Arsenal fans are finally going to see our dream midfield trio of Partey, Rice and Odegaard - Just Arsenal News (2024)

1. No transfer rumours or off-field dramas. Hmm, he’ll be on an Emirates plane to Saudi as of about 10:35 pm August 30, 2024.

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2. If I may ask that, at where in the Arsenal’s midfield would Mikel Merino fit-in to be starting, when Arsenal have finally signed him?

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   1. Merino comes in to left side of attacking midfield with Rice dropping back to defensive midfield, Odegaard stays right attacking midfield

      Merino, along with Calafiori, part of the plan to revitalise our weak and under performing left hand side

      the plan being replicating the success of the Odegaard/Saka/White right side triangle with a left side version of Merino/Trossard/Havertz

      Calafiori protective screen behind them

      then reference BB comment above

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   2. A fair question. I suspect Arsenal1886’s answer is correct for those times when Merino plays, but I think your question was more in the context of the article – if there’s a midfield of Partey, Rice, Odegaard… that leaves no obvious place for Merino.

      In that scenario, the same question could be asked for Timber.

      My take on it, for what it’s worth, is that MA has a squad he can trust to genuinely rotate (rather than as injury cover and some late-on sub appearances) for probably the first time. Or close to a squad anyway – not quite there yet to my mind.

      Last season the bench had the likes of Soares seeing out his contract. Not very inspiring. Now there’s a few good players who might not make the starting 11. And a lot of versatility too.

      I suspect “the project ” still has a year or so to go. A lot depends on being able to sell unwanted players when you want to sell them and that’s not entirely in the seller’s control.

      For example, if Nketiah doesn’t go this season then it will extend the project a bit longer.

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3. Odegaard – Partey – Rice was our midfield for 5 PL games in a row at the end of last season, so hardly ‘finally’ seeing a combination never seen before?

   savour it while it lasts, Merino not in yet, and window not shut yet

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   1. Possibly the author meant at full strength as Partey was clearly not back at end of last season.

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      1. may be you are right, that said Partey was top form against Spurs but poor against Man U and Everton, so perhaps your point is a more consistent Partey now…we will see, my fear is Partey has always had that bad game in him (e.g. shocker at Palace away 2021/22 that cost us CL) that is becoming more frequent and the match winning performance less frequent (I can’t remember the last one)

         when sentimentality put to one side, zero chance Arsenal would buy or even take Partey on a free if at another club

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4. I don’t like that the season could largely hinge on Partey’s fitness and Martinell’s form That’s partly what went wrong last season

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5. Arsenal has to buy a striker..no doubt even for now Ivan Toney..period…..ifnt we wont sre a premier league cup for years to come.

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