Henrikh Mkhitaryan has evolved into the “total midfielder” over the course of his time at Inter Milan.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. They tip the former Arsenal and Roma veteran to once again play a major role for Inter this season.
Mkhitaryan has had a career that’s stretched across multiple high-profile teams in different leagues.
The Armenian first came to prominence playing for Shakhtar Donetsk.
At the Ukrainian club, Mkhitaryan played an attacking role. He showed that he can play anywhere across the front line, from attacking winger to attacking midfielder to second striker.
That was more or less the case at Borussia Dortmund as well. Playing for the Schwarzgelben Mkhitaryn was named as the 2015-16 Bundesliga players of the season.
In that campaign, Mkhitaryan mainly played off the right. But he had quite a free attacking role, able to both score and create goals fairly regularly.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan Evolves Into “Total Midfielder” For Inter Milan
Mkhitaryan got a big move to the Premier League in 2016.
The Armenian joined Manchester United that summer.
Mkhitaryan ended up spending three seasons in the English top flight, between stints with United and Arsenal.
The Armenian continued to play more of an attacking role for both the Red Devils and the Gunners – although there were hints that he was moving further back on the pitch.
It was at Roma that Mkhitaryan really started to have more influence on matches.
Under Paulo Fonseca and then Jose Mourinho, Mkhitaryan became an outstanding box-to-box midfielder in a trio.
That was the role that Inter signed the Armenian for in 2022.
Mkhitaryan arrived to provide greater depth and experience in central areas for the Nerazzurri.
The 35-year-old has done more than that, though. Across his first two seasons Mkhitaryan has become one of the key players in Inter’s starting eleven.
And in his third, the veteran midfielder is set to remain as such at least at the start of the season.
Mkhitaryan has become essential in balancing Inter’s midfield trio. His positional instincts and ball retention are vital on the left of Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 formation.
And at the same time, Mkhitaryan also retains the quality and vision of an attacking midfielder.
Subsequently, that latter quality could become important as the season goes on.
In conclusion, Mkhitaryan could move back to playing a more attacking role at points this campaign, with Piotr Zielinski playing in midfield.
