Except for Tomiyasu (due to injury), Arsenal’s deals for “average players” for the last two seasons have undoubtedly been well calculated and for a purpose.
Ben White, Ramsdale, Odegaard, Jesus, Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos, Trossard, and Kiwior, who joined in the last two seasons, have steered the club to challenge for the league title. However, they failed at the first attempt.
This summer transfer window, Arteta is set to make moves that will give him the best chance to win the league. It’s now clear that Kai Havertz and Declan Rice are the two priority signings he wants to transform his team with.
Coming into this transfer window, it was clear that Arteta wanted to revolutionise his midfield with two marquee signings. The picture is clear: Declan Rice and Kai Havertz are these two.
Thomas Partey has, for the past few seasons, done a great job at the middle of the park, giving the Gunners defensive solidity. Even though it has worked, Partey struggled towards the end of the season, showing Arsenal needs another reliable option there, and that’s why a move for Rice makes sense.
Rice has more PL experience than him; though he is younger, he could do a better job. The 24-year-old is intelligent defensively and is good at patrolling central and half-spaces, shielding the back slightly better than the Ghanaian international. With the central midfield sorted, the attacking midfielder will be next.
The move for Kai Havertz has left many talking. Many are still determining why Arteta wants him, but these people should know not to doubt the boss by now. I don’t see the German international playing the frontline.
Jesus, just like Martinelli and Saka, will not be dropped. Only a super striker like Toney, Osimhen, etc. could bench him. Havertz’s versatility and attacking experience could see Arteta introduce him as Xhaka’s replacement. Next season, there’s every hint that Arteta will continue playing 4-3-3, with Odegaard and Havertz as his two number 8s.
In the end, with a midfield of Rice, Havertz, and Odegaard, Arteta’s engine room could be ready to steer him to PL glory.
Darren N
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Maybe, if Havertz plays false-nine and Rice plays false-CB:
…….………….….. Ramsdale
………. White .… Saliba …. Magalhaes
……………….… Rice …….… Partey
Saka . Odegaard . Zinchenko . Martinelli
……………………….…. Havertz
I like this, GAI. I wrote a bit a few days ago about playing a similar way but with White in the Rice role and Tomiyasu as RCB. Jesus can play anywhere along the front line and relieving Zinchenko of some of his defensive responsibilities can only be a good thing. Now to sit back and watch it not happen and to play exactly the same way next season.
Romano said Man City asked about Rice on Friday. If we fail to sign Rice, we could try White in the false-CB position
Martinelli is injured, so Jesus could play left winger
It is true the gaffer may thinks a 4:3:3 formation is arguably the best way to go about wrestling away the big jug.
Havertz will not plays most time in the same team with Odegaard.
——————–Ramsdale
White—-Saliba—Magahles—-Zinchenko
——Odegaard—-Rice———Latvia
——–Saka——-Vlohovic——Martinelli
Latvia would and mobility and dynamism to the midfield, he’s task with the dirty work.
Havertz is top quality addition, some times coming off the bench to replace Odegaard in a relentless attacking formation
Now we knows Zinchenko is the weak link that would need to address
Forget Vlaovic please. I won’t go for any player who had rejected us in the past.
There are unconfirmed reports Napoli is interested in Balogun as they are unable to get Oshien extending his contract,
Haverst was convinced by Arteta to join Arsenal and personal terms were then arranged. I don’t think Arteta would use him a squad player. He is the obvious replacement of Xhaka. He is essentially an attaching midfielder; although Chelsea has used him as a winger and as a striker in a desperate attempt to elevate his production. Now is only a matter of negotiating a price with Chelsea.
Can Gun: One can see you are thinking, that too is a very viable option.
In games when we fall behind could be his busiest, but he is a top talent am little taken aback so many armchair managers has known not of his quality
Havertz gives us technical flexibility as well as being a good player. He will play in Xhaka position and can cover Jesus in case of injury or loss of form.
There seems to be this unshakeable belief among football fans generally that one or two players are all you need to win a title. Surely by now Arsenal fans should have figured out its about squad depth and rotation. There’s no point in arguing what your best eleven is if as soon as those players aren’t available or not performing you fall apart.
You’re absolutely right. Arsenal need 5-6 really good players to sustain a proper league challenge year after year.
As things stand you have a lot of work to do before you will be able to land Rice, we are under no rush to let him go cheap, he still has 2 years with us should we choose it, so if Arsenal really want him you will have to up your current derisory bid and payment terms substantially or he will either stay or go elsewhere. Counting your chickens just a little too soon.
Where does this writer get the comically wrong idea that Havertz is a midfielder? He is a forward, posing in theory, as a so called “striker.”
One who rarely strikes too. Perhaps he could therefore be useful; in the NHS or drivingTRAINS.
To answer your query, Havertz’s primary registered position at Chelsea is Attacking Midfield, but he can also play as a forward.
Why would Rice leave a medium Premiership club for another medium Premiership Club to win Henry Hall’s brother, when he could go to Man Citeh and and win everything (22 trophies in 10 years)!?
Get back to reality, please.
Brian Generally, when fans of other clubs come on this Arsenal fan site, they try to make sensible comments to show their life maturity.
So why are you doing the opposite and showing such immaturity?
With Rodri, Phillips and now a young Perrone, City has other priorities, plus Rice would like to be in the starting eleven as often as possible.
SETUP 1 (inv LB)
Ramsdale
White Saliba Gabriel Zinchenko
Partey Rice
Saka Odegaardt Martinelli
Jesus
————————+———————-
SETUP 2(inverted RB)
Ramsdale
Partey White Saliba Tierney
Havertz Rice
Saka Smith-Rowe Martinelli
Jesus
–So just by making 3 changes the team can be transformed into a diff setup without losing our formation.
Tierney i include because a conventional FB is needed on opposite flank from the inv-RB.
EsR i include as i think he will balance the team more in an inv-RB setup being right footed.
All this is ofcourse speculation & based on the assumption that we wont get Caicedo & Cancelo or Boey.
I agree with BW as the inverted FB, he is technically good and a solid defender, unlike ZInchenko. Tierney is still a solid FB in the traditional role.
Arsenal fans are impatient because of Declan rice but let’s not forget the quality of harvetz
I’d like to see Kai Harvetz in Arsenal so long we don’t pay stupid money.
We bought Jesus for 45m, I don’t see why should pay more than that for the Chelsea man
Havartz is an unwelcome distraction for me. We need to nail down Rice! Havartz is technically a very good player, but he is player you slot in to a position to suit him, which needs to suit the team too. Rice, on the other hand is a player you build a team around IMO.