# 2021–22 Arema F.C. season

The 2021–22 Arema F.C. season is Arema's 32nd competitive season. The club will compete in Indonesia League 1. Arema Football Club a professional football club based in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. The season covers the period from 21 January 2021 to 31 March 2022.

## Squad information
### First team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 4 | DF | POR | Sérgio Silva |
| 5 | DF | IDN | Bagas Adi |
| 6 | DF | IDN | Ikhfanul Alam |
| 7 | MF | IDN | Ryan Kurnia |
| 8 | MF | JPN | Renshi Yamaguchi |
| 9 | FW | POR | Carlos Fortes |
| 10 | FW | IDN | Muhammad Rafli |
| 11 | MF | IDN | Feby Eka Putra |
| 12 | DF | IDN | Rizky Dwi Febrianto |
| 13 | MF | IDN | Hamzah Titofani |
| 14 | MF | IDN | Jayus Hariono |
| 15 | DF | IDN | Fabiano Beltrame (on loan from Persis Solo) |
| 16 | MF | IDN | Ridwan Tawainella |
| 18 | MF | IDN | Muhammad Faiz |
| 19 | MF | IDN | Hanif Sjahbandi (3rd captain) |
| 20 | DF | IDN | Achmad Galih |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 21 | DF | IDN | Aji Saka |
| 23 | GK | IDN | Teguh Amiruddin |
| 24 | DF | IDN | Diego Michiels |
| 26 | DF | IDN | Achmad Figo |
| 27 | FW | IDN | Dedik Setiawan |
| 28 | MF | IDN | Seiya Da Costa Lay |
| 29 | MF | IDN | Sandi Sute (on loan from Persis Solo) |
| 31 | GK | IDN | Andriyas Francisco |
| 33 | DF | IDN | Didik Ariyanto |
| 41 | MF | IDN | Dendi Santoso (vice-captain) |
| 77 | MF | IDN | Genta Alparedo (on loan from Semen Padang) |
| 78 | FW | IDN | Bramntio Ramadhan |
| 87 | DF | IDN | Johan Alfarizi (captain) |
| 88 | MF | IDN | Vikrian Akbar |
| 90 | GK | BRA | Adilson Maringá |
| 99 | FW | IDN | Kushedya Hari Yudo |

## Transfers
### In

| No. | Pos | Player | Transferred From | Fee | Date |
| 17 | DF | Sandy Ferizal | Free agent | Free | 26 February 2021 |
| 6 | DF | Ikhfanul Alam | Badak Lampung | Free | 3 March 2021 |
| 77 | FW | Wiga Brillian | Free agent | Free | 3 March 2021 |
| 33 | DF | Didik Ariyanto | PSCS | Free | 3 March 2021 |
| 35 | DF | Muhammad Roby | Persekat | Free | 10 March 2021 |
| 44 | DF | Ikhwan Ciptady | Persikabo 1973 | Free | 14 March 2021 |
| 11 | MF | Feby Eka Putra | Persija | Free | 9 June 2021 |
| 24 | DF | Diego Michiels | Borneo | Free | 14 June 2021 |
| 90 | GK | Adilson Maringá | Vilafranquense | Free | 22 June 2021 |
| 8 | MF | Renshi Yamaguchi | Lampang | Free | 22 June 2021 |
| 9 | FW | Carlos Fortes | Vilafranquense | Free | 11 July 2021 |
| 13 | FW | Hamzah Titofani | Youth sector | Promoted | 13 July 2021 |
| 78 | FW | Bramntio Ramadhan | Youth sector | Promoted | 13 July 2021 |
| 20 | DF | Achmad Galih | Youth sector | Promoted | 13 July 2021 |
| 18 | MF | Muhammad Faiz | Youth sector | Promoted | 13 July 2021 |
| 4 | DF | Sérgio Silva | Feirense | Free | 30 August 2021 |
| 7 | MF | Ryan Kurnia | Sulut United | Free | 3 January 2022 |

### Out

| No. | Pos | Player | Transferred To | Fee | Date |
| 4 | DF | Syaiful Indra Cahya | Muba Babel United | Free | 11 February 2021 |
| 26 | DF | Taufik Hidayat | PSIM | Free | 11 February 2021 |
| 12 | MF | Hendro Siswanto | Borneo | Free | 16 February 2021 |
| 56 | FW | Titan Agung | Bhayangkara | Free | 18 February 2021 |
| 44 | DF | Nur Diansyah | Borneo | Free | 23 February 2021 |
| 15 | DF | Alfin Tuasalamony | Madura United | Free | 26 February 2021 |
| 42 | DF | Ganjar Mukti | Persiraja | Free | 15 March 2021 |
| 35 | DF | Muhammad Roby | Persiraja | Free | 30 March 2021 |
| 8 | MF | Bruno Smith | Águia Negra | Free | 1 April 2021 |
| 95 | DF | Caio Ruan | Free agent | Free | 1 April 2021 |
| 44 | DF | Ikhwan Ciptady | Sriwijaya | Free | 9 June 2021 |
| — | MF | Ricga Tri Febiyan | Free agent | Free | 21 June 2021 |
| 17 | DF | Sandy Ferizal | Persela | Free | 1 July 2021 |
| 92 | MF | Dave Mustaine | PSS | Free | 19 December 2021 |
| — | FW | Wiga Brillian | Free agent | Free | 1 January 2022 |
| 1 | GK | Utam Rusdiana | Free agent | Free | 4 January 2022 |

### Loan In

| No. | Pos | Player | Loaned From | Start | End |
| 77 | MF | Genta Alparedo | Semen Padang | 20 December 2021 | 31 March 2022 |
| 29 | MF | Sandi Sute | Persis | 4 January 2022 | 31 March 2022 |
| 15 | DF | Fabiano Beltrame | Persis | 4 January 2022 | 31 March 2022 |

### Loan Out

| No. | Pos | Player | Loaned To | Start | End |
| 1 | GK | Utam Rusdiana | Persekat | 18 June 2021 | 31 December 2021 |
| 77 | FW | Wiga Brillian | Hizbul Wathan | 22 June 2021 | 31 August 2021 |
| — | FW | Wiga Brillian | PSKC | 22 September 2021 | 31 December 2021 |
| 96 | GK | Kartika Ajie | RANS Cilegon | 30 September 2021 | 31 December 2021 |
| 96 | GK | Kartika Ajie | Barito Putera | 6 January 2022 | 31 March 2022 |

## Review and events

This season will be the first season for the coach Carlos Oliviera having been appointed as Arema's coach on 17 September 2020 to replace Mario Gómez who resigned in August 2020. Last season Arema FC was in the 12th position before the season competition 2020 was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia until finally canceled by PSSI after being delayed several times by referring to the results of the PSSI Executive Committee (Exco) meeting which took place virtually on 20 January 2021. However, on 7 February 2021 Arema management will not renew the head coach contract Carlos Oliviera. Carlos Oliviera contract itself will expire on 17 February 2021 and after that date he will be relieved of duty. And the temporary position of head coach was replaced by assistant coach Kuncoro during the pre-seasons tournament 2021 Menpora Cup. On 3 May 2021, Arema officially announced a new coach namely Eduardo Almeida.
Arema also experienced the longest unbeaten run in the 2021–22 season for 23 matches. Started in week 4 against PSIS Semarang with a 0–0 draw and had to stop in week 27 when they lost in the Super East Java Derby against Persebaya Surabaya with a final score of 1–0. At the end of the season, Arema placed 4th in the Liga 1 standings for the 2021–22 season.

## Pre-seasons and friendlies
### Friendlies

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 6 March 2021 | Arema U20s | N | 7–2 | Brillian (2), Seiya, Rizky, Jayus, Dedik (2) | 0 |
| 15 March 2021 | Madura United | H | 2–2 | Dedik (2) | 0 |
| 29 May 2021 | Malang Selection | H | 8–0 | Dedik (2), Hanif, Feby, Brillian, Ferizal, Tegar, Tito | 0 |
| 6 June 2021 | RANS Cilegon | H | 6–2 | Feby 11', Dedik 35', Dave 46', Gonzáles 53' (o.g.), Dendi 74', Tito 90+7' | 0 |
| 12 June 2021 | Hizbul Wathan | N | 4–2 | Ridwan 5', Dedik (2) 10', 81' (pen.), Dave 85' | 0 |
| 19 June 2021 | Arema U20s | N | 5–1 | Hanif 40', Dedik (2) 50', 85', Kushedya (2) 60', 79' | 0 |
| 19 August 2021 | PSIM | A | 0–1 | | 0 |
| 21 August 2021 | Persis | N | 0–0 | | 0 |

### Menpora Cup
#### Group stage

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Group position |
| 21 March 2021 | Persikabo 1973 | N | 1–1 | Dendi 82' | 0 | 3rd |
| 25 March 2021 | Barito Putera | N | 1–2 | Feby 54' | 0 | 3rd |
| 30 March 2021 | PSIS | N | 2–3 | Dedik (2) 9', 67' (pen.) | 0 | 4th |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | PSIS | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 7 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | Barito Putera | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 5 | Knockout stage |
| 3 | Persikabo 1973 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 2 | |
| 4 | Arema | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 1 | |
| 5 | Persipura | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |

## Match results
### Liga 1
#### Matches

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | League position |
| Series 1 (Jakarta, West Java & Banten) |||||||
| 5 September 2021 | PSM | A | 1–1 | Hanif 22' (pen.) | 0 | 7th |
| 12 September 2021 | Bhayangkara | H | 1–1 | Dendi 72' | 0 | 12th |
| 19 September 2021 | PSS | A | 1–2 | Alfarizi 34' | 0 | 14th |
| 25 September 2021 | PSIS | H | 0–0 | | 0 | 14th |
| 29 September 2021 | Persipura | A | 1–0 | Fortes 7' | 0 | 10th |
| 3 October 2021 | Persela | H | 3–0 | Fortes (2) 17', 22', Rafli 34' | 0 | 6th |
| Series 2 (Central Java & Special Region of Yogyakarta) |||||||
| 17 October 2021 | Persija | A | 1–0 | Fortes 33' | 0 | 4th |
| 23 October 2021 | Persiraja | A | 2–0 | Rafli 4', Fortes 56' | 0 | 4th |
| 27 October 2021 | Persita | H | 2–2 | Kushedya 25', Dedik 45+1' | 0 | 4th |
| 1 November 2021 | Madura United | A | 2–1 | Kushedya 50', Rizky 90' | 0 | 3rd |
| 6 November 2021 | Persebaya | H | 2–2 | Fortes 11' (pen.), Rafli 21' | 0 | 3rd |
| Series 3 (Central Java & Special Region of Yogyakarta) |||||||
| 19 November 2021 | Persik | A | 3–2 | Fortes 33' (pen.), Alfarizi 43', Feby 45+3' | 0 | 3rd |
| 23 November 2021 | Barito Putera | H | 2–1 | Fortes 47' (pen.), Rafli 88' | 0 | 3rd |
| 28 November 2021 | Persib | A | 1–0 | Dendi 17' | 0 | 2nd |
| 5 December 2021 | Bali United | H | 0–0 | | 0 | 3rd |
| 10 December 2021 | Borneo | A | 2–1 | Fortes (2) 66', 72' | 0 | 2nd |
| 5 January 2022 | Persikabo 1973 | H | 0–0 | | 0 | 2nd |
| Series 4 (Bali) |||||||
| 9 January 2022 | Bhayangkara | A | 1–0 | Rizky 20' | 0 | 2nd |
| 13 January 2022 | PSS | H | 2–0 | Kushedya 53', Dendi 56' | 0 | 1st |
| 17 January 2022 | PSIS | A | 0–0 | | 0 | 2nd |
| 28 January 2022 | Persipura | H | 1–0 | Fortes 30' | 0 | 1st |
| 1 February 2022 | Persela | A | 1–0 | Ridwan 90' | 0 | 1st |
| 5 February 2022 | Persija | H | 1–1 | Fortes 57' | 0 | 2nd |
| 10 February 2022 | Persiraja | H | 1–1 | Fortes 48' (pen.) | 0 | 1st |
| 15 February 2022 | Persita | A | 2–0 | Fortes (2) 45', 67' | 0 | 1st |
| 18 February 2022 | Madura United | H | 1–0 | Fortes 15' | 0 | 1st |
| 23 February 2022 | Persebaya | A | 0–1 | | 0 | 2nd |
| 27 February 2022 | Persik | H | 0–1 | | 0 | 3rd |
| Series 5 (Bali) |||||||
| 5 March 2022 | Barito Putera | A | 2–1 | Rafli 18', Fortes 36' | 0 | 3rd |
| 9 March 2022 | Persib | H | 1–2 | Jayus 54' | 0 | 5th |
| 15 March 2022 | Bali United | A | 1–2 | Fortes 33' (pen.) | 0 | 5th |
| 20 March 2022 | Borneo | H | 2–2 | Alfarizi (2) 52', 74' | 0 | 5th |
| 24 March 2022 | Persikabo 1973 | A | 3–1 | Rizky 62', Alfarizi 69', Fortes 82' | 0 | 5th |
| 30 March 2022 | PSM | H | 1–0 | Fortes 86' | 0 | 4th |
* ↑ The Liga 1 match home to Persikabo 1973, originally scheduled for 14 December 2021, was postponed due to PPKM Level 3 policy for all regions of Indonesia during the 2021 Christmas and 2022 New Year holidays and the 2020 AFF Championship.

#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 2 | Persib | 34 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 48 | 22 | +26 | 69 |
| 3 | Bhayangkara | 34 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 48 | 27 | +21 | 66 |
| 4 | Arema | 34 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 44 | 25 | +19 | 65 |
| 5 | Persebaya | 34 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 56 | 35 | +21 | 63 |
| 6 | Borneo | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 43 | 35 | +8 | 52 |

## Statistics
### Squad appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Liga 1 | Liga 1 |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||
| 23 | GK | IDN | Teguh Amiruddin | 5 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 |
| 31 | GK | IDN | Andriyas Francisco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 90 | GK | BRA | Adilson Maringá | 30 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||
| 4 | DF | POR | Sérgio Silva | 32 | 0 | 31+1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | IDN | Bagas Adi | 28 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | IDN | Ikhfanul Alam | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | IDN | Rizky Dwi Febrianto | 27 | 3 | 25+2 | 3 |
| 15 | DF | IDN | Fabiano Beltrame | 9 | 0 | 5+4 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | IDN | Achmad Galih | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | IDN | Aji Saka | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | IDN | Diego Michiels | 18 | 0 | 12+6 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | IDN | Achmad Figo | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | IDN | Didik Ariyanto | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 87 | DF | IDN | Johan Alfarizi | 34 | 5 | 32+2 | 5 |
| Midfielders ||||||||
| 7 | MF | IDN | Ryan Kurnia | 14 | 0 | 9+5 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | JPN | Renshi Yamaguchi | 31 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | IDN | Feby Eka Putra | 18 | 1 | 7+11 | 1 |
| 13 | MF | IDN | Hamzah Titofani | 19 | 0 | 6+13 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | IDN | Jayus Hariono | 28 | 1 | 20+8 | 1 |
| 16 | MF | IDN | Ridwan Tawainella | 18 | 1 | 5+13 | 1 |
| 18 | MF | IDN | Muhammad Faiz | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | IDN | Hanif Sjahbandi | 28 | 1 | 21+7 | 1 |
| 28 | DF | IDN | Seiya Da Costa Lay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | IDN | Sandi Sute | 14 | 0 | 4+10 | 0 |
| 41 | MF | IDN | Dendi Santoso | 30 | 3 | 27+3 | 3 |
| 77 | MF | IDN | Genta Alparedo | 10 | 0 | 1+9 | 0 |
| 88 | MF | IDN | Vikrian Akbar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||
| 9 | FW | POR | Carlos Fortes | 31 | 20 | 30+1 | 20 |
| 10 | FW | IDN | Muhammad Rafli | 27 | 5 | 18+9 | 5 |
| 27 | FW | IDN | Dedik Setiawan | 23 | 1 | 13+10 | 1 |
| 78 | FW | IDN | Bramntio Ramadhan | 6 | 0 | 0+6 | 0 |
| 99 | FW | IDN | Kushedya Hari Yudo | 14 | 3 | 12+2 | 3 |
| Players transferred or loaned out during the season the club ||||||||
| 92 | MF | IDN | Dave Mustaine | 6 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 |
| 96 | GK | IDN | Kartika Ajie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Top scorers

The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal.
| Rnk | Pos | No. | Player | Liga 1 | Total |
| 1 | FW | 9 | Carlos Fortes | 20 | 20 |
| 2 | FW | 10 | Muhammad Rafli | 5 | 5 |
| 2 | DF | 87 | Johan Alfarizi | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | DF | 12 | Rizky Dwi Febrianto | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | MF | 41 | Dendi Santoso | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | FW | 99 | Kushedya Hari Yudo | 3 | 3 |
| 7 | MF | 11 | Feby Eka Putra | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | 14 | Jayus Hariono | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | 16 | Ridwan Tawainella | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | 19 | Hanif Sjahbandi | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | FW | 27 | Dedik Setiawan | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 44 | 44 |