[Billet] Arnaud Nordin, the cold snap

After an exciting start to the season, at least on a personal level, Arnaud Nordin has just had a string of fairly ordinary, even mediocre, weeks and matches. Exiled to the left side, which he likes less than the right, for the benefit of the revival of Mousa Tamari, the former Saint-Etienne player has since struggled to show himself as dynamic as at the start of the season.

It remains, in any case, one of the (rare) satisfactions of the start of the season. With 4 goals, no assists but above all great activity, Arnaud Nordin had reassured the Pailladin microcosm about his involvement in this season of all dangers, he who will be free in June 2025. Already discreet in Saint-Etienne, the international Olympic had saved its still dull performance against LOSC with an angry and saving equalizing goal. Struggling in Lens, where he was replaced at half-time, Arnaud Nordin was once again ineffective against OGC Nice for an hour, before paying the price for the tactical change made by Jean-Louis Gasset.

Due to his experience and his past performances, Arnaud Nordin is one of the most anticipated players, especially in a team which sometimes struggles to make a difference offensively. Brought to swap with Mousa Tamari, we obviously feel him less comfortable when he is on the left, on his good foot to go for centering, but embarrassed to transplant into the axis. In Forez, he came up against the local defense from the start of the match on such an action. But faced with the Jordanian’s rebound, it’s hard to blame Gasset and his staff. It will be up to Arnaud Nordin to adapt, as quickly as possible, to regain his expected influence while the competition, embodied by Tanguy Coulibaly or Othmane Maamma, is still struggling to emerge. It is at this price that he will be able to best negotiate his future, in Hérault or elsewhere.