Serious range issues in midfield if we do that. If we're playing around with formations, maybe the right answer is a 4-2-3-1 with a midfield base of Havertz and Partey, Martinelli, Trossard, and Saka, and GJ up top. Or a midfield with a double pivot of Partey/Jorginho and Havertz playing close to them, with the usual front three. But that only works if GJ is healthy.
Havertz has never really done that under Arteta, at left 8 he spends as much time in the box as Jesus. I know he played leftback for Germany that one time, but it's not really his game. I don't like the mobility of Partey and Jorginho when defending but I at least trust Jorginho positionally, it's kind of the best of many bad options. Unless there's a real roll of the dice with Zinny or Timber in CM.
Fair point but we sold 5 and brought in 2 (one of which is unavailable due to injury) in the midfield/ attack spots. This is not the approach a title-contending team takes.
My suggestion is effectively the same as the highlighted part above. The difference being that Havertz & GJ "double-pivot" at forward.
Not surprisingly Mikel gave very little away in his presser, which is especially smart for this weekend's match, but he did include this... on Riccardo Calafiori’s availability: "It's another one that we have to wait another day or so."
Ideally would have sold Partey and bought both a 6 and an 8. But on his current wages, he wasn't going anywhere. The club should have seen that Partey was unmovable, let Jorginho walk and replace him with someone would could play twice a week. Would have been a bigger hit to the budget, it really seems like they were trying to break even or come close to it this summer.
Without Rice's engine and defense,, I think we're going to need to play more compact and limit the amount of running that Partey and Jorgino need to do.
4-2-3-1 was my original thought, but when was the last time Mikel used that shape? And could we really trust the (lack of) pace in a Partey/Jorginho double pivot? Spuds are quick on the counter.
Not sure what options we have unless Sterling plays as a striker or martinelli and move Kai back into the midfield
Jesus is probably playing 9 and Kai will play in Odegaard’s position. As long as Saka is fine, I think we will be okay tbh
I would love if we ran with a 4-2-1-3 of: White/Saliba/Gabi/Timber Jorge/Partey Havertz Saka/Sterling/Martinelli Have Havertz play his same role as a tall CF but have him drop in because his ball control and distribution is excellent. This then allows us to hit these plebs on quick counters. Havertz is great at getting the ball and putting it into space, and Saka/Sterling/Martinelli up top is far far too much pace.
⚫️ 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🔴©️ Jorginho skippers the side🪄 Trossard pulling the strings⚡️ Martinelli out on the wingLet's make it count, Gunners ✊ pic.twitter.com/5P7oGVRnUc— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 15, 2024
"Maldini Kacurri" "Ismael Kabia" "Ayden Heaven" I see we're going the auto gen route to fill a bench today
Morning all! Well well looks like a 4-2-3-1 after all? But if so, I wonder if #10 is Leo (as NBC thinks) not Kai. And Timber at LB… that’s unsurprising.
nearly. I guess we see trossard up top and Kai not a bad front line with Sterling in the bench just worry about the legs in midfield