Rosa Kafaji started an Arsenal game for the first time since September on Wednesday night in the 4-0 victory over Brighton in the Subway League Cup. The 21-year-old Swede played the full 90 minutes and did so playing on the flanks.
It’s an area of the squad where there is arguably more space for her to make an impression. It is also true that Kafaji’s off-ball game requires some development, she averages a 69% passing accuracy this season but she has the lowest average for tackles attempted among the Arsenal attack, as well as the highest number of fouls conceded. However, she averages more take ons than any other player in the Arsenal squad and three of her four shot creating actions this season have come from dribbles.
Often playmakers spend time on the flanks as they develop where losing the ball is slightly less risky than in central areas. Although Mariona Caldentey moves into more central positions, she averages 4.4 tackles per 90 minutes, by far and away the highest in the Arsenal squad. Arseblog News puts it to Renee Slegers that the wide positions are probably a good spot for Kafaji at this stage of her development, both due to the decreased risk of turning the ball over and because there is less squad depth in those roles.
‘Without going into too much detail we see Rosa as a great player for the future and for now for Arsenal,’ Slegers explained. ‘What do we need as a team and what qualities does Rosa bring to the team? One of the things you mention is as a dribbler, as a one v one player and has intent and deep runs. That is what we want on the wings, depending on which side and which game etc.
‘But she is a player who can bring that to the team. We put high value on defending so it is very important to us that you do your role in all phases of the game really well, some parts of it are quite complex, especially if you come here as a new player. We accept the process Rosa is in, she is doing really well and she is progressing really well.
‘If you look at the positions in our team the central position is probably even more complex than the wide positions out of possession, looking at the whole picture. I was happy with a lot of parts of what Rosa did on Wednesday.’ One player who was probably in a similar position last season, a young, imported talent learning a little about her out of possession game, was Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Now the Australian has already played more WSL minutes this season than the whole of last season, with injuries to Pelova, Little and Walti giving her more opportunities. Slegers tells Arseblog News that, like Kafaji at the moment, Cooney-Cross needed some time to adjust to life at Arsenal and the tactical demands.
‘We have seen with many younger players when they come to Arsenal they might need some time to adjust. It is a big step to come to a big club with high demands, you move to another country in many cases so the whole life situation changes and you get to know new coaches, new staff members, new teammates. We accept that can take a little bit of time, you could see that with Kyra as well.
‘Kyra is an excellent, excellent player and she has done so well and you look at the level she is performing at at the moment she is very good for us. You could see it took time to adjust to Arsenal and life in St. Albans and everything that we expect from that player in that position but if you look at how she is performing in that position now I am very happy with her, she has invested a lot of work.’
The Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday to meet Chelsea. In the last two league meetings, Arsenal have conceded early goals. They were 2-0 down inside 11 minutes in the reverse fixture in October, while they found themselves 3-0 down after 32 minutes in this fixture last season. Arseblog News asks Slegers whether Arsenal will put specific focus on starting the game better on Sunday.
‘It is something in general, not specific to Chelsea, that we speak about. We break the game into 15 minute blocks in all aspects and we have seen the first 15 minutes for us are important and I think we have improved in that part of the game. It will be very important on Sunday as well.’
Interesting, great questions. Thanks.
Kafaji, she will only develop by playing, gaining confidence little by little. KCC has a lot of physicality in midfield and marks well. I’m really enjoying seeing how she is growing with each game.
They seem to suggest part of the adaptation process is in their off-the-ball work, particularly in defensive areas. I guess to be such a highly rated young talent your on-the-ball quality isn’t in question – instead it’s the tactical side that needs honing. KCC has come on leaps and bounds this season, her & Pelova should make wonderful successors to Walti & Little.
With all the fanbage about signing a world class winger now, it was calming to listen to Renee talking about Rosa’s development and seeing her (mainly) on the left flank v Brighton. Seems a sensible approach to introduce new attacking talent with minutes on the flanks. I remember when Vic came in two years ago she got her introduction on the right flank.