By 1970s Gooner
I hope that Arteta does not repeat, for the game at Newcastle, the same mistake he made against Chelsea by playing Jorghino at the base of Arsenal's midfield as a number 6.
He himself admitted afterwards that when he replaced jorghino with Rice the team had better control of the game and were able to play higher up the pitch.
Jorghino cannot carry out that role effectively especially against teams that play a dynamic and pressing game based on power and strength as Newcastle do.
We must also take into account that Jorginho played against West Ham on Wednesday night in what proved to be a very demanding game.
Now if Rice is to start in the base of midfield for Saturday's game in place of Jorghino then who can play on the left side of midfield.
I most certainly would not advocate Vieira nor Havertz as neither can play that role efficiently enough as we have all seen in the games they have participated in.
Emil Smith Row could definitely grow into that role but he is ofcourse unavailable.
In my opinion Arteta should start Tomiyasu as a left back and push the most gifted left sided player Arsenal have, Zinchenko, to the left side of midfield.
Zinchenko struggles as a defender but he can be very good on the left side of midfield which is his natural position anyway both with and without the ball. I consider him to be a similar player as Xhaka and certainly to be as efficient.
This adjustment will allow Arteta to play Rice in the base of midfield where, in the absence of Partey, he is most effective and improve the balance of the team considerably.
My team:
Ramsdale
White Saliba Gabriel Tomiyasu
Odegaard Rice Zinchenko
Saka Enketiah Martinelli
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