Last season, there was a debate over who was better at playing LCM: Kai Havertz or Declan Rice? Then there was a discussion about whether Rice should play at number six or eight. After signing Mikel Merino in the summer, many believed Arteta saw Rice as #6, with the Spaniard set to take over at LCM.
This season, many anticipated that Mikel Arteta’s ideal midfield would feature Merino, Martin Odegaard, and Rice. With Merino’s injury, the midfield trio never saw action. Although last season we envisaged Rice, Partey and Odegaard.
Unfortunately, while waiting for Merino to recuperate and join Rice and Odegaard in Arteta’s engine room, Odegaard sustained an injury.
Following Odegaard’s injury, there have been calls for Mikel Arteta to replace him by Ethan Nwaneri, who has charmed the Gooners with flashes of brilliance whenever he is on the pitch. However, with Partey also playing up his to his best, and Mikel Arteta has yet to fully trust Nwaneri with a key role in his team.
That might change, and with Merino on the verge of returning from injury, he could provide Arteta with a solid basis to build on. Rice and Partey is quite defensive, and Merino is also fairly defensive; with their experience, the two may easily accommodate Nwaneri in the engine room.
With Nwaneri focused on pulling the strings in attack, as he did in his cameo appearance in Leicester’s 4-2 victory, and Rice and Merino focused on the defensive side of the game (though Merino will also want to contribute in attack), the Arsenal midfield might gel. This midfield combo could easily play some fantastic fluid football; it possesses the physicality, inventiveness, and aerial ability to overpower opponents.
That might be the ideal strategy for “unleashing” Nwaneri, and the best part is that Arteta can easily rotate him with Odegaard for the RCM role, ensuring his playmakers remain fresh.
Jack Anderson
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Rice is best as a 6, world class and one of the top 3 DM’s in the world; I would say number 2 behind Rodri at City.
Merino as the LCM with Calafiori and Martinelli will bring that side to life like Timber, Odegaard, and Saka (Ben White too) on the right side.
Havertz has shown he can deliver as a CF, now we need a backup or competition for that role up top.
I think the type of opposition we face will be the major fact determining out midfield trio provided everyone is fully fit. Some games will need a General to hold and calm things down at the base, and Partey remains unmatched in that role but some will require dynamism and speed in progression, offensiveness while still defensively fluid, i think Rice , Merino and MO will be the best trio. Some games like Liverpool may sound to stiff, Joghino surprisingly has technical qualities to thrive more than Partey. I like the fact that finally we may be unpredictable. I like the Italian beast that we bought, and Timber is on another level.
Party against Leicester did ok. But not great & we all know past 2 seasons he’s injury prone & wants a lucrative move to Emirates. He can still do a job & leave on a free next season but merino Is our boy bought in to fill party’s exit & a good signing by all accounts. We’re 3 players shy of having a force in all areas. I’m talking about cover for saka a striker & another center back
Why do you feel we need another CB?
Agree with you Bryan but we were made to believe that going under the knife fixed Parteys thigh problem that he has carried all along from Athletico. His offers something unique. I wish he can be a mentor to Myles-Skelly. The issue of a striker is another topic, considering that anyone in the 1st 11 has been scoring goals since Auba and Lava left, and the revolutionised contemporary football that many teams play….. Could we not end up with a Darwin Nunez, Riachalison or Morata situation. We have the ability to score from all areas I believe.
Rice and Merino, on either side of Partey, would be a powerful midfield I think our first choice midfield is Rice Merino Odegaard. Partey Jorginho Nwaneri are solid squad depth
Partey is unable to sustain his levels for more than 60 mins. Arteta needs to sub him off if he is started. But Arteta will start Odegaard, Rice and Merino and play them the full 90 every game until one breaks. With the late FIFA Qatar World Cup, the EUROs and extra Champion’s League games we will have overplayed players. Arteta needs to use his bench – 5 substitutes a game are there for this. White has broken down. He needs to play less and Timber should not play each and all of every games. Kiwior can be trusted.