Arteta should abandon his experiment with Thomas Partey as a right-back. Yes, the Ghana international has had better performances at right-back compared to his brief stint there at the start of the 2023-24 season.
Before the October international break, it was difficult to discern that Arsenal lacked a proper right-back, as Partey assumed the position with ease.
After the break, he started as a #6 against Bournemouth and also retained his midfield spot in the first half against Shakhtar Donetsk. His performance at the heart of Arsenal’s engine room has got high praise; he really rose to the occasion, delivering his best performance of the season in the first half of Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Shakhtar.
In the second half against the Ukrainian side, Arteta chose to revert him to right-back. He also did an excellent job there, but his void in Arsenal’s engine room was noticeable. The Gunners abruptly lost control and the influence they enjoyed in the first half and in the second half against Shakhtar.
Going into the next few games, the Arsenal defense is in disarray, with William Saliba suspended for the game against Liverpool and Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu injured. We are eagerly anticipating Jurrien Timber’s return from his injury.
Arteta and his technical bench may be brainstorming ways to deal with the defense’s absence, but they cannot do so by weakening the midfield. Thomas Partey, as demonstrated Tuesday night, must just be the main man in the midfield; the authority he gives Arsenal while there is unrivalled.
He has been consistent so far this season, and having him and Declan Rice in midfield increases our steel and advancement, which is undoubtedly the Gunners’ key to dominating games. Thomas Partey has played himself into relevance at Arsenal; he is essential to their performance, and this is evident in how he plays the #6 role. Playing him elsewhere diminishes Arsenal’s midfield brilliance.
Daniel O
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One of the reasons Wenger played the most beautiful football back then, he rarely mix his players and playing them out of position.
It helps give his players a commanding understanding during the game.
Wenger played Ramsey as a winger lol
In retrospect, I must admit remembering complaints of players playing out of position and over playing.
But there was a time in Arsenal history, when a large section of the fan base, believe the B team was actually playing better than the established A team.
Think I can remember also the legendary Frenchman saying, he will never compromise how the beautiful game should be played, maybe that was a mistake, sometimes you need to win ugly
But Wenger did play players out of position, and quite frequently. Indeed, in some cases you could make the case that he persevered too long doing that.
For example, Wenger deployed RVP both on the left wing and as a lone front man. Neither of these were his position. Indeed, he played him out wide (on the left) against Chelsea in an FA Cup Final! Likewise, he used players such as Diaby and the Arshavin out of position a lot of the time. There are many more examples.
Wenger did great things at Arsenal as we all know, but you appear to see him as some sort of infallible “football saint” who always did everything correctly. He didn’t of course and like every other coach he was fallible.
We are not talking of an ideal situation here but the possible option the coach could use. Pathey is great at No6 but imo Rice is equally suited for No6 if not better. And that’s what he plays for England national team. Merino is naturally a box to box midfielder like Xhaka so he can play No8 just like he does for Spain national team. Pathey will play inverted role which would make the midfield thick. Against Sharktar, Arteta said the players became leggy and tired that was why we lost the middield not the shift of Pathey to full back. We don’t seem to have much options. White was playing as our CBack before the emergence of Saliba and it’s only natural for him to click there imo. White is the only right footed CBack we have.
Well i disagree wuth Arteta. The midfield misses Partey big style.
White and Saliba are naturally and predominantly right footed.
Timber & Tomiyasu can play across the back four and appear two footed but slightly right footed
Bertie
There is a report out Arsenal squad was hit hard with the exit of Smith Rowe, that’s a mistake the gaffer should not have made.
That I like ESR is an understatement. But the reality is he is so so much injury prone. It can be painful when he isn’t fit when needed most. Hope he excels and stay injury free in Fulham will always miss him. At the end Arsenal onwers consider business aspect of the club than satisfying the fans.
@Gunsmoke
I think Arteta made the right call in letting him leave. ESR was half decent going forward and lacked any defensive side to his game. Not to mention how injury prone he was.
If Arsenal had won 1-0 against Soton. It would have been all doom and Gloom over here. Just saying.
My point is………Let’s all calm down, the league is getting tougher.
No it wouldn’t!!!!! 3 points is 3 points, no matter how you play. The problem is, when you throw points away. So lets not calm down because, we HAVE thrown points away.
That’s the mood after the shaktar Donetsk match Reggie…
Shaktar was a poor performance but the 3 points was won. You can play great and get the plaudits and the praise. You can play awful and get vilified. But if you boil it down, 3 points is all that matters.
and to your point, performance and entertainment matters for zero tomorrow if we take 3 points against Liverpool
Arteta thinks likewise, so be prepared for an ugly snore fest with Arsenal showing little attacking ambition like the Spurs and Man C match, playing for a shut-out and hoping to nick one – then dark arts take over
Arsenal are the new Athletico Madrid
Arteta is more Simeone than Guardiola sometimes
If we win tomorrow. It won’t matter how it is achieved. 3 points is the most important thing.
Given our injury worries, I won’t mind an ugly win at all.
Considering the injury situation, playing Partey at right back was a gamble.. Off the back of his performance in that position against Liverpool, we need to be grateful having him in the team.
Depending on the extent of injuries to Big Gabi, Timber & Calafiori we might have to play him at right back till the injured return.