Mikel Arteta feels he has a solid defensive midfield at Arsenal, with Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, and Jorginho fighting for the holding midfielder role, and he believes that increased competition for starting places can only makes the Gunners even better.
There’s been a revolution in Arsenal’s midfield. A few weeks ago, Arsenal convinced West Ham to sell them their midfielder Declan Rice, submitting a £105 million offer that the Hammers found too hard to reject.
With Rice joining, there were speculations of Thomas Partey leaving, moving to Saudi Arabia, or joining Juventus; however, nothing came out of those rumours, and he is almost certain to stay. Jorginho was also not long ago linked with an exit from the Emirates; months after joining, Turkish giants Fenerbahce linked with his signature; however, he is also set to stay.
Arteta now has three options for his defensive midfield, which he is satisfied with. Hinting that signing another central midfielder isn’t in his plans, he said (in his press conference for the Crystal Palace game): “To have two excellent goalkeepers is great. Nothing is wrong. We have two great left-wingers, two great strikers, and three great holding midfielders with Jorginho, Thomas, and Declan. That is not a problem, and it should not be a problem.
“We want to be better, and to be better the environment has to change. We tend to always be at a certain level because it is in our nature. When you change the environment to one that you have to be 100% percent every day, the level is going to increase. I have seen that up close with my own eyes, with the players we have now and what we had two years ago. But we have to create that environment.”
Artta certainly seems to be on his way to getting at least two quality players for every position on the pitch. Now it just remains to see them all improve again this season…
COYG!
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Manchester United players have a license to kill in their penalty area this season.
I wonder why y’all feel Man utd will be competing with us for the title.
Let’s be realistic Arsenal are not tittle contenders eithe still don’t have enough quality in depth to match man city plus without a 25-30 goal scorer will win nothing with the current forward line sure I get bashed for this comment but facts don’t lie as last season proved! Now with everyone strengthening going to be twice as hard to win anything top 4 will prob be about as good as it gets!
So who will you consider tittle contenders if we are’nt one either based on squad depht? Mind you city has been naming four academy players in their matchday squad since the begining of the campaign.the only department i think they are well stocked is defence, midfield and attack is debatable.
We scored almost the same number of goals last campaign as City. So it doesn’t matter. Better to have more scorers than rely on one because you become more predictable.
“You all? I doubt that many, IF ANY, on JA fit into your very overstated category.
Maybe United will be in the hunt for the top four; that I can envisage -though it looks a little less likely now than two weeks ago.
But “for the title”? I reckon you will be hard pressed to find a SINGLE Gooner who honestly thinks THAT!
Fully agree
Ramsdale has been superb for us but Matt Turner was no threat.
That Saint’s game at home made me think this guy needs some competition
Raya a threat
Turner was a threat but not used. Increased numbers can be threat only if the managers gives equal opportunity. He played Timber at left back whilst capable and fit Tierney was sitting on the bench. Using Partey at right ahead of Tomiyasu. Trossard is always on the bench whilst he has better productivity than Jesus, Marinelli and Odegaard. Buying Havertz when we have ESR. All the above shows that a big squad if not properly used mean nothing.
Exactly my thought. Arteta d’ont give an opportunity to other players to show their quality
It doesn’t make sense to play Havertz while we have ESR and Trossard who have proven better. Let Havertz play from the bench and integrate gradually. Right now, he plays with too much pressure and can’t really perform well.
Yes. But a huge squad could also ruin the dressing room harmony, if the squad rotation and fringe players don’t get enough chance to compete
We”ll see whether they would play or not in UCL, FA Cup and League Cup competitions
What If Arteta is wrong in his beliefs!!!!!
Only a fan with very limited mental vision indeed could possibly fail to see the IMMENSELY STRONGER all round competition we HAVE FOR PLACES RIGHT NOW, than at probably any time since The Invincibles.
Squad depth IS OBVIOUSLY VITAL.
MA is a dynamic driving force with a tremedous passion and will to put our club back where it belongs.
SOME of us saw this very soon after he arrived and others have come on board in various stages since then. Some, unhappily, are still doubters, but there are none so blind as those who will not see!