Maximilian Arnold Scout Report
Scout report alert! Central Midfielder Maximilian Arnold of team Wolfsburg has shown an impressive performance in the recent 2023-2024 Bundesliga season. Arnold might not catch the eye of many with his goal threat, which lags behind most of his peers in the same position, and his overall involvement in direct attacks remains low.
However, Arnold excels in the deep-lying playmaker role, as his world-class command in ball recovery and retention which places him in the top 20% of Bundesliga midfielders attests. This suggests an uncanny ability to anchor the midfield while maintaining possession—a fundamental trait in today's era of possession-based football tactics.
Adding to this, Arnold's measurements for progressive passing is equally high; suggesting that it's Arnold who acts as the engine, the fulcrum through which Wolfsburg's attacking plays are often constructed. His role in chance creation is around the halfway mark, so whilst he may not always be the creative driving force, when he does create, he's effective—his goal efficiency is way ahead of the pack, placing him in the top 15% of his league's midfield counterparts.
However, this specialist does have some tactical shortfalls, including a below-average aerial duel win percentage. This compromises Arnold's effectiveness during set pieces or high balls into the midfield, a potential area of exploitation by opposition teams. He also collects yellow cards at a concerning rate, higher than nearly 80% of his peers, indicating a disciplinary issue that could hamper his in-game impact.
Therefore, in Arnold, Wolfsburg has a diligent player, highly instrumental in steering the ball from the defensive third into the attacking half but need to work on his disciplinary records and aerial duels. His style of play, focussing more on ball recovery and retention, makes him a fulcrum in the team's gameplay. Whether his team fully capitalizes on his skills to optimize their performance, remains a much-anticipated sight for the upcoming seasons.