Juventus: It’s time for Rabiot, Bentancur to step-up amid Arthur’s injury

Following Juventus‘ advancement into May’s Coppa Italia final at the expense of bitter rivals Inter Milan in midweek, Andrea Pirlo has since been dealt a rather big blow.

Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio has reported that Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo is out for Juventus’ upcoming Serie A clash against a slumping Napoli and could miss the Bianconeri’s first leg round of 16 tie against Porto in the Champions League next Wednesday.

The diminutive Brazilian missed Juve’s recent Coppa Italia triumph due to a fever, but it’s a leg injury that is set to rule him out for the immediate future.

Talk about untimely setbacks, eh?

Following a slow start to life in Turin, Arthur had begun to emerge as a pivotal spoke in Pirlo’s wheel. The Brazilian currently ranks in the 99th percentile among central midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in regards to pass completion (93.5%) and in 90th percentile when it comes to pass attempts per 90 minutes (84.92), figures which highlight his metronomic nature and the sort of impact he was having on Juve’s play in possession.

Juventus will sorely miss Arthur against Napoli

This was 2018/19 Arthur re-emerging before our very eyes, albeit in black and white alternating stripes as opposed to burgundy and blue. This was the iteration of a player who taught his peers the art of midfield play through simplicity and efficiency – think European masterclass against Tottenham in Barcelona’s 4-2 victory on an NFL cleat-ridden Wembley turf.

His absence will be hard-felt, no doubt, and it means Pirlo has little to no choice but to trust Adrien Rabiot and Rodrigo Bentancur as his midfield pivot for the short-term.

Sure, the Italian boss could slide Weston McKennie back into a central role, but the American’s ability to receive between the lines and arrive late in the box from his free-roaming wide midfield role means such a move is unlikely, especially with Aaron Ramsey out as well.

Now, the idea of a sustained period with Rabiot and Bentancur in the XI is a thought that would’ve sent shivers down the spines of Juventini following the pair’s shambolic performance in January’s humbling 2-0 defeat to Inter in the Derby d’Italia. The tandem combined for a measly one tackle and interception that day, as the Nerazzurri dominated the midfield against a seemingly bewildered Juve duo.

Here’s what Adrien Rabiot, Rodrigo Bentancur must do for Juventus

But, as you know, the 2020/21 campaign is just nuts, beyond lunacy, and within a month of that horror show at the San Siro, would we be crazy to suggest that this partnership actually looks pretty competent?

An impressive showing in the 4-0 Coppa Italia victory over SPAL looks to have revitalised Rabiot once more, with the Frenchman starting – and finishing – Juve’s last three contests in all competitions. He’s been joined by Bentancur for two of those – both legs of the Coppa Italia semi-final – and despite the Uruguayan’s knack of committing unforced errors in the most dangerous areas of the pitch almost costing Juve in the first leg, it’s fair to say that the duo emerged from the tie as a pair of unsung heroes.

They were part of a majestic defensive effort in the second leg; with Rabiot covering Nicola Barella’s surges in the right half-space with great diligence, while the athletic Bentancur covered as a serious amount of the Allianz Stadium turf, remained disciplined throughout and offered a threat in transition with his ball-carrying capacity.

Now, the pair are never going to be major contributors in the final third – they have three Serie A goal contributions between them this term – but as long as McKennie’s providing penetration from midfield and there’s a reliable source of width from both flanks, the pivot’s function in Pirlo’s system is a fairly simple one: contribute to the build-up phase, counter-press, remain compact and kick start transitions when possible.

In short, they don’t need to be spectacular and both, as they’ve proved as of late, are capable of fulfilling what Pirlo requires of them. They’re functional cogs.

Nevertheless, amid Juve’s season-defining period, only time will tell whether the renaissance of the Rodrigo Bentancur/Adrien Rabiot pivot was a mere false dawn or a potential season-saver.