Barcelona have finally found their new Xavi and he's a perfect replacement
The mantle has been passed.
On the same weekend that Barcelona’s old number 8 scored a beautiful first goal in Japanese football – well worth a look, if you haven’t seen it already – their new one made his competitive debut against Sevilla in the Supercopa de Espana.
Arthur, the young midfielder who has inherited the number 8 shirt from the legendary Andres Iniesta, is the latest Brazilian to join up with Ernesto Valverde’s squad.
And, on Sunday evening, he put in a solid performance, providing hope of a bright future at the Camp Nou.
The New 8
On the day he turned 22, Arthur showed a willingness to put his foot on the ball and dictate the rhythm of the game, despite his team going behind early doors, and late in the first half won the foul which brought Gerard Pique’s equaliser.
The most promising element of his performance was not anything he did in possession but how comfortable his team-mates were with giving him the ball.
The more experienced squad members clearly trust him, and, given they played with midfielders of such quality for so long, no higher compliment can be paid.
At the start of the second half he drifted from the game a little and with 53 minutes gone was replaced by the more attack-minded Philippe Coutinho, with his manager looking to find a winner.
Nevertheless, Arthur had done enough to prove that he will be an important part of the first-team squad this year.
It is inevitable that people will compare Arthur to his predecessor in the number 8 shirt – many younger fans can’t even remember a time when Iniesta was not starring for the Blaugrana. But parallels are probably more accurately drawn with another club idol.
After their pre-season game against Tottenham, Rafinha told reporters that Arthur “has a touch of Xavi about him. It’s the way he touches the ball, the way he passes it. He is a great, great signing for Barcelona.”
The men in question are not too fond of the comparisons, however. In July, Xavi told Mundo Deportivo that Arthur has the “Barcelona DNA”, but added that “he has to make his own career. He has to show personality, demonstrate that he is a different player.”