Mikel Arteta has some tough decisions to make when it comes to Arsenal’s midfield against Leicester City
Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend as they welcome Leicester City to Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have had a rather decent week so far, with Wednesday’s 5-1 Carabao Cup third round win against Bolton Wanderers following Sunday’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side will be expected to beat the Foxes on Saturday afternoon and the Arsenal boss has a number of decisions to make ahead of the clash.
With Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino among the midfielders ruled out of the match through injury, it will be interesting to see who Arteta opts to field in the engine room against Leicester. There are calls for Ethan Nwaneri to be handed his first Premier League start after his two goals against Bolton, while it’s unclear if Kai Havertz will play as a striker or slightly deeper.
With that in mind, football.london thought it would be a good idea to ask our writers who they would pick to play in Arsenal’s midfield against Leicester. Do you agree? Have your say in the comments section!
Sam Truelove
Arsenal have been lacking a certain creative spark since Martin Odegaard picked up that unfortunate injury away on international duty with Norway. The Gunners struggled to create any real opportunities against Tottenham or Atalanta and while Leandro Trossard is a decent player, his best position is on the left wing.
With this in mind, I would start Ethan Nwaneri against Leicester. The club can only hide the 17-year-old for so long but I feel now is his time to shine. He has the quality and has been around the Arsenal first team set up for a while now. Nwaneri being around was one of the reasons Edu let Fabio Vieira leave on loan in the summer – the teenager is a perfect Odegaard replacement.
Alongside Nwaneri I would start Declan Rice and Thomas Partey. Both put in sensational performances against Man City and do not deserve to be dropped. Leicester will look to sit deep and counter with the likes of Jamie Vardy, but Rice and Partey have enough experience and quality to control the midfield and ultimately the game.
For me, this means Kai Havertz returns up front. Gabriel Jesus did not do enough against Bolton and Havertz’s numbers are impressive when he is further forward. Don’t bet against Nwaneri and Havertz linking up to score Arsenal’s opener – you heard it here first!
Kaya Kaynak
Arsenal have had to be very disciplined in their midfield approach in recent weeks. With back-to-back home Premier League games against newly promoted sides though, I think it’s time for them to open a bit.
With that in mind I’m playing a proper creative presence and taking a gamble on the youth of Ethan Nwaneri. He’s never looked out of depth at any new level he’s been exposed to, so why not throw him in here. I get not doing it against Spurs or City away, but Leicester at home is a different ball game.
Alongside him Declan Rice is an obvious pick. I personally prefer him in the left eight role where he can get forward a bit like against Bolton. I think having him in the six restricts that.
Therefore I’m going for Thomas Partey in the deeper lying midfield role. It really is splitting hairs between the Ghanaian and Jorginho but I think he offers a touch more athleticism to protect on the counter.
Lee Wilmot
What a way to introduce yourself to the rest of the footballing world that was from Ethan Nwaneri. Already well known amongst the Arsenal fans, he certainly will have caught the eye of everyone else watching on, including Leicester.
The Foxes are a completey different kettle of fish to Bolton Wanderers. Is it time to throw him in in a Premier League match? I’m not so sure. But Mikel Arteta’s options may mean he has little choice.
Personally, I think Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard can drop in there in attacking midfield if needed, with Nwaneri saved for coming off the bench.
Play Thomas Partey alongside the marauding Declan Rice, then with a front four of Bukayo Saka, Trossard, Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, you have plenty of options and interchangeable pieces to fit into the other four roles.