New season, new methodology and a lot of the Arsenal fan base are confused.
In the weekend it was a 2-all draw against Fulham, Arsenal leading 2–1 deep in the second half with Fulham down to 10 men. This weekend it's going to be Arsenal up against Manchester United.
Three things.
Three things you hear the fans say mostly– What's Partey doing out of position? Where is Gabriel Magalhães? Why always Havertz?
I'm conscious that I'm in the Hive ecosystem, so by now our able writers would have done justice to explaining the new way Arsenal plays.
The highlights are Thomas Partey being used as an inverted right-back(note, not a wing-back). Meaning White shifts to right centre-back and Saliba to left centre-back. Gabriel Magalhães, benched. Kai Havertz plays in midfield with Rice and Odegaard.
The last match has greatly upset a lot of Arsenal fans and they are demanding for an end to the seeming experiment. They keep saying, put square pegs back in square holes, Arteta.
So what will he do against United? The Almighty God knows best, perhaps He can volunteer us some information.
Now, for those wishing for an immediate change, please don't forget Arteta's history. Do you recall how he persisted with Lokonga and Lacazette? In the face of those two players not helping Arsenal, Arteta wouldn't change it. That cost Arsenal top four that season.
I don't think Arteta is a man to suddenly bulk under pressure, however I must admit that he is not as stubborn as those early days, he changes things faster now. As per his overall playing philosophy, I'm sure Arteta will not change that, he has established that since last season.
For this season, firstly he has chosen his best two centre-backs, as Saliba and White. I can't fault that. I recall that White came into Arsenal playing as a centre-back. I also know that Arteta has chosen those two ahead of Magalhães because of their superiority in possession, especially in tight spaces. Like I said, I won't fault Arteta, at least after only three matches.
My proposition.
If I saw Arteta, I would suggest.
1》 (a) Please swap a Partey with Rice, let's see how it goes. My reason for this is that in possession Partey is an organiser– how he masterfully twists and turns(and dribbles if necessary) and provides the right passes. We have missed that in the middle. Plus in defence he has this uncanny ability to pre-empt the opposition and snuff out attacks. Rice has a different skill-set.
(b) Or please bring in Tomiyasu to that inverted right-back slot(which he is good at) and move Partey back to defensive-midfield, so it becomes a midfield of him, Rice and the captain. Let Zinchenko come in as an inverted left-back and let his defensive flaws be covered by Rice.
2》 I understand the wisdom of using Havertz. We need him to by-pass the press– the goalie can go long to him and being a tall lad he stands a huge chance of receiving the ball and laying it off for a team-mate and possession is retained.
I would beg him to ignore that option and accept the danger a player like Trossard or Smith Rowe poses( with their runs, intelligence and goal scoring). Ofcourse this system goes with option 1a above, then we have Nketiah in attack and the wingers as usual.
Ofcourse the average Arsenal fan is saying, bring back the old order, especially Gabriel, Saliba, White, Zinchenko at the back. Then they want the midfield of option 1b above. The fans are especially looking at Manchester City, who you can already tell are determined not to drop a single point this season.
Conclusively.
I doubt Arteta will do wholesale changes, but I'm absolutely sure he would make necessary changes. His idea is more bodies in midfield because most teams will play low-block against his side, maybe the bigger sides won't and you probably see more of Gabriel Magalhães in those, eg Man United.
Fellow Arsenal folks not to worry, I repeat Arteta is one to make necessary changes.
THIS IS ARSENAL.
Stay cheerful.