Aimar Oroz, diamond in the rough

The 20-year-old has been one of brightest emergents in La Liga this season, making his introduction look a lot easier than it should have.

For long time followers of La Liga, the name Aimar probably does something for you. If not, here’s the short version: a former midfielder for Valencia and Real Zaragoza, Pablo Aimar was one of the most dazzling technicians to pass through the league this century. The Argentine was renowned for his manipulation of the ball, which at times seemed to defy logic. Even Lionel Messi counted himself a fan.

14 years after Aimar played his final game in La Liga, a namesake has curiously appeared in the north of the country. Osasuna’s Aimar Oroz is a midfielder — or more precisely, a mediapunta — who has burst onto the scene in Spain doing many of the things that the original Aimar did. Although they share distinct builds, with the 20-year-old a taller, more gangly type compared to the the Argentine’s low centre of gravity, the Osasuna man shares a similar connection between brain and feet. Much like Pablo, there is seemingly no space too small from which Aimar Oroz can’t escape.

With his goal against Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, Aimar became the youngest Osasuna player to score from open play in La Liga since 2007, after a 20-year-old Javi García. For the most optimistic, his finely timed run into the box to convert a cut-back might lead you to think there’s a goal-scoring midfielder in waiting. But the truth is, after just four starts, Aimar can still be anything to anyone in theory. Judging the things that are going to stick is a different exercise altogether.

Since the opening day, Aimar has been used at the head of Osasuna’s 4-4-2 alongside a more orthodox forward. It began alongside the dynamic Chimy Ávila, before being joined by a more referential forward in Ante Budimir in recent weeks. Put simply, using Aimar in the front line is a way to accomodate him within the 4-4-2 defensive shape, as well as grant him freedom of play when Osasuna are in possession. He can play as a close associate of the striker or free himself to join play earlier on as an extra midfield receiver. His most influential zones, however, have been in popping up in the wide boxes between the opposition’s midfield and defence.

Of the 55 passes that Aimar has received in the opposition half this season, only 10 of them have been in the central third of the pitch. Up to now, that makes him a number 10 who rarely participates in the theoretical ‘number 10 zone’ — although one could argue whether that even exists in today’s game.

It’s certainly been no impediment to Aimar’s contribution to play, where his constant appearances in the wider areas in fact seem quite deliberate on the part of Jagoba Arrasate and Osasuna. Aimar’s presence in the corridors has helped the team become less predictable in attacking down the wings by providing more angles of play to build through, while his act as the ‘extra player’ is one that often catches teams undermanned — especially against those with a rigid defensive shape.

Though it’s tricky to draw affirmative conclusions after just four starts, Aimar has shown a real talent for knitting play together so far. Or at least, his contribution to attacks — even if they seem discreet — have made a real difference to the way in which Osasuna can use the ball. Even if it’s just one touch to accelerate an attack, Arrasate’s side have found it easier to sprinkle in a little more football with Aimar around, and at the same time, without straying too far from their embedded style of less elaborate attacking.

To really understand the merit of Aimar’s arrival in La Liga, especially for his profile as a player, one has to look at the team context around him. Osasuna were one of the most direct attacking sides in La Liga last term, averaging the fifth-shortest sequences of play in terms of duration (via Opta). Their games were typified by a high volume of short, direct moves and then pressure on the ball, where precision often took a back seat to physicality. In other words, El Sadar wasn’t exactly fertile ground for a technically-leaning rookie to try and settle in.

With the introduction of Aimar Oroz and Moi Gómez this season — to add to the existing pair of Jon Moncayola and Lucas Torro — there are clear signs that Jagoba Arrasate is looking to develop further control of the ball and be less reliant on their direct play in 2022-23. However, that’s still very much a work in progress. Osasuna are still firmly among the most direct teams in La Liga for the moment, and in the meantime, Aimar is having to use all of his smarts to get by.

Although the youngster has his niche as the ‘wide number 10’ (as we’ll call it), where he can get a fairly decent number of pass receptions, it’s to Aimar’s credit that he’s been able to transfer his own style of football within an Osasuna team that is still far from built in a compatible image. Arrasate’s side very rarely play through their goalkeeper and they don’t look to manage possession patiently from their own half, which means the ball isn’t arriving into the likes of Aimar in a clean manner very regularly.

Of course, it would be unwise for Osasuna to bend too far in a different direction, given how effective their style of play has been under Arrasate. Their squad has been constructed for a very clear purpose, and although there are signs that a little less thrust might be in the offing in 2022-23, their continued source of success will be in making teams uncomfortable with their direct style and aggressive pressure, especially at El Sadar.

Given the juxtaposition that exists between Aimar’s individual strengths and those of Osasuna as a team, it will be interesting to see how they manage his role within the team over the coming season — specifically with their overall style in mind. Or maybe, if this is how well Aimar has adapted from the jump, it’s a process that’s only going to get easier the deeper into the season they go.

For Jagoba Arrasate, inheriting a twinkle-toed star who doesn’t need to be accomodated to any level of strain would certainly have him counting his blessings.