Dani Ceballos: The unsung hero of Arsenal's midfield

                                               

Dani Ceballos: The unsung hero of Arsenal's midfield as the Gunners secure a 1-1 draw with Benfica in the Europa League

By Adam Le Roux

It was a well-earned draw for Arsenal against Benfica in Rome, and there was one man who was the star of the show - Dani Ceballos.

He may not have the flair of Martin Odegaard, or the growling tenacity of Granit Xhaka, which can make him sometimes go unnoticed in the Gunners’ midfield, but the Spaniard produced the goods yet again with another tidy performance in the engine room.

While Xhaka was being his usual bull-in-a-china-shop self, his midfield partner was quietly going about his business at both ends of the pitch to keep Benfica at bay, while supplying the service to the frontline when he ventured forward.

Indeed, there were many people fearing for his future at the club after the introduction of both Thomas Partey and Odegaard to the Arsenal ranks, but the Real Madrid loanee has proved his worth time and time again in a red and white shirt, and it’s about time we appreciated him more.

Ceballos was sensational

Whenever Dani Ceballos got the ball at his feet in Thursday’s Europa League clash, he was always on the lookout for what was going on ahead of him and looked to kick-start attacks whenever he got a chance.

Time and again his vision would create an opening for his teammates, but another tepid performance from the Arsenal strike force let the good work of him and his teammates down in the last 32 clash.

Take the early first-half sitter for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang that Arsenal fans are still having nightmares about: it was Ceballos’ incisive ball inside the defender to set Hector Bellerin away that created the opening, and should have resulted in the opening goal.

The 24-year-old was making the Gunners tick, and his nonstop energy was paramount to everything Mikel Arteta’s side seemed to do well, whether it be hounding the opposition or setting up attacks.

Xhaka's all-action style can make it seem as if he is everywhere on the pitch, but that can often be the Swiss’ undoing, as he strays from where he is needed most.

And it was Ceballos who had to bail his midfield partner out at the end of the first half at Stadio Olimpico, as Xhaka’s errant pass allowed Alejandro Grimaldo to nick the ball 20 yards from goal.

But before the Benfica man had the time to think about what to do next, the Spaniard had covered the ground to snuff out the danger and saw the ball out for a corner.

That sort of drive and awareness of danger is a talent and without him being alert it could have been such a different story heading into the break. Xhaka has a lot to thank his teammate for after saving the day.

Dani can be a danger man

Into the second half and Ceballos continued to run the show, with his vision from the deeper-lying role almost turning him into a NFL-style quarterback at times, as he threaded balls past the Benfica defence at will.

Even when he ventured forward deep into opposition territory, Ceballos has the touch and ingenuity to create chances for his teammates, with a neat little flick on the edge of the penalty area setting Bukayo Saka up once again, although the England international couldn’t trouble the goalkeeper.

And even after going a goal down, it was the loanee who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and was the catalyst for the move that got Arsenal immediately back on level terms.

Another pinpoint pass from his own half set Saka away once again down the right flank, allowing the youngster to steal a march on the Portuguese side’s defence and get the ball into a menacing position.

Less than ten seconds later and Arsenal equalised, as Cedric Soares’ centre wass turned in by Saka, who both get the plaudits, although it was their Spanish midfielder who should be taking the praise for the move forming in the first place.

With 74 successful passes in the 90 minutes, Ceballos was like a metronome in the centre of the park, keeping Arsenal in possession and looking for an opening, which was a breath of fresh air compared to the defensive-minded Mohamed Elneny in the same position.

Of course, there have been more than just this Benfica game where Ceballos has proven his worth in an Arsenal shirt, but this was a match where the pressure was on, with the Gunners’ season all but hanging on the results against the Primeira Liga side.

Class on the ball and just as good without it, Arteta has to make the midfielder’s permanent deal a priority in the summer, because with Odegaard and Partey alongside him, the dynamic midfield trio would be the perfect balance that Arsenal need in the future.

Photo Credit: Getty Images