Abdoulaye Doucoure has caught the eye playing for Watford this season, and he’s been linked with the biggest clubs in the Premier League. But how did the French midfielder perform against one of the ‘big six’, Arsenal? talkSPORT.com cast an expert eye over Doucoure on Sunday afternoon…
First half
Doucoure was the creator of Watford’s first big chance on goal, with a typical driving run forward seeing him work his way into Arsenal’s box; his attempt at a shot was blocked for a corner.
A few moments later, Doucoure tested Petr Cech in the Arsenal goal. Running onto Richarlison’s cut-back, Doucoure fired a low strike towards goal which was well saved. This style of attacking move has been a usual sight for Watford this season, with Doucoure often picking up the ball on the edge of the box after a late run forward.
In the defensive phase, Doucoure was lining up as one of the central midfielders in a very rigid flat four-man midfield. His role was to sit in his position rather than press, which ceded possession to Arsenal, but he did break the line to intercept loose passes.
He was being opportunistic hunting for the ball, rather than forcing something.
As the primary recycler of possession, Doucoure was often found as the deepest lying Watford player, sitting as a sweeper behind the Hornets’ backline; it is no surprise Doucoure played more passes than any other Watford player in the opening 45 minutes.
He gave and received the ball to keep Watford ticking over, though he would always give possession to either Etienne Capoue or Roberto Pereyra to start offensive actions, rather than attempt creative passes himself.
Second half
With Watford chasing the game in the second half, Doucoure’s role became more creative. He often found himself in Arsenal’s half when in possession, and was afforded the opportunity to show off his excellent passing range.
One especially eye-catching pass cut the Arsenal defence in two and fed Richarlison, though he ended up taking the ball too wide and the promising position was wasted.
The main issue with Doucoure’s advanced position came when Arsenal won possession and counter-attacked. Despite the midfielder’s excellent ability to get around the pitch, even he failed to get back and cover the space he vacated due to his more attacking role.
Doucoure tracks Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is in possession of the ball
Numerous Arsenal chances came when the hosts broke with speed, and Doucoure was often seen in the background running as fast as he could to catch up with play.
There were a few occasions when he did reach the ball and turnover possession when Arsenal were in fantastic attacking positions, showcasing the kind of energy and tenaciousness which has earned Doucoure comparisons with Patrick Vieira.
Doucoure’s shots on goal dried up after the break, but he remained a valuable outlet in the final third. He consistently drifted into wide positions to offer a passing option for his teammates, and was comfortable with either moving infield while in possession or with further stretching play on the flanks.
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Praise for Doucoure this season has come for his driving performances in the middle of the park, but he failed to show off these talents at the Emirates.
Tactical decisions mean Doucoure was fielded as a holding player in the first-half, and a more offensive creator after the break.
Though he impressed in these positions, there were only a few times he was afforded the opportunity to show off his best talents – defensively these are his energy, tenaciousness and ball-winning ability.
Most of these chances came with Watford on the back foot, as Arsenal counter-attacked and broke through the Hornets’ midfield, leaving Doucoure to run half the field in an attempt to regain possession for his side.
In an offensive role, Doucoure’s range of passing was occasionally on show, with some glorious long balls played through to Watford’s attackers, though the role he was playing forced him to largely focus on doing not much more than recycling possession with short passes to his midfield partners.
This is not the perfect game to judge Doucoure as a player, given the relative strength of Watford compared to Arsenal; he would never be allowed a free role in midfield, the role he often plays against more equal opponents.
However, he did enough to show he can match up against the players of a ‘big six’ side, and he would only look improved playing alongside more talented teammates.
The expectation is that offers will be made for Doucoure this summer, and this showing has further backed up the belief the 25-year-old is already good enough for the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.