#23 - Fixing the midfield key to unlocking Arsenal's attack
Observations from the Upper Tier after Arsenal's 5-0 thumping over Crystal Palace
On Saturday I was back at The Emirates and higher than ever before. Sat in pretty much the back row, I always enjoy seeing the full pitch from the upper tier. The positioning of individuals and patterns of play are clearer than ever from this Birds Eye view. Here are some of my key observations from above after the Dubai break. There are also some extra articles linked to lower down.
Jorginho unpicking the lock - should we return to a 4-2-3-1?
The first point came towards the end of the game. Jorginho was forced to replace Declan Rice on 73 minutes, with the English midfielder struggling with what seemed to be a hamstring issue. That may have explained his inability to put out fires defensively as often as he normally does.
One thing I noticed instantly with Jorginho though was his ability to pick out space. His passing through the needle is something Arsenal have seriously lacked. For all the quality of Rice, it’s not his strong point and for all the midfield work Kai Havertz has shown, his killer pass has not been on show.
That has made it easier for teams in deep blocks to defend. Jorginho eventually got his assist at the end of the game, but before that he was playing some excellent balls through - in fact he led the game for progressive passes, despite playing just 20 minutes.
It made me wonder whether Arsenal should return to more of a 4-2-3-1 until their midfield is more settled. On the face of it, placing Jorginho or Partey alongside Rice is a more defensive move, but the ability to progress the ball that both Jorginho and Partey possess is clear.
Having two deeper midfielders also allow for Gabriel Jesus to stay higher. If build-up is supplemented by two holders, Jesus doesn’t need to drop so deep. On Saturday it was noticeable that Jesus was staying further forward, although he wandered offside a little to often, it could be a sign of a tactical shift.
In my opinion, this is something we should seriously consider. Partey’s return to fitness makes it an even more appetising prospect.
With a new midfielder or two clearly high on the shopping list in the summer, it would also allow for Mikel Arteta to have a closer look at a longer-term solution. Maritn Zubimendi is a player who has been regularly linked, and he’s a player that is more likely to play alongside Rice rather than ahead of him.
Eze shows his quality
Another key takeaway for me was the performance of an opposition player. Eberechi Eze. His performance made me wonder whether the 4-3-3 is the right solution, but we just don’t have the right player for it right now.
The dynamic English midfielder was perhaps Crystal Palace’s only shining light on the afternoon, but he looked at a level more than good enough to play for a team at the top of the league. Drifting from the left regularly into central zones, Eze shielded the ball and dribbled excellently in a way reminiscent of Bukayo Saka.
He won 10/14 ground duels and completed 6 dribbles and was a handful for several Arsenal players on the day but in particular, Rice struggled to oust him off the ball - not many players win that battle with Rice.
It made me think about the possibility of Eze in that left-eight position for Arsenal. We saw the best of Martinelli last season when Granit Xhaka’s width and quality of delivery allowed the Brazilian to occupy more central zones. Eze would be able to drift to the left and be very effective, whilst also having the strength and duel ability to compete in the midfield.
Something Arteta would also like from that position is carrying ability and doing that at pace is crucial to unlocking deep blocks, something the team have struggled to do on many occasions. Eze’s ability to do just that is also evident. He’d probably need to develop some defensive aspects but given his ability to also cover for the wide players, I think he’d be an excellent signing and is one to seriously consider in the summer.
He’s also capable of playing as a winger and providing competition for Martinelli on the left. With Trossard and Havertz perhaps playing their best football as centre forwards, would a signing like Eze allow them to vacate that position and give Eze the chance to shine in midfield or on the left?
Pushing Trossard and Havertz further forward would mean we have three options there without Eddie Nketiah. With the Englishman not able to nail down a spot in this side, and the Gunners needing to make sales, could his sale be key to freeing up funds for a move like this?
They rarely happen, but given Eze’s abilities and Palace’s interest in Nketiah, a player-plus-cash deal would certainly appeal to me.
The likes of Saka and Martinelli haven’t just lost their ability. They certainly need another player to come and compete with them, but in writing this article I’ve tried to articulate how a shuffling of things in midfield could help to unlock that attack once more.