Mikel Arteta may need to make a change on Arsenal’s left side against Manchester City. Watching Arsenal’s 0-0 tie with Atalanta, I couldn’t help but think of how the LHS’s failure to click last season held back this Arsenal team, for how it didn’t look flawless Thursday night.
Against Atlanta, the left side of Timber, Rice, and Martinelli definitely lacked a proper ballplayer; it looked a little stiff and right-footed. If the Gunners intend to outwit the Citizens, they need to make some adjustments in the LHS.
To improve their left wing, Arteta signed Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino. The plan was to have midfielder Merino play LCM and defender Calafiori play left back. The Spanish midfielder is unavailable for LCM selection due to a shoulder injury sustained during training, while the Italian defender has yet to make the starting lineup. Don’t you think Arteta should unleash Calafiori while Merino recovers from his injury to return and complete Arsenal’s LHS equation?
Timber is a solid leftback, but he isn’t as fluid as Calafiori. In his 18-minute cameo against Atalanta, he provided Arsenal with plenty of unpredictability in the build-up and possession phases. Watching that game, you could see he gave them the X factor on the ball to work with. If there is one element of surprise for Arsenal entering into the match against City, it could be starting Calafiori and introducing Timber to finish the game.
Gabriel Martinelli had a difficult game against Atalanta, so starting Calafiori and Merino (when he returns) to lay the groundwork for him to recapture his mojo could be one approach to giving the Arsenal LHS a boost.
Peter Rix
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I personally think our best defence is Timber, Saliba, Gariel and Calaforini. But we have many permutations when players are fit. Probably a back three of Saliba, Gabriel and Calaforini would allow Zinchenko to play better (less reliability on his defending) or Timber, inverted. White can play CB as well. Tomi can play LB, CB and left back as cover. Calaforini and White, in some games could play CB (possibly cups, to give Saliba and Gabriel a rest. There are many permutations. We are not short in that area.
Our best defence? No Ben White, really?
I think Timber is a better RB. Ir at least can be. He is faster, stronger and a better actual footballer than White.
Plus White is a CB playing RB. He has done a decent job but he is limited at RB.
Best all round RB in the league if one considers defending and attacking attributes combined.
Ben white is not better than timber at RB
Calafiori height is an extra man for set-pieces, at would be Merino if fit
it’s a shame about the injuries, at the start of the season I was the XI as our best for away fixtures against elite teams – 6 big guys
White —– Saliba —– Gabriel —– Calafiori
Odegaard —— Rice —— Merino
Saka —— Havertz —— Martinelli
unfortunately we might have to wait some time to find out
Great line-up!
We may still have it and, maybe our season close will be better than the start
The game was not easy with red card but alhamdulilah, we made it be a successful day…..we really have a strong arsenal at this season than any other…..drawing in in man city with a red card is not that easy….congrats my guys, love you forever ❤️
I agree. Having a left footed player out there makes a difference because they can move the ball just a little quicker before being closed down. A left footed player can also drive with the ball along the touch line, on the outside whereas the right footed players will always cut inside and that’s easier to defend against. Calafiori gives us more balance.
Yes.
We spent over 40 million for him because he is an excellent defender
He should at least have more playing time if not start
Timber is solid. The change needed is Gabriel for Calafiori. Big Gabby doesn’t play well under pressure and that’s what mancity will offer.
Are you serious, Gabriel doesn’t play well under pressure?
Yes it’s true but I’m sure G isn’t referring to his defensive side of the game. As good as Gabriel is , I’ve seen him give the ball away in dangerous places when put under pressure. That cost us 3 points against bayern in the ucl last season and he already did that this season too.
Timber doesn’t need replacing at L.b coz he hasn’t done anything wrong. Our problem is in midfield.
I’ve seen Philip Lahm,David Alaba,Alphonso Davis Rico Lewis etc who are defenders cover so well in midfield whenever their teams had a crisis.
I believe Calafiori will give us a different dimension and better team balance compared to what we’ve tried so far.
He shouldn’t be wasted on the bench simply because the defence is covered when he can make us better playing in midfield atleast for now.
I’m more confident about timber in midfield than calafiori though – partly that’s because I do think timber has super close control and a great ability to turn in tight spaces which lends itself to centre midfield, but it’s also because I’ve not seen that much of calafiori. My impression is that cala is better when everything’s in front of him and he doesn’t have to turn (with the ball at least) so he can charge forwards, which might make him better starting at lb then in midfield, but I could well be wrong
Timber will do a better job than White at RB. Our best will be to have Cali on the left and Jurrien on the right.
Peter, my compliments for your excellent analysis. I am perplexed that most of the pundits, journalists and fans keep criticizing Martinelli, but can’t see that Xhaka’s departure weakened our left side dramatically as Martinelli finds himself obliged to go alone without possibilities of triangles and one two passes to unlock defenses without support from the left back who is playing in midfield while in possession, denying Martinelli passing options and runs that can free space on his side. Unlike Saka on the right side who can count with the support of White running in his back and the constant presence of Odegaard. When Saka makes a fine run, and shoots wide, he is encensed for the run and for creating the opportunity. When Martinelli does the same, he is criticized for missing the shot and no comment on how good the run was. There are constant calls to drop him and play Trossard instead of him, and now Sterling. While Trossard is a fantastic finisher, he lacks pace and he is simply not playing as a left wing and not in the same register. He is allowed more freedom to go ino the middle and inside the box, his defensive duties are also different. Arteta has recruited Calafiori and Merino to balance the team and have the danger coming from both sides, left and right, rather than over-relying on the right flank. It is risible that officialwhoscored included Martinelli in the premier league team of the week after his performance against Spurs that saw him complete 6 successful dribbles, more than any player this season, while he was getting destoryed in the press and by pundits for his bad performance…
Why not play him at LB
Timber in midfield with Rice and Ethan or even sterling
Isn’t it sad that we are having this argument when we have just allowed ESR to leave . I.was one of the few who thought it was a dumb move and fuming even more now. You guys will say,” yeah but he is going to get injured soon”, but waiting for someone to get injured so as to be proven right is not the way to go.. I hope he goes from strength to strength because he looks like being the bargain of the season. He will do everything that Merino for example will not be capable of doing.Tio bad it won’t be for Arsenal.
The decision to sell ESR and others like him was motivated more by financial reasoning than any other consideration.
Sale of academy products generate “pure” profits that help shore up a club’s PSR profile.
A lot of other clubs have done same. A lot more will continue doing it as long as financial regulations remain at the front burner of football
I would not change too much for this game:
White-Saliba-Gabi-Timber
Party-Rice-Jorginho
Saka-Havertz-Trossard
If things go south, bring on Nwaneri if the game is too fast for Jorginho, and bring on Sterling if we need fresh legs up front.
I think Raya will be excellent at the RB, his close control and ball playing skills has been fantastic this season
I kinda suspect Calafiori will do well in the GoalKeeping role cos of his height, he’s taller than Raya i think – it’s something we can try
Bunch Of Clowns
😁