Rangers must find 'central solutions' without Joe Aribo to maximise defensive disruption

By any measure, Rangers were below-par and their supporters ever-waiting for the team to kick into gear during Tuesday’s encounter with Aberdeen. In hindsight, one draw from trips to Easter Road, Tynecastle and Pittodrie is justifiable; yet after three weeks of waiting, so is the frustration at such a blunt attacking display.

As detailed yesterday by The Rangers Review, van Bronckhorst’s side saw their xG tally doubled by the hosts, struggled to gain any sort of territorial advantage and appeared to lack invention in possession aside from seeking out Ryan Kent and Scott Wright.

The attacking disconnect, absence of central runners and failure to break beyond Aberdeen aside from those wide attacks combined to produce a performance that qualified the point as charitable. It revealed what everybody already knows – Joe Aribo appears currently irreplaceable.

The Nigerian, on international duty at AFCON, offers a plethora of threats when playing at the tip of his team’s midfield, none of which were replicated by Ianis Hagi who deputised in this place.

READ MORE: How Rangers' substitution caused 'midfield mayhem' and afforded Aberdeen unnecessary control

The Romanian scored a vital goal but suffered from Rangers’ lack of intention to play through the centre of the pitch, and wasn’t suited to the counterattacking style deployed. Glen Kamara and James Sands’ pass maps show the infrequency with which either deep midfielder got on the ball to move the side forwards, as such Hagi’s impact was limited.

James Sands' pass map against Aberdeen.

Glen Kamara's pass map against Aberdeen.

Unlike Aribo, Hagi does not offer a dangerous threat in behind, nor can he carry his side up the pitch as Aribo does so regularly.

The system chosen sought to maximise width and create one-v-one duels on either wing. However those channels inside the pitch, normally occupied by Aribo and Scott Arfield, were missing adventurous forward runners. 

Early diagonals from both Connor Goldson and Calvin Bassey set the tone of what was to come – nine long passes were attempted by the visitors during the opening quarter. There was merit to this ploy, Wright almost created a goalscoring opportunity from Calvin Bassey’s angled pass and a combination from right to left led to the opener.

Hagi's goal further outlined the benefit of isolating Kent against a full-back, notice the room he is afforded to cross, granted as a result of his ability to attack infield or outside.

That aside, attacking combinations were limited. A look at the five highest pass combinations in the side is evidence of the failure to create an ounce of sustained threat in the final third, link-up play was non-existent. 

READ MORE: Rangers fail to 'dictate with quality' as Aberdeen's territorial dominance punishes passive showing

Furthermore, having averaged a pass completion 82 per cent in previous away fixtures this season a reduced 75 per cent at Pittodrie shows the side’s lack of comfort in possession.

Presumably, the preference to sit so deep after going ahead was partly conditioned by Rangers' belief that they could exploit space behind the Aberdeen defence. A meagre 0.12xG recorded after Hagi’s strike demonstrates that plan's shortcomings.

Aribo's AFCON exploits suggest his return could yet be some way off. With Arfield injured, solutions are still required centrally to give the league leaders a greater attacking threat playing away from Ibrox.

Whether that be moving Kent centrally to replicate Aribo's runs beyond the defence, improving central rotations or placing a greater responsibility on individuals - the side requires more from their middle men.