Jamie Carragher said it best: "Nobody grows up wanting to be a Gary Neville".
Right-backs are not sexy. Or at least, they weren’t.
A convincing argument could be made today that a good glut of people wouldn’t mind being Trent Alexander-Arnold or Reece James. In fact, they might prefer it.
In the second instalment of our ‘Best of’ series, we consider this season’s top performing right-backs. Last week, Liverpool ’s Alisson took the crown as the season’s elite man between the stick with a sweep of 37% of the vote. Only Arsenal ’s Aaron Ramsdale offered jeopardy, taking 25%.
Vote for your right back of the season below to include him in the 21/22 Best of XI. As ever, agree to debate and don't get irate.
Trent Alexander-Arnold:
The standard-bearer for the modern-day right back in the Premier League, Trent Alexander-Arnold has come to refashion the position in his inimitable image. To put it coyly, TAA hits different.
The Liverpool man’s attacking output is a non-contest and the numbers make for scary reading. This season, the 23-year-old ranks joint first for assists throughout the Premier League (10 alongside teammate Mohamad Salah), has scored two goals, leads the league in crosses (89) and ranks only behind Paul Pogba (6) with assists outside the box (4).
Critics have long pointed to Alexander-Arnold’s defensive output, but Jurgen Klopp does not employ his full back to prioritise defensive duties, though this season has seen Alexander-Arnold hone his defensive nous.
Jurgen Klopp called him the ‘best right back in the world’. Manager or not, the statement is difficult to disagree with.
Reece James:
While technically operating as a wing-back in Tuchel’s system, James is a modern-day full-back capable of foraying on the front foot with as much success as shutting down attacks.
James has forced his way into the England set-up despite the crowded knot of talent in the position and usurped Azpilicueta for a starting berth early in the season, clues to his ceaseless trajectory. An all-around threat, James has taken his game onto a new level under Tuchel this season.
When it comes to the right-back competition, James and Alexander-Arnold are the two to beat.
Kyle Walker:
For the first time, arguably, in Walker’s career, his berth on the right came under siege, such was the otherworldly impact of teammate Joao Cancelo’s arrival (Cancelo is being placing in the left-back category).
Walker, however, has competed, and he remains the same un-droppable blend of power, pace and experience upon which Pep Guardiola’s title-challenging side can solidly rely, a reason why Cancelo has had to operate on the left or in midfield at times to accommodate Walker.
In his 16 appearances this season, Walker has created three big chances and provided two assists whilst doubling down on defensive duties (City lead the league in clean sheets) and regularly maintaining City’s suffocating possession-based game. An integral and tested asset in City’s charge for titles, titles, titles.
Takehiro Tomiyasu:
The Japanese international right-back has played an integral role in Arsenal’s successes since his arrival, acting as a sort of hybrid player across his 16 appearances this season.
Tomiyasi boasts one of the higher cross percentage accuracies amongst this league’s right-backs at 38% along with a positive duel win rate (90 won: 68 lost). He bombs forward when needed, but his zealous discipline and commitment to the cause both in defence and attack has endeared him to the North London fanbase as they charge forward for a fourth-place finish.
A recent calf injury sees Tomiyasu out for coming weeks, but Arteta will harbour strong hopes that the 23-year-old will return before his side take on Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
Vladimir Coufal:
Coufal’s impact in the Hammer’s season cannot be understated. The 29-year-old is a demanding, adventurous and consistent presence on the right flank.
In his 22 appearances this season, he has provided his side with three assists and always looked to play positively whilst utilising his experience to shore up defensive threats. His efficacy in 1-v-1 duels and recoveries ranks amongst the best full-backs in the league.
It is Coufal’s unflappable commitment that earns him a place on this list, however. No one earns the name RoboCop for being soft in ambition, but Coufal elevates the drive of the squad around him both on and off the pitch.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
In 17 Premier League appearances this season, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has provided zero assists and zero goals whilst maintaining only three clean sheets and 26 goals conceded.
Sometimes, the most basic statistics can paint a misleading canvas. In the wake of the modern-day right-back, the Manchester United man can easily be dubbed as outdated, a nod to a past unable to adapt.
Yet, when it comes to a right-back with a kind of old school disgusting defensive strength, is there any better in the world?
Wan-Bissaka has a 74 percent tackle success rate and a positive duel win rate that makes him a nightmare for attackers who relish a 1-v-1 scenario.
Wan-Bissaka has proved he is not as big an attacking liability as so many of his critics vociferously claim with this season seeing the 24-year-old foray forward on the right flank with more frequency, though his delivery into the final third weighs up inconsistently.
