In-form Mikel Oyarzabal Is Fast Becoming Real Sociedad's New Poster Boy

In-form Mikel Oyarzabal Is Fast Becoming Real Sociedad's New Poster Boy
11:45, 31 Oct 2017

Mikel Oyarzabal is a name with which many will be familiar, but recent months have seen the 20-year-old Real Sociedad wide man take rather large steps towards making it a household one.

Last week marked the two-year anniversary of his debut for Real Sociedad, with the 730 days wedged between the milestones providing the foundations for a season where he will be making a big statement. Often, young players are expected to burst onto the scene in their teenage years and then find a way to produce immediate consistency, but at Anoeta there has instead been a steady patience amidst the peaks and troughs and belief in his considerable potential.

Despite his tender years, Oyarzabal boasts a wealth of top-flight experience and will record his 100th LaLiga appearance during the 2017/2018 campaign. In his debut season, six league goals caught the eye, but a tempering period was required to round out his game both on the pitch and in his mind. He has never had a big ego, in fact the opposite, rather a meekness and an inability to act as a true killer out on the field.

After netting four goals across 10 LaLiga match days this season, there is a new edge to the Eibar-born star’s mentality. Rather than being a valuable, technical link from the left-hand side, he has started to play with a stern focus and newfound self belief. Before, the youngster was working hard and proved himself as a notable cog in an aesthetically pleasing Real Sociedad machine, but Oyarzabal has started to shoulder creative responsibility himself, taking chances without a second thought. From plying his trade as a number 10 in the youth system, steadily he has grown both confident and adept when cutting in from the left wing. Suddenly, a switch has clicked.

His opening strike of the season may have been a first-time finish off the back of a criminal mistake from Celta Vigo goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez, but the immediate injection of those endorphins has proved to kickstart a constructive opening couple of months in the Spanish top flight. Following on from a 2016/2017 where he was criticised for lacking a cutting edge to his game, there has been no such discussion this side of the summer.

Despite goalless spells, Eusebio Sacristan’s faith did not waver an inch. His presence in the side is guaranteed, with such confidence and consistency the best environment for a young player that should still be learning the ropes. Mistakes will not be penalised, with Real Sociedad’s style of play ever-positive and optimistic in their use of the ball. Even in training there is a culture of play.

After their recent 4-4 draw with Real Betis, Eusebio couldn’t help but smile despite the result. His players, he outlined, were playing with such confidence that they were not even considering taking the easy options. When breaking upfield at pace, their collective thought is forever to force the issue and be expansive, not to consider who could be caught out of position should a pass not come off as planned.

La Real’s midfield is packed with neat technicians and regulatory presences for possession. They provide the fluid basis for the attack, with Kevin Rodrigues and Alvaro Odriozola haring upfield as almost auxiliary wingers. Their wide presence affords Oyarzabal the opportunity to roam infield, find his own pockets of space and ultimately take up positions where he can carve out a sight of goal.

While goals might be leaking in at their own end, Real Sociedad are enjoying their football. Their brand of play is engaging and exciting, forward-thinking and almost gung-ho at times, but it has Mikel Oyarzabal smiling. 

After a strong start to life as a top-flight professional, last season showed the youngster the demanding realities of plugging away across a full season at a club that demanded a European finish. The 20-year-old has come out of the other side with a newfound resolve, a belief that he can be the man to dictate the outcome of games and add a finishing touch. 

Real Sociedad’s face is youthful, positive and full of attacking drive, three things that are fast casting Oyarzabal as their latest poster boy.

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