Girona has produced some highly talented players in the past who have done well in La Liga. A new name to that list is the 19-year-old Arnau Martinez. The teenager who plays as a right-back is deemed to be a top talent, and word has it that many big clubs have their tabs on him. The youngster, who started his career at Barcelona’s La Masia, can play both as a central defender and as a right-back. He has drawn comparisons to the legendary figure of Javier Mascherano and is called “the little boss.” The youngster has been impressive for Girona and is a regular starter for Girona. Therefore, we take a look at his stats to understand the game style of Arnau Martinez.
Performance this season
Arnau Martinez made 12 appearances in La Liga this season, starting 11 and coming on as a substitute in one match. He has scored two goals and assisted one as well.
The above visual shows Arnau Martinez’s percentile rank compared to other right-backs in La Liga. The teenager has impressive attacking and defensive stats. He is ranked in the top 91.7 percentile for entry into the opposition’s penalty area, the top 87.6 percentile for expected goal contributions per game, and the top 79.4 percentile for shots per 90 minutes. Defensively, he is ranked highly in aerial duels and is ranked in the top 73.9 percentile for aerial duels won. Moreover, Martinez has average passing stats and is ranked in the top 58.9 percentile for accurate passes per game and passes received.
Defensive game
The above visual shows Arnau Martinez’s defensive territory. The 19-year-old, who plays as a right back, is good defensively and overlaps well too. He makes around 6.4 defensive duels per game with a success rate of 57.1%. Martinez also makes around 2.56 aerial duels per game with a success rate of 57.1%. The teenager is fast and has good defensive awareness as well. Apart from the duels, Martinez also makes around 3.29 interceptions per game. His performance for Girona, especially against Real Madrid when he stopped Vinicius Jr., caught many eyes.
Passing
Arnau Martinez excels in passing as a former La Masia graduate. With a passing accuracy of 81.8%, Arnau Martinez is a good passer of the ball. He makes around 39.11 passes per game and combines well with other players. As he is an attacking full-back, he overlaps quite often and plays an average of 3.29 passes into the final third per game with an accuracy of 86.1%. He also plays around 2.38 passes into the penalty area with 57.7% accuracy.
Overlapping
Arnau Martinez is an attacking right-back who likes to get forward and contribute towards the attacking game. The above visual shows his actions as a winger or when he occupies the position of a winger. He averages 2.83 crosses per game and has a 41.9% accuracy rate. Martinez is also not shy about getting into the box himself. He averages 2.19 touches in the penalty area and has two goals to his name as well.
Last season
The above visual shows Martinez’s defensive territory from last season. His defensive stats have taken a slight dip this year, but it is understandable given the difference in the level of football played. Last season, he used to make around 7.3 defensive duels per game with a success rate of 61.5%. He also made around 2.91 aerial duels per game with a success rate of 59.3%. His stats for interceptions per game have also come down a bit from 4.25 interceptions per game to 3.29 interceptions per game this season.
The above visual compares the radars of Arnau Martinez and Juan Foyth. Both are young right-backs who are deemed to be two of the best talents in that position. Statistically, Foyth has a better record than Martinez in defensive duels, passes, and positioning, while Martinez gets the upper hand in aerial duels, goal contributions, shots, dribbles, and entry into the opposition’s penalty area. Both players have been impressive for their respective clubs and have managed to gain a good reputation for themselves.
Betting Analysis
The presence of Arnau Martinez at the back has bolstered Girona’s defence. His outstanding performances have also influenced Girona’s 1×2 odds. The 1×2 market has seen a decrease in odds for Girona because of the defensive quality he has added. The over/under lines have also seen a dip due to his defensive quality.
Arnau Martinez is one of the brightest spots in La Liga in the right-back position. With the youngster’s speed, defensive awareness, and attacking qualities, he makes an ideal candidate for the spot. If he keeps up his performance, it won’t be long before a big club comes fishing for him.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
