IF Arnautovic

The international break has finally concluded and my weekend football routine can finally return to normal.  One unchanged routine despite the break was the latest installment of the TOTW on Wednesday.  TOTW 5 (yes there have been five weeks of FUT already) was filled with interesting possibilities and one in particular caught my eye: Marko Arnautovic.  After five weeks all FUT Managers have started to determine formations and tactics that will be successful this year; and with that the META players needed to fill each position.  There are always going to be different options on what trait combinations will make a player META so I will go with the most popular opinions I have read so far this year.  The ultimate question then.. is Marko Meta?? Arnautovic was auditioning for the ST role in the following squad:

Pace

My memory is short and often unreliable but I do not remember a FIFA where pure speed has not been a META requirement.  Speed still kills, but is not nearly as lethal this time around.  Arnautovic feels like he is lumbering around the pitch at times and benefits from the fact that pace is not everything.  However, acceleration is still at a premium and those first few steps can make a huge difference in player quality.  Arnautovic falls a bit short here and the small HAWK boost only brought him up to 82 ACCELERATION.  Not great, but not enough to list him immediately on the transfer market either.  

Pace Rating: 7/10

Dribbling

Back on to the META train and the immediate presence of 4 STAR SKILLS checks off one of the many boxes needed to be effective.  For a big man I was impressed with how agile he was on the ball and getting space was normally just a touch or turn away.  The sheer size of this man does half of the work for you and protecting the ball doesn’t require pressing buttons; he simply just has to stand there.  One small issue is the lingering effect of Arnautovic’s acceleration (or could be a balance/agility issue as well) can be witnessed in some of the painstakingly slow turns he can pull off.  This doesn’t happen all the time but when it does it is like watching a sloth climb a tree minus all of the enjoyment.

Dribbling Rating: 8.5/10

Passing & Defending

Get these two out of the way.  Arnautovic has decent passing but did not result in many assists.  He has the physicality to win the ball back but closes down players and spaces a bit too slowly for me. I wouldn’t recommend playing Arnautovic anywhere but as a ST anyway so it is a non-issue. 

Passing Rating: 7.5/10
Defending Rating: N/A

Shooting & Physical

They say save the best for last.. I just hope everyone stuck around as prior to this it is hard to justify the 70k price tag.  4 STAR WEAK FOOT, 97 SHOT POWER, & 92 VOLLEYS (HAWK applied) and you know you are getting some bangers.  Scoring goals is fun.. But trying to put a hole through the keeper with every shot is fantastic.  If having a lethal weapon attached to each leg isn’t enough the man is a walking weapon himself.  6’4 - 192 cm, 90 STRENGTH, & 96 AGGRESSION makes defenders scared to look at Arnautovic let alone defend him.  Dominating presence up front and consistent in the air.  Won a lot of clearances down to teammate’s feet and scored a few headers as well.  If we are talking META, these two categories are a perfect example of how these types of players can dominate for you.

Shooting Rating: 9/10
Physical Rating: 9.5/10

Final Score

Overall Rating: 8/10

META? For Sure
Game Changer? Sometimes
Value for Coins? Definitely 
Top Tier? Not Quite

On one hand Arnautovic has moments when you think he is going to be a main stay in your squad and could really carry you forward.  On the other hand you finish some games and wonder… Where was he all game?  You are yelling “Marko” and he is not yelling “Polo”.  In key Weekend League or Division Rivals matches you do not have the luxury of a passenger and it is these moments that lead me to a slightly lower rating than I would have normally suggested.  The man can be an absolute beast... when he wants to be.  Cheers for reading.

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