Mikel Arteta has refused to pigeonhole Declan Rice into one specific midfield position, saying that his ability to play as a 6 or an 8 is a major strength for this Arsenal team.
With Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino expected to become a Gunner over the weekend after the two clubs agreed terms for his transfer, there have been suggestions his arrival would see the former West Ham man play deeper in midfield.
However, when asked if he expected to use Rice in both midfield positions, Arteta replied, “I think so, and at his age it would be a big mistake not to do that, and not to have the capacity to play in different positions.
“Then within the game you will have a different role in relation to the opponent as well and what they do. Last year he showed that he has the ability to shift from one game to the other, sometimes in the same game, and to have players like that with the short squad that we have is really important.”
Interestingly, the Arsenal boss didn’t rule out the idea of Jurrien Timber playing games in midfield, saying, ‘His versatility is one of the biggest strengths’, but sounded a note of caution about how much involvement he might have in the early part of the season as he makes his way back to proper match fitness after a long period sidelined with injury.
Responding to a question about the Dutch international’s readiness to start at Villa Park on Saturday, Arteta said, “He had a really good pre-season up to a point and then we had to stop him because he had a little issue.
“We have to build him up, we have to be cautious with him, so I’m not sure about that.”
I’m sure no fan would have considered that one of our defenders could be converted into a defensive midfielder.
You know you are a defender at Arsenal when you are immediately ask about playing DM.
Our defenders spend half their time in midfield anyway. It doesn’t matter if we call them DMs.
The evolution of Arsenal fans :
2021 – I think we need to move away from starting XI’s
2022 – I think we need to move away from defined positions
2023 – I think we need to move away from rigid formations
2024 – EVERYONE PLAYS FUCKIN’ EVERYWHERE!
Rinus Michels →Cruyff→Guardiola→Arteta.
I feel like Arteta actually has the ability to be a more skilled manager than Pep.
Pep is outstanding at creating rigid structures that efficiently and robotically win football matches.
Arteta began with such systems but has evolved into a style that is supremely organised but also allows individuals to showcase their creativity and ingenuity.
Pep ball is so dull. But Arteta is able to entertain and delight while also being ruthlessly tactical.
I have the feeling Merino and Rice are going to be our new Petit and Vieira. Both imposing, both able footballers, able to get up and down. Dominating midfield like that is huge and in stark contrast to the horseshoe passing to avoid the midfield we had under Emery.
Rice’s best position is 6, it best suits his qualities as a player and he can be world class there.
Can he play 8? Yes, but he lacks the creativity and subtlety of passing to be truly top class in that position
It was bizarre to see people say he can’t play as a 6 during the Euros. He was probably our best player in the first half of last season, playing at 6! No, he’s not Pirlo/Busquets combined, but he’s brilliant at what he does and he mostly moved to 8 because Havertz moved to 9.
With that being said, Merino can apparently play as a 6 as well, so maybe Rice will still get minutes as an 8, or we may even go back to a double pivot.
Rice does have limitations with passing ball progression. He has a good switch and no technical reasons to say he can’t, but he isn’t used to having to thread tight angles or look up to ping to a runner behind a line with pressure coming; this just hasn’t been a necessary part of his game until he joined Arsenal. Porto expertly exploited that with their aggressive mid block, keyed in on his short passes and stifled our buildup. There are solutions to this. You can pair him with a buildup specialist like Jorgi, drop Odegaard in next to him, or… Read more »
As I think you’re implying, people shouldn’t forget Zinchenko’s quality and how he solves a lot of problems. Maybe creates a couple too, but he can be an important player against what you call an “aggressive mid block” like Porto’s.
So can Calarfiori. I think a big part of why MA likes him is how he complements Rice, because he’s a progression machine, even more so than Zinchenko in some ways. He will burst forward with or without the ball and is always looking to play ahead.
Where is Partey in all that? Partey not parti.
Playing 20 minutes here and there.
Englands problem in the Euros was Bellingham and Mainoo, 2 players who’s current level is U21
It’s the same problem England has always had in not realising that talent doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Rice was the best defensive 6 in the world last season, but he flourished with Jorginho, Odegaard, White and Zinchenko around him as technical outlets. For England there were no progressive full backs, Bellingham trying to play striker and either an out of position Trent, or another DM in Gallagher/Mainoo next to him. It’s a completely different role
There’s a lot of fluidity in the way that Arsenal play so he’ll probably play a bit of both, nothing to obsess about.
Watched a video that likened our soon to be new midfield trio to the all-conquering Barcelona trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. It really would be something if Martin, Declan and Mikel reach those levels.
Haha…
I wrote something very similar about Timber exactly 1 month ago
Rice and Merino can do defensive and offensive rotations.
If you think of the midfield 3, Odegaard must only be doing offensive rotations.
Therefore having your 6 & 8 help rotations is a massive bonus in getting Odegaard the ball.
You can’t imagine Jorginho or Partey swapping positions with Rice8.
But totally you can with Merino.
In offense Rice and Merino can take turns to ghost into the box to head in the trademark in-swinging cross from the right/channel from both Odegaard or Saka.
We saw Briefly last season Timber rotate his way up the pitch from left back. It was so effective that it allowed Havertz to really push forward but somehow we still seemed secure.
Overloads on the left, Odegaard in space on the right, inswinging cross and Merino,Havertz and Calafiori attacking the ball at the far post. Oh this could be a fun season.
Would love to see Arteta start to use some of the players like Timber, Zinchenko, etc. in midfield at times (ease them into it when we have a lead or are playing the early rounds of the domestic cup games). It will be key to give players like Rice, Saka, Havertz, etc. that play all the time and played big minutes this Summer breaks throughout the long season.
Genuinely think Timber is being earmarked for a CDM role with all the other defenders we have at our disposal.
Zinchenko can be a good attacking midfield option to cover for Odegard. With Timber, Calafiori at LB, we might see Zinchenko playing in midfield this season which he is more than capable of.
This is a positive development.
With Kai, timber, rice and merino, we have highly technical players who can be deployed in various roles. This is flexibility that allows us to rotate well with a low drop off in quality for many positions, from ST, CAM, CM to defence
I feel like a lie of fans don’t actually watch the game. Rice as a single pivot is awful if watching England and arsenal doesn’t show you that I don’t know what will. He struggles to take the ball under pressure facing goal and just isn’t as brave with it as Partey or jorginho. We only clicked last season once jorghino was brought in. The dodgy Xmas period was with rice as 6. As an 8 or double pivot it’s different so maybe that’s what arteta is working towards. If we’re playing like last season it’s more likely merino as… Read more »