Arsenal has had a terrible start to this campaign and that has placed Mikel Arteta under extreme pressure.
The Spaniard is overseeing a terrible start to the season and faces the sack if things don’t change.
However, he could see his team bounce back to form after the international break with The Mirror reporting that he will get the chance to field some players that he wants as partners.
One reason Arsenal has done badly is that they have missed a number of their first-choice players.
Gabriel Magalhaes has been injured and Ben White has played just a game for them before being sidelined by Covid-19, while Thomas Partey has been injured since the preseason.
The presence of these players will make Arsenal significantly stronger and they could all be back after the international break.
The report states that Gabriel is back in full training and he could partner White in Arsenal’s next game.
The suspension of Granit Xhaka and the return of Partey will also give Arteta the chance to try a midfield Partnership of the Ghanaian and Albert Sambi Lokonga.
If these partnerships work, Arsenal could get back to form and back up the league table.
Would it be such a massive improvement though? Let’s say Gabriel and White play. Gabriel likes being the aggressor, he would jump in for headers and slide in for tackles, but does White have the necessary nous to maintain control over the defensive line? He seems a ball watcher and only useful for pretty longballs(great longballs I must say, a little more time they can develop to Luiz’s level) In that case who will marshal the defense? Same with Partey and Lokonga, who will play those safe passes, sit back and protect the backline? Lokonga seems an adventurous player always passing forward. That is good, but can he be trusted to play as defensive CM? Or is it going to be Partey? But then I think between them, Partey as the more advanced guy makes more sense, because of his superior ball skills, but as a sitting back CM, Lokonga has not been tried yet…. I do hope the partnerships have the desired effect that we all wish for, but the sleep-inducing play and almost stationary possession tactics might not bring the best out of them.
“who will play those safe passes, sit back and protect the backline?”
Be careful what you wish for, because the only person we have for that now is Elneny.
How I wish Elneny comes back to his ManU at Old Trafford self…
Very harsh criticism of White after one game from someone who is not a professional authority on the game .As a fan you are entitled to your views but having watched White on numerous occasions last season he is not a ball watcher but a CB with real pace and good positional sense..That is why he was brought into the full England squad by a professional Manager.One of our problems is that in Chambers, Holding and Mari we have 3 centre backs who are not remotely of international class.The return of White, Partey and Gabriel will be a boost as will be the absence of Xhaka.On the downside, our failure to bring in Bissouma ,who is very keen to come to Arsenal is hugely disappointing and adds to the doubts concerning the ability of Arteta and Edu.
Ok, but I don’t think I need to be a ‘Professional authority’ on the game, to see after two matches that Ben White is someone who is more prone to ball watching. Agreed judging after one PL game is hasty, but what if that becomes ingrained in his traits. About good positional sense, couldn’t see any of those against a side newly promoted to the PL. Just hope he doesn’t become the English Mustafi. Good day to you SIr and COYG!
Grandad, it seems like you’ve fallen victim to the very thing you’re blaming others for…White was the third best CB on Brighton, he likewise played out wider, at times, like he did against us last year, which is the only reason why he was on the English squad, as he was a late replacement for Trent-Arnold, who’s clearly not a CB…White is largely praised for his transitional play, which is why he was so well-liked while on loan at Leeds, who are clearly not a defensive juggernaut…I believe the whole CB gig was more of a logical designation for purely financial purposes, as it’s far more likely to get top dollar for a CB with the ability to play RB, than the reverse scenario…no objective observer has ever heaped praise on his defensive stoutness or steel…this is also why it’s already been floated that he possess the versatility to play DM…I just think it would be difficult to roll him out in any other position, especially right after the 50M layout, but it will be interesting to see how that plays out once everyone is healthy
Although Leno wasn’t massively at fault for any of the goals against City, I’d like to see Ramsdale between the sticks next game.
If, as seems likely, no new RB comes in and if AMN doesn’t get shipped in the next couple of days, then Arteta needs to move heaven and earth to get him to play RB.
Partey and Lokonga have a great chance to cement a partnership that will make it difficult for Arteta to go back to the well with Xhaka.
Thay leaves only one defensive holdover (Tierney) from Saturday. Which feels about right.
Ok Leno made some smart saves but he was at fault for more than one of the goals. He’s weak and the defence can’t trust him. play Ramsadale and it will improve things.
I agree Declan.The lack of confidence in a keeper has a knock on effect on defenders but our embarrassing defeat to City can be mainly attributed to the fact that we faced the top side in the League with only one regular central midfielder in the shape of the ponderous Xhaka.That ludicrous decision is down soley to Arteta who deserves all the flak he is getting.
It is to be hoped that we will have White Gabriel for the next match. Gabriel has played 45 mins for the U23 while White should be clear of covid.
Tierney is solid on the left and may be we have time to bring a RB during the break with Bellerin rumored to be leaving. Lokonga who was deemed to be too fragile to face City should return. With out either Xhaka and Partey at DM we will have innovate.
Pepe should be back.
So Norwich at home has to be a win otherwise Arteta may be sent packing.
Or it may be the beginning of a good run.
We shall see
A “supposed big team cannot rely solely on some plyers and not others because there will always be injuries as well as several games to play. So each post must have 2 reliable players.
Aresenal has the funds to do that. But this manager is a novice.
How on earth could he leave out Lokonga in a game against City? A reasonable thing would have been to play 3 defensive mid fielders in that game