Arda Turan at his Brilliant Best in Victory over Gladbach
By Sean Whooley
It’s no secret that this writer is not the biggest fan of Arda Turan, and it generally shows in the player ratings.
However, given a chance in a left-sided role against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League Tuesday, Turan put forth a man-of-the-match performance. It was one of the best games a Barcelona player has had this season.
The Turkish international was directly involved in all four of Barcelona’s goals in the 4-0 thrashing, assisting Lionel Messi and adding three of his own for the hat trick. It was a far cry from his last performance, where he gave away the late foul that led to Sergio Ramos’ equalizer in El Clasico, something manager Luis Enrique bemoaned after the match.
Luis Enrique shots at Turan: "I told them do not foul. Even less so if a Madrid player has his back to goal. Those instructions are clear."
— M•A•J (@UItraSuristic) December 3, 2016
Turan looked brilliant, somehow being a focal point in a creative attack even though Lionel Messi was also on the pitch. His performance even helped the struggling Paco Alcacer come to life, involving him in the attack and even finishing a pass from him to get Barca’s reserve striker an assist.
Arda also used the return of Andres Iniesta to the starting lineup in his favor, linking up often with the Spaniard on the left-hand side. Turan managed 77 passes, just four less than Messi, and a solid amount for a forward—especially completing them at an 80 percent clip, according to WhoScored.com.
Without being reserved to the midfield, or unsure of his role due to shifts in formation (generally when he and Rafinha are both crashing into each other on the right-hand side), Turan looked a completely different player. His touch, his creative eye and innovation were on full display, and it was a brief return to the player we saw at Atletico Madrid.
Unfortunately for Turan, the moment may not last too long. With Neymar among the world’s best players, and a staple in that left-wing role, it is hard to see Arda holding that role down, no matter how brilliant his performance was.
Still, it is a fantastic sight to see the Turk improving on some horrid showings this season, and it’s good to know he is a viable option off the bench or in case of injury, especially on his day.