In the current season of the Russian Championship, Artyom Dzyuba has only 4 (2+2) scoring actions. In terms of total goals and assists, eight players surpass him in the tournament, and in terms of goals scored, he is completely inferior to 18 players.
Ironically, the RPL’s top scorer at the moment is Zenit player Mateo Cassierra – seven goals. And he is also the best in terms of total goals scored and assists: 7 + 1. Cassierra moved to Zenit in the summer of 2022, when Dzyuba had just left the club. After spending the season adapting, the Colombian suddenly started scoring in spades.
Is this a pattern or a coincidence? Let’s delve into the details before the Zenit – Lokomotiv match.
After the 2018 World Cup, Zenit was incredibly dependent on Dzyuba, but Semak found the time to rebuild
Zenit currently has five consecutive victories in the Russian championship. Sergei Semak was able to obtain most of them by building the game based on the players’ strengths. This is what the coach said after winning the first title: “You have to take advantage of the strengths of each player. Yes Artem [Дзюба] “He fights well, which means we have to involve him in the fight.”
In Semak’s first season at Zenit, Artyom Dzyuba became a key figure in the team’s play. He was on a roll after the triumphant 2018 World Cup in Russia: our team reached the quarterfinals, and the forward himself entered the top 5 most productive players of the tournament (3+2) and became the best on his team in this indicator. . .
For several seasons in a row, Zenit did not hesitate to play against Artyom Dzyuba. Fair? But it is effective. That the striker’s involvement in the game was maximum is demonstrated by this fact: for three years in a row he made more than 25 passes per game. For a center forward, a lot.
Artem Dzyuba’s performance at Zenit after the 2018 World CupRPL-2018/2019rple-2019/2020rple-2020/2021RPL-2021/2022MATCHI*2725 (3) 26 (1) 18 (10) goals8172011 GISS101265UDARS ** 2.42.92.61.8 PROPROMS for hit1,82,12, 21. 2Assists per match32322718* – in the starting lineup (as a substitute)** – onwards on average per match
After Dzyuba’s departure, not a single Zenit striker is a player who forms a system. Cassierra is successful these days, but in many ways he is just the tip of the attack. Here are his numbers: 2.4 shots per game; 0.4 passes under attack; 19 passes per game on average. How different are his numbers from Artyom’s in his heyday during his performances at Zenit!
Dizzying change. But not crazy. There are at least three reasons to consider Zenit’s separation from Dzyuba timely. If the Russian champion had been delayed everything could have ended badly.
First of all, Artyom’s age: he left Zenit in the summer when he turned 34. Now the forward is already 35 years old. No one knows how much longer he will spend at the high level. Sometimes the freshness leaves him in the second half.
Secondly, Dziuba’s suitable partners had already left Zenit or were about to end up elsewhere. The speedy Serdar Azmun, who complemented Artyom with openings up front, left St. Petersburg six months earlier. In the same summer as Dzyuba, Magomed Ozdoev left the team, which was excellent on the rebound and was activated at the second pace. Another excellent rebounder, Daler Kuzyaev, stayed one more year, but already in 2022 he dreamed of moving to one of the most important leagues in Europe.
Zenit lineup in the match against Krasnodar (4-2) in July 2020
Thirdly, Zenit players who stylistically complemented Dzyuba were replaced by Brazilians who were more accustomed to fast and low combinations. At one point, there were so many Latinos that the team was ripe for a change of style.
It is symbolic that without Dzyuba the match began through Wendel. Last season, the legionnaire even scored 12 (8 + 4) goals in the RPL, while in two years with Artyom he never exceeded six. Malkom also completely flourished without Dziuba: he had the opportunity to play more often on the front line, became the most productive player in the league (23+7) and went to Al-Hilal for a record 60 million euros for RPL clubs.
Zenit lineup in the match against Rubin (3-0) in September 2023
Time shows that the Zenit bosses and Sergei Semak calculated everything correctly. Even last season, when Mateo Cassierra had not yet adapted to St. Petersburg, the team scored 74 goals in the Russian Championship – this is the second result in the history of the RPL in a 30-round season.
The Saint Petersburg team was two goals short of its own record, set in the 2020/2021 season. Wendel, Claudinho and Malcolm played in such a way that there was no reason to be sad about parting with Dziuba. With Cassierra flourishing, there is no reason to be sad.
Artyom Dzyuba Knowledge Test:
Proof
What did Dziuba say? Quiz for the striker’s 35th birthday
In the spring, Dzyuba helped Loko stay in the RPL, but now the team is struggling
Lokomotiv’s current season shows the problems that Zenit could face if they continue their relationship with Dzyuba.
If in the spring the striker was on fire and helped the team stay in the RPL (with Dzyuba they rose from 14th place, where they finished the first part of last season, to eighth), now he has slowed down, which is reflected in the entire team (8th place here and now after high pre-launch expectations).
Artyom Dzyuba at LokomotivRPL-2022/2023RPL-2023/2024Matches*116Goals82Assists52Shots**2,10,8Assists per game1,41,2Assists per game2424* – in the starting eleven (as a substitute)** – here and below on average per game
When you depend on someone who has already aged, you risk too much. Especially if you don’t have a player of the same type. A key player may be out due to injury or suspension, or simply not be in optimal condition. And they can also adapt to your game with it. All of the above has already happened to Loko this season.
The most nightmare match for Loko was the home match of the previous round of the RPL against Orenburg (0:2). For the second time since the start of the season in the national championship, Orenburg played to zero. But last season the Orenburg team conceded 55 goals, the worst figure in the RPL, not counting the teams that were relegated from the league.
Details of that match:
The main sensation of the RPL tour! “Loko” “nailed” in nine minutes in their own field
On defense, David Deogracia skillfully placed Orenburg compactly between his penalty area and the midfield line; here the guests mainly defended, unless Loko was occasionally forced to act otherwise. Going deeper was risky due to Dzyuba’s ability to slice through defenders when he served from the flank. Pressing in the opposition half was a gamble based on Glushenkov and Pinyaev’s ability to run behind defenders under Dzyuba’s passes. Artyom was lost: 0 hits and only one pass! Next to him, Loko acted modestly: 10 shots and only six from the area.
Lokomotiv lineup in the match against Orenburg (0-2) on matchday 8 of the RPL
Loko admits his dependence on Dziuba. Coach Mikhail Galaktionov shortly before the transfer market closed: “Artyom’s qualities are not enough when he is not on the field.” Left back Nair Tiknizyan: “I have repeatedly said that Dzyuba is a very important player for our team. In fact, we depend on Dziuba. In many ways, his form influences the team: when he plays, we win.”
Of course, Zenit deserves praise for its timely parting with Dzyuba – the team closed a bright chapter in the club’s history and began to develop further. But does Loko deserve criticism? In my opinion, no. When Artyom was taken, the goal was to maintain his registration in the RPL and the striker was able to solve the problem. In the summer, a contract was signed with the player, but according to the “1+1” scheme, which was beneficial for the club: in case of regular failures of Dzyuba, parting with him would take place next summer.
Taking into account everything that is happening, it is still unclear how long Artyom Dzyuba will continue to play in the RPL. This means that you should value every visit to St. Petersburg to remember it. Can the forward shine this time? There are few prerequisites, but it used to be during those periods that Artyom became enlightened.
Artyom’s most emotional performance this season:
This is Dzyuba going crazy! I tore my shirt into pieces by the referee’s decision. Video
