Complete the sentence: have Frank Armani in the arch is…
For Martin Demichelis is a “blessing”. For many fans, a tranquility, confidence, peace, security, indescribable… Or unbeatable. Is to have to Armani guarding the three sticks of Riverthe world’s famous largest arch, gives a feeling that it will cost more for the rival than with many other goalkeepers to convert that this is transferred to the numbers and -ultimately- the results of the team: the seven titles won since their arrival in 2018 up to now (the most important Libertadores in history, a local tournament, an Argentine Cup, a Recopa, two Super Cups and a Champions Trophy ) have a good part of their explanation in the Octopus tentacles.
But you don’t have to go to the end of a tournament or too far back to understand how key it is: against Tigre, this weekend, he took out his world champion badge and he saved the team with three great saves, one of them to Armoa in the final minute, down and to the left. Flown to pure reflex, steady hand and something else. For the fans it was the figure, since it was transcendental to maintain zero. A zero that actually adds one to his enormous statistics and allows us to understand the achievements on a collective and personal level, with two World Cups: With this last unbeaten fence, he was just four away from joining the select club of those who reached 100…
That is made up of such Amadeo Carrizo (ranking leader with 183 games without conceding goals) and Ubaldo Fillol (158), two big guys who don’t even need a reference to their careers. For his part, Armani had reached Angel Comizzo with 94 in October of last year, but with his good start to the year he already opened two of light: that of Tigrewe must add that of the first date, before Central Cordoba. However, the only world champion in Qatar of Argentine soccer can inflate his chest with his unbeaten hurdles average compared to the leaders: while the great Amadeo had one every approximately three games (he played 551 in total at River) and Fillol every 2.5 (405 PJ), he accumulates one every 2.22 (he has played 213 games since his arrival).
Yes, as much as it is sometimes difficult to put the current in the same dimension with what happened in the past, the truth is that Armani has already sat at the table of the three greatest goalkeepers in the history of River. And having a guy like that, clearly, is a huge plus for Demichelis and company: with the goal of building a defensively strong team as one of his mother ideas, Franco is a guarantee of constant good performances and contributes more than a grain of sand for solidity down below.
It would be counterfactual to predict how much you can give River from the arc this year, but what was done in 2022 – the worst of the cycle Gallardo– allows to have a parameter: saved 120 of the 158 shots that kicked him (a 76%; 2018, top, seems unrepeatable: 82%), they scored 38 goals in 48 games and in 20 games he kept the fence undefeated.
outside too
An Octopus that not only eats in the vanguard place of the archers of River for what he did on the field, but also for what he has shown in these five years outside: a year ago he extended his contract until December 2024 with a salary increase in recognition of his performance and achievements, rejecting various offers from abroad which from the economic point of view are usually more juicy to prioritize the comfort you feel in the club. By case, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and Pity Martínez came looking for him in this market when David Ospina fractured his elbow, but the negotiations did not prosper (finally, Agustín Rossi went on loan).
Besides, he is the second captain of the team (when Enzo Pérez is not there, he takes the tape) and acts accordingly: a reference for the youngest, He also called Demichelis on the phone before the preseason began to introduce himself and talk for a while, just as the other men did after the experience of the squad due to the arrival of the new coach.
Put any word you want to what it means to have Armani in the arch. One step away from 100 undefeated hurdles, a “blessing” seems to be the most appropriate…