 12-15 goals scorer per season and delivers more than 20 assists year in and out, that's excellent productivity for a no 10. He isnt as good as Mata in front of goal, but he is a genuine play maker, Mata is a very neat and tidy player with very good decision making in the final third. Ozil is someone who creates the space and plays the pass for players to get in the final third. A much rare quality.
I don't think he's hit double figures for Arsenal yet has he?
Personally I'd swap a few assists for goals.
I agree, I do rate Mata and when he's playing well he's really great to watch too, I just think Ozil (after Messi) may have a shout as the best final third passer, has sublime technique and execution with the weight of his passes.
Yeah but he's been injured for a period of time in each season. Last season he played the most matches I think in years and got 9 goals in all comp.
Ozil's the better player, his playmaking abilities are World class, but definitely he's not half as good a finisher as Mata
Not half as good? I think that's a slight exaggeration imo. Mata is definitely a better finisher and goalscorer, but when Ozil does get into goalscoring positions himself, he genuinely finishes well and composed, it's not like he's someone who misses a lot of chances. Mata is better in this aspect still, no disputing that.
This forum is bizarre at times. Mata is brilliant and I have always maintained that played to his strengths and in the right position (centrally advanced) he is one of our most intelligent and technically gifted players, but most of this forum thinks he has to be able to get physical, track back and win tackles. Thats not his game, let others do that (Herrera) and marvel at Mata in his favoured position.
Brilliant from him today, hope the team is the same against Stoke, maybe with Mkhi in for Lingard.
Brilliant from him today, hope the team is the same against Stoke, maybe with Mkhi in for Lingard.
What I think is quite funny is the fact that there is so much complaining on here about him being slow but the truth is he shines the most when we play with pace and urgency. Individually he might not be the fastest but he thrives on a fast game, making quick decisions and players moving a lot around him. He looked always the most lost when we were static and predictable.
It is a notable feature how good him and Herrera look when they play together too. They understand each other's games so much, and take each other up a notch in my view.
- Status