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Ryan Bennett’s form against Arsenal is bad news for Leander Dendoncker
Ahead of Sunday’s clash between Arsenal and Wolves, Unai Emery would have looked at the opposition’s back line and identified Ryan Bennett as the weak link.
Willy Boly and Conor Coady have been excellent this season, though question marks still surround Bennett’s place in the team.
But the 28-year-old silenced any critics with a composed and solid display at the back.
Up against two of the league’s leading strikers in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, Bennett held his own with a superb performance.
And this is a worrying sign for summer signing Leander Dendoncker, who would have been eyeing Bennett’s place in the side.
Dendoncker joined Wolves in the summer window and his ability to play as a holding midfielder, right-back or centre-half makes him a useful option for Nuno Espirito Santo.
But the Belgium international is yet to make his Premier League debut. Instead, he has been limited to just two cup outings this season.
The 23-year-old would have been hoping to slot in alongside Boly and Coady as the third defender in Nuno’s back three.
With Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves in form, central midfield is tougher to break into. And his ability on the ball makes him the perfect ball-playing centre-half option for Nuno’s style of play.
But after Bennett kept Aubameyang and Lacazette quiet, Dendoncker may have to wait a bit longer for his chance.