It will be intriguing to see how Mikel Artéta organises his midfield following the November international break. Arsenal should have their strongest midfielders available when club football resumes.
With Declan Rice anticipated to be fit and Martin Odegaard also expected to be in shape alongside Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey, Mikel Arteta finally will have all his first-choice midfielders available for selection.
Initially, the Gunners envisioned the combination of Merino, Rice, and Odegaard in midfield as the ideal setup, poised to establish a strong foundation for their dominance. Would it be reasonable for Mikel Arteta to choose a midfield of Rice, Merino, and Odegaard for the Nottingham Forest game?
Some Gooners might disagree, and they would have a legitimate reason to contest this, considering Thomas Partey’s resurgence. Partey has been one of the most reliable Gunners this season; by staying fit, he has been providing quality performances, whether playing as a #6 or as a right back.
One may ask what strategies Arteta can employ to play his ideal midfield while ensuring his midfielders remain satisfied. Could Arteta consider using Thomas Partey as a right back, given that Ben White is to be out for at least the next two months, with Rice, Merino, and Odegaard in midfield?
It would be prudent for Arteta to consider playing Thomas Partey at right back. Playing Thomas Partey at right back would help Arteta assemble his ideal midfield. Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, and Declan Rice could start gelling the midfield set-up that’s expected to run the show in the PL for years to come. With his current contract set to expire next summer, Thomas Partey’s future at the Emirates remains uncertain. Arsenal will face significant challenges when they build their midfield around him, a departing player.
Mikel Arteta might prefer to avoid that scenario, so the Gunners should remain calm if he decides to overlook Partey in his midfield lineup.
Jack Anderson
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Playing Partey out of position in the absence of a qb weakens both our defence and MF even more. Arteta must just deploy the deputies he bought if there was any sense buyi g them in the first place.
Playing Partey at right back is not the best option.
We have Kiwior, Skelly and Zinchenko and they can play the left back position while Timber plays at right back.
Merino should replace Rice from the 60 minutes mark. Rice needs some rest.
SJ,
I made the same point regarding this, in the Newcastle game.
Partey should never be the right back, unless it’s a last resort, end of story.
He’s to valuable in his midfield role.
I guess this is the very one thing that all arsenal fans will agree on, but it’s Arleta’s job to make that call so we can only watch and see what he does with the selection and results then wait for the end of the season to judge him.
There is so many options for RB. Why weaken the midfield. Partey is one of our best players. Yes he can do a decent job at rb. But that means the calibre of the midfield drops.
Sick and tired of this kind of thing loosing us games
The midfield misses Partey, big style. It os an utter waste of a top player to play him at RB. What idiot would ever do that?
Now now Reggie ☺️
I’ll start to lose some faith in MA if he does play Partey at right back.
It just doesn’t make sense – the same with Saka at left back!!
When Arteta let ASR and Vieira go l thought Nwaneri was ready. To see Arteta play Trosard, as a 10, for Arsenal, and for that many games…. , for me that was the end. Add Chido Obi and Tavares…. Talent so clear but they go for nothing. Sometimes you feel that Arteta is good. For me he proved me wrong on Odegaard. I thought Smith Rowe was better at first. Maybe he just need a handler
Agree Ken. Tevez, Arteta doesn’t seem to have tome for players who have a strong head. It may or may not be his undoing.
If Timber and Tamiyasu are available to play there, no!
Play Timber at RB and either of Zinchenko or Kiwior at LB. Leave Partey in his comfort seat at the base of the midfield please
I prefer players playing in their skilled position. Pathey should play NO6 where he is allowed to dictate the game. Timber should play right full back while Kiwior can play left full back. Enough of many experiment. Their can always be an interchange between Rice and Merino.
Absolutely not!
He’s actually done well at RB, but we lose so much in midfield without him. Rice has been poor this season, Merino has not yet found his feet, and Odegaard is nowhere near full fitness.
Timber should switch to RB, and you still have plenty of options for the LB position.
Lucy78,
You’ve got me worried.
You say that Merino has not yet found his feet, that’s a big problem with him being a footballer.🤣
Don’t forget that Partey was originally used at right back at the beginning of last season.
And the reason was and correct me if I’m wrong, so that Arteta could shoe-horn Havertz into the team.
Which at the time I thought was mistake, and I still do. Partey is wasted at right back.
He’s far more effective in midfield.
I don’t agree with this theory that MA would shoehorn Havertz in, whatever the cost to the team as a whole.
That’s just nonsense.
MA has shown that, if any of his signings are not up to scratch (and there have been a lot in his five years at the helm) he would drop, sell, or send them out on loan and I don’t think Havertz would be an exception to that rule.
Putting Partey at RB was an example of MA tinkering around again, which, of course, is his perogative as manager.
I don’t know if he has learnt what Partey brings to our midfield, but to do it again would be irresponsible.
Ken1945,
Maybe when I said shoe-horned I phrased it wrong.
What I meant was that in trying to find the right position for Havertz, and not wanting to keep Partey out of the side, he made the mistake in my eye’s of using Partey at right back.
Which is clearly detrimental, (I just Dislocated my tongue saying that word) to the team, as Partey’s best position is clearly in his more natural midfield role.
I don’t see the logic in playing player’s in foreign positions, purely to keep them in the team.
Partey is the engine of Arsenal midfield!
I would be gutted if he is played elsewhere or sat on the bench, to accommodate Rice and Merino in the role. Both are NOT up to Partey standard in the midfield.
Partey is the pivot of this Arsenal team.
IMHO, it’s a waste of personnel to play Partey as RB when there’s so much he can offer in the midfield.
Partey is really good at what he does in the midfield and should be left to keep playing there if it were up to me.
As SJ earlier said, it’s Arteta’s call to make.