With Zlatan Ibrahimović in blistering form for Manchester United, it is easy to forget about some of their other forwards. He has had an indifferent season so far, but Anthony Martial should not be overlooked. There are strong parallels with Thierry Henry in his game.
Finishing Style
Martial finishes very much like a centre-forward; do not be under the impression his future lies out-wide. One distinctive feature is his ability to finesse the ball. It is much more about caressing the ball as opposed to going with the laces. Many strikers over the years have used the motion of opening out the body and creating an angle for oneself on countless occasions. Martial’s first goal in England against Liverpool came as a result of this.
Thierry Henry gave an interview with FourFourTwo magazine in which he discussed the art of finishing.
‘I like to open up and use my sidefoot to bang the ball into the bottom corner – no matter who I’m playing against, no matter what the situation is, that’s how I’m going to try to finish,’ Henry declared.
The ex-Arsenal legend also discussed the necessity to ‘freeze’ the ‘keeper. He said it’s imperative to get in the mind of the stopper, making them think ‘it’s just you and me.’
The opening up of the body allows a striker to do this. It takes at least a second to open up the angle and turn, and the keeper often just wants to go down; one of the hardest things for a goalkeeper to do in a one-on-one is to stand-up. This positioning allows the forward to fire into either corner and immediately puts the keeper at a greater disadvantage. Doing this consistently at a young age is testament to Martial’s ability.
Dribbling Prowess
His solo run against St Etienne where he dazzled past three players was reminiscent of Henry. His running style exhumes pace and power whilst keeping the ball very close to his feet. It’s a very different style to the likes of Eden Hazard who dribbles more nonchalantly, rarely bursting a sweat. Martial’s style is more that of a forward wanting to power down the pitch, dribbling with purpose and pace.
Last season, an ESPNFC study clocked Martial’s speed of 22mph over 0.5 seconds as the joint fastest speed in the Premier League, alongside Jamie Vardy. To be this quick, powerful and technically gifted is a rarity in the modern game for a striker but Martial certainly has it.
Starting on the wing
Henry also started his career on the flank for Monaco, as Arsène Wenger felt that his pace and skill would be more suited to full-backs. It is no surprise as wingers are clearly more likely to take-on opponents than strikers who may not even have to take on their man in a game if the service from wide is agreeable. Wenger in his mind knew Henry was a forward but felt his development as a player would improve if he started as a winger. He certainly wasn’t wrong.
People have been critical of José Mourinho for not operating Martial as a striker. By this evidence, playing in a slightly foreign position will do him no harm. Also, learning from one of the world’s best forwards, Zlatan Ibrahimović, will enhance his footballing education.
Final Ball
One area of Martial’s game that is lacking is his final pass. There have been situations in which, despite there being a man in space, the Frenchman has elected to take the chance on himself. Again, this comes with player development. It’s preferable for a youngster to try too much rather than too little as it showcases his confidence and willingness to take the initiative. Cristiano Ronaldo was a little too interested in showboating when he first arrived at Old Trafford but quickly realised when it was necessary to be the trickster and when it was not.
Martial is a tremendous talent. This season hasn’t been easy with Mourinho restricting his minutes and playing him wide, but this is all part of his development. Mourinho will want to manage his young starlet with care and slowly build his all-round game. We might not see the best of him until Ibrahimović leaves Old Trafford, but after that, it could be very tough to stop him.
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