They always talk about Strength in depth at City but when Arsenal try to improve its always Questions about How, But City Can Keep Grealish, Nunes but Arsenal cant
Rice is NOT an 8. He has even said he is better as a 6. Also with all the football he has played the last year, I don't think he can hold up for a full season at the 8 without getting injured. He already looks gassed in the first two games.
all i could think of during the villa game, seeing Declan up near Kai while Thomas and Timber were trying to work the ball through the lines......is thank god Merino can take up this position and we can have Dec back as a 6. this is so obvious
I want Rice at 6 and Merino at left side 8. These ESPN clowns don't do their research, Merino is about the best midfielder in arial play in Europe according to his stats. Mostly though it means we can rotate the centre midfield in real time.
I dont remember Man city getting this kind of debate about Nunez or Kovacic fitting into the midfield. Or how Gravenberch or Endo at Liverpool. It's almost like Arsenal is not allowed depth.
I think Merino is a good signing, one that we needed for sure. Can’t help but look at that bench and feel we need a lot of improvement. Eddie leaving, Jesus is not available enough leaves us short upfront (along side Martinelli stagnating for a while). We need to invest in a forward player, ideally a wide forward imo. Leao, Williams, Sterling (if he takes a huge cut) etc
@@GIBBO4182don’t see us signing a striker as we spent 60m on Kai and I think Arteta will persevere with that. Martinelli on the other hand just isn’t clicking
Villa created 2 chances and defended well but somehow were better. We had 61% possession and managed the game after the first goal. They setup to counter and failed.
I haven't watched much of Merino but from what I've heard and seen, he seems quite similar to Rice, though maybe with more progressive passing (though Rice's passing is severely underrated imo). So maybe it will be a double pivot where they can swap being the 8 or 6 depending on the situation. Alternatively, Merino might just be cover with Rice and Arsenal will continue with Partey/Jorginho at 6
When Rice plays the 6, ball progression becomes stagnant and slows the offense down which is something that doesn't work against top table teams. So the 6 is going to be either Moreno or Partey unless Arsenal is playing against bottom tier teams then maybe Rice.
Feel it's more likely Rice is the main 6 and Merino is the 8. It's Merino's main position and Rice's main position is 6. Imo people overreact a bit on Rice's ball progression. Paired with Merino it'll be okay. Being left footed too he'd help with overlapping the LW to bring them inside more to increase threat centrally.
@@TheKh65 its not because of rice bro, but because of havertz play at LCM, jesus at striker and zinchenko at LB, that is worst line up when title race especially we need win and cannot draw or lose
So the “full Declan rice” experience involves not playing him as the 6 where is one of the best in the world, but rather as an 8 where he is anonymous? Makes sense
He misses the rodri, Joginho factor of creativity and line breaking passes. A super 6 should do that. What he has however is well enough to manage as a 6.
Not everyone needs to be making line breaking passes, especially when almost everyone else on the team can do it. sometimes you just need someone who won’t get cooked constantly
@@jadepeterson6593 no problem if rice not trying break the line with his passes when rice at 6 as long as merino (who have skill break the line with his passess and play at 8 )can go to deeper when build up like become deep lying playmaker , so declan rice job just steal ball from opponent by intercept, tackle, ground duel and aerial duel which rice world class to do that,
Arsenal is missing someone like Silva or Gundogan in the midfield , when Oodagard not playing, someone can stabilize the midfield and organize the attack.
I see it completely opposite to Gabs. You lose the best of what Declan Rice offers when you play him at the 8. At the 6, you get his best qualities. He's a destroyer who protects the back 3, swings long passes out wide, and carrys the ball forward. You lose him at the 8 because he's not a natural playmaker. It makes sense for Merino to come in and play 8 and have Partey as a rotation player. Our defence is too open with Partey in the 6 and Rice high up the pitch.
mostly agree as from a technical and style point of view you are totally right.. but I think we have to factor the age and pressure of being asked to be "the guy" in real competitive games esp late season or KO CL games etc.. don't think its as likely when u consider that.. I think he will (hopefully) get a lot of minutes in the "right" games or late in games to rest Odegaard when we are winning, but if (god forbid) there is a Odegaard injury then I do think Havertz there might be a better choice in big games, unless Arteta "looks into Ethan's eyes and just KNOWS he is ready!"
Partey will be back up for the 6 while Merino and Rice start and share the 6 and left sided 8 role, likely with Rice playing more 6, this could then shift to a double pivot letting Odegaard float more. Then, once Timber and Calafiori settle in, it will get even more interesting and unpredictable, which is what Arteta wants (options and unpredictability). Arteta is building his version of total football, with players interchanging and covering each other in a myriad of ways to confuse the opponent and score lots of goals while maintaining a sound defense.
@@mydancinglife730 No one is good enough to do what Partey does. He is a force multiplier. He makes everyone around him better, he collects the ball, pivots, and makes progressive passes. Rice can't do this and Merino's strong suit is interceptions. Partey is the first pick in the midfield as long as he is healthy and Arteta knows this.
Rice longterm position was always meant to be the six. Saying that he wont play there because he isn’t Pirlo in his playmaking is such a bad point, because Arsenal have other players who can do that. Merino will do it and Odegaard has done it since last year. Plus people seems to forget we have added Timber and Calafiori and they are playmakers also.
Rice, Merino and Odegaard. Our midfield will be so difficult to break. Rice underperformed against Aston Villa on Saturday, so Partey will be challenging him.
@@pascalacquaah5486 No, Partey was injured because he hid the severity of the injury he had until it got even worse and he's still working his way back to match fitness.
How can Gab seriously argue that Arteta is going to use Merino in a new position that he hasn't played in? It's an interesting idea, but it comes out of nowhere. Where is the evidence to suggest this? Rice has been world class as a 6 for his entire career...it's so crazy to suggest new positions for established top class players lol
Gab really needs to watch more football outside of the EPL...Rice a better head of the ball than Merino? Merino has been the top in all 5 main leagues. What are we even talking about here?
We the Arsenal to win the league and champions league need and want and must and have got to sell Eddie and Nelson and buy and get a ST and right winger and midfielder and right back right now so hurry up and do it and get it done be for the window ends and finish’s and closes this week is the last week ❤😂🎉😢😮😅
Stewart knows what Merino is far more than Gab
Now Arsene has left (he hated him) he's a lot less biased and honest about Arsenal too.
Ødegaard played with Merino, both as 8s. Rice is their 6. I don't know how this is a mystery.
“I think if Saka and Odegaard get injured, Arsenal are gonna really struggle.” That’s what passes for punditry?!?!!
Nwaneri is deputy for Odegaard
They always talk about Strength in depth at City but when Arsenal try to improve its always Questions about How, But City Can Keep Grealish, Nunes but Arsenal cant
Nailed it
@@Snap_254Because Arsenal can't..
@@GermanChickenwingArsenal can’t what? Arsenal aren’t allowed to have a deep bench too? 🧂 😂
@@notfocal6069 They can't because they are not 4 times in a row City.. They don't have Citys money
@@GermanChickenwingsounds like city doesn't have City money either if the 115 FFP violations are true.
I just love listening to Robson.
He was a great player who actually understands the nuances of football better than 99% of pundits
Rice is NOT an 8. He has even said he is better as a 6. Also with all the football he has played the last year, I don't think he can hold up for a full season at the 8 without getting injured. He already looks gassed in the first two games.
I hope his minutes get managed well. Party/Gogi , odeg and merino should work a good number of games. Hopefully Odeg will beinute managed too
all i could think of during the villa game, seeing Declan up near Kai while Thomas and Timber were trying to work the ball through the lines......is thank god Merino can take up this position and we can have Dec back as a 6. this is so obvious
I want Rice at 6 and Merino at left side 8. These ESPN clowns don't do their research, Merino is about the best midfielder in arial play in Europe according to his stats. Mostly though it means we can rotate the centre midfield in real time.
@@adrianholyk81 partey will be 6 ok. rice cannot pass the ball.
Rice is better box to box than a deep lying play maker. He's not as comfortable receiving the ball on the half turn as partey is.
Robbo has good ball knowledge
I dont remember Man city getting this kind of debate about Nunez or Kovacic fitting into the midfield. Or how Gravenberch or Endo at Liverpool. It's almost like Arsenal is not allowed depth.
Agreeed. Gotta have extra players in the late stages of the season
I think Merino is a good signing, one that we needed for sure. Can’t help but look at that bench and feel we need a lot of improvement. Eddie leaving, Jesus is not available enough leaves us short upfront (along side Martinelli stagnating for a while). We need to invest in a forward player, ideally a wide forward imo. Leao, Williams, Sterling (if he takes a huge cut) etc
You’ll do anything but sign a striker, eh? 😂
Mccoist
@@GIBBO4182don’t see us signing a striker as we spent 60m on Kai and I think Arteta will persevere with that. Martinelli on the other hand just isn’t clicking
The academy players have until January to take a position for themselves in this team
@@GIBBO4182this is funny 😂😂😂 and I’m a Arsenal fan still … the “eh”part is just 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Villa created 2 chances and defended well but somehow were better. We had 61% possession and managed the game after the first goal. They setup to counter and failed.
I haven't watched much of Merino but from what I've heard and seen, he seems quite similar to Rice, though maybe with more progressive passing (though Rice's passing is severely underrated imo). So maybe it will be a double pivot where they can swap being the 8 or 6 depending on the situation. Alternatively, Merino might just be cover with Rice and Arsenal will continue with Partey/Jorginho at 6
When Rice plays the 6, ball progression becomes stagnant and slows the offense down which is something that doesn't work against top table teams. So the 6 is going to be either Moreno or Partey unless Arsenal is playing against bottom tier teams then maybe Rice.
Feel it's more likely Rice is the main 6 and Merino is the 8. It's Merino's main position and Rice's main position is 6. Imo people overreact a bit on Rice's ball progression. Paired with Merino it'll be okay. Being left footed too he'd help with overlapping the LW to bring them inside more to increase threat centrally.
Merino is an 8
The only team in the top 6 Arsenal lost to, with Rice playing the 6, was Aston Villa. How are you so quick to say it doesn't work?
@@TheKh65 its not because of rice bro, but because of havertz play at LCM, jesus at striker and zinchenko at LB, that is worst line up when title race especially we need win and cannot draw or lose
So the “full Declan rice” experience involves not playing him as the 6 where is one of the best in the world, but rather as an 8 where he is anonymous? Makes sense
He misses the rodri, Joginho factor of creativity and line breaking passes. A super 6 should do that. What he has however is well enough to manage as a 6.
Rice 6, Merino 8 is what I imagined since I heard this transfer rumour
@jadepeterson6593 he's better than them at the defensive side of the role and with Timber inverting all bases should be some what covered
Not everyone needs to be making line breaking passes, especially when almost everyone else on the team can do it. sometimes you just need someone who won’t get cooked constantly
@@jadepeterson6593 no problem if rice not trying break the line with his passes when rice at 6 as long as merino (who have skill break the line with his passess and play at 8 )can go to deeper when build up like become deep lying playmaker , so declan rice job just steal ball from opponent by intercept, tackle, ground duel and aerial duel which rice world class to do that,
Arsenal is missing someone like Silva or Gundogan in the midfield , when Oodagard not playing, someone can stabilize the midfield and organize the attack.
merino will do that
Worst case scenario, Timber can play some minutes in the midfield.
ESR could be that guy, too bad of injuries
I see it completely opposite to Gabs. You lose the best of what Declan Rice offers when you play him at the 8. At the 6, you get his best qualities. He's a destroyer who protects the back 3, swings long passes out wide, and carrys the ball forward. You lose him at the 8 because he's not a natural playmaker. It makes sense for Merino to come in and play 8 and have Partey as a rotation player. Our defence is too open with Partey in the 6 and Rice high up the pitch.
You don't know football but just hate partey
@@princewisejunior7853 I don't hate Partey. He's great on the ball. I'm just saying we look more open at the back.
I see Nwaneri coming in for Odegaard better than Havertz as an alternative though.
From pre season. Agree completely
mostly agree as from a technical and style point of view you are totally right.. but I think we have to factor the age and pressure of being asked to be "the guy" in real competitive games esp late season or KO CL games etc.. don't think its as likely when u consider that.. I think he will (hopefully) get a lot of minutes in the "right" games or late in games to rest Odegaard when we are winning, but if (god forbid) there is a Odegaard injury then I do think Havertz there might be a better choice in big games, unless Arteta "looks into Ethan's eyes and just KNOWS he is ready!"
this is funny. a fit partey will always start at the 6 if you know anything about arteta.
He appears to have lost a step, but maybe he's still getting match sharp. I think Merino will help give both Rice and Partey more rest.
Facts. These pundits and fans saying othewise are clowns.
Hot take: the 3 should be Partey, Merino, Odegaard.
(if you're not going to play Rice as a 6,which is likely the case because his passing isn't great)
Our 100m midfielder on the bench?? Come on 😂😂
@@tilikistephen1624would you prefer to bottle the premier league cus of a 100m?
I like this hot take but rice won’t get dropped. Declan isn’t a good enough 6 in our formation where he needs to break lines
Partey will be back up for the 6 while Merino and Rice start and share the 6 and left sided 8 role, likely with Rice playing more 6, this could then shift to a double pivot letting Odegaard float more. Then, once Timber and Calafiori settle in, it will get even more interesting and unpredictable, which is what Arteta wants (options and unpredictability). Arteta is building his version of total football, with players interchanging and covering each other in a myriad of ways to confuse the opponent and score lots of goals while maintaining a sound defense.
@@mydancinglife730 No one is good enough to do what Partey does. He is a force multiplier. He makes everyone around him better, he collects the ball, pivots, and makes progressive passes. Rice can't do this and Merino's strong suit is interceptions. Partey is the first pick in the midfield as long as he is healthy and Arteta knows this.
Do your homework, Gab. Merino is the replacement for the Xhaha role.
Nwaneri. Whether he can do at the level. But pre season - very little drop off and in fact nwaneri created additional chances and a different dynamic
nwaneri will be the back up for odegard
Good point. So long as he is proactive
Ethan Nwaneri is being groomed as an alternative to Odegaard. It's a long way, but for now he is an understudy.
I don't nwaneri is a substitute for odegaard but If that's the case arteta should start giving him minutes
@@sosolawson6587 Arsenal need to get back to going up by three and then Nwaneri can get the last 25 to 30 minutes to get up to EPL level.
A really good insight to the possibilities of tactics 👏
Nwaneri, Havertz and Trossard can all play the number 10 position.
Rice longterm position was always meant to be the six. Saying that he wont play there because he isn’t Pirlo in his playmaking is such a bad point, because Arsenal have other players who can do that. Merino will do it and Odegaard has done it since last year. Plus people seems to forget we have added Timber and Calafiori and they are playmakers also.
Merino takes Partey's spot. Let's not overcomplicate this.
exactly
Midfield could easily be Odeegard, Merino and Partey. Rice better stay focus.
I'd put in Zinchenko as an alternative to Odegaard, he has played in midfield before
I think partey with his good condition is the best dmf we have
What is Gab actually saying lol
Man is just waffling
That’s his entire career.
Partey ødegard Rice
Rice, Merino and Odegaard. Our midfield will be so difficult to break.
Rice underperformed against Aston Villa on Saturday, so Partey will be challenging him.
Takefuso Kubo solves majority of Arsenal’s problems. If they specifically just want a winger, the Raphinha
4th will be between Villa, Spurs, Manchester United , Chelsea and Brighton. Who knows?
Newcastle and maybe West Ham can give it a go too perhaps, that 4th UCL spot has insane competition this season.
This might bring back Martinelli back to form on the left side. More no-nonsense than Gasta-Partey
There's a comeback for Martinelli, he is still lethal and a great ingredient to what arteta is cooking at arsenal
@@briannyamweya7224at the very least he tires out defenders for Trossard when he subs on lol
@@Jkev24 an advantage that we should also be happy of...it has really worked out for that martinelli and trossard exchange
At 8:00 gab realizes he has blundered. Obviously you put the best header in Europe in the stacking relay to the striker
Very nice discussion
Merino, Ødegaard and Rice oooo i never thought id see the day.
What can go wrong 😅
Partey is good oooo
@@Mamapelz Ooo Yeah 😂😂 or Partey
@@Mamapelz he never lasts a whole season without injury
Then come Kdb, Kova,Bernardo, Rodri, Gundogan and Foden. Sit down boy
@@GermanChickenwing what do the Man $hity 115 FC players have to do here?
Ethan Nwaneri can cover for Odegaard
I don’t think merino starts. Partey might have been the best Arsenal player on the pitch over the weekend
Partey will miss half the season injured anyway
@@dalegrant9282 is that your wish? lol he was injured coz Arteta played him at right back last season. he learnt his lesson.
@@pascalacquaah5486 it's reality mate :/
@@dalegrant9282 we will see 🙂
@@pascalacquaah5486 No, Partey was injured because he hid the severity of the injury he had until it got even worse and he's still working his way back to match fitness.
How can Gab seriously argue that Arteta is going to use Merino in a new position that he hasn't played in? It's an interesting idea, but it comes out of nowhere. Where is the evidence to suggest this? Rice has been world class as a 6 for his entire career...it's so crazy to suggest new positions for established top class players lol
I like Rice more as an 8 and Merino is an 8, so let the LB tuck in to CDM (Timber or Calafiori) and let those two feast in attack. 🤤
Gab usually knows what he’s talking about. Quite surprising to see how incorrect he is here about rice and merino.
Is Gab really understand who Merino is?
The odegaard cover is nwaneri
😂😂😂 Gab hasn't ever watched Merino in Laliga
gab did you watch the game lol
Gabs was mumbling because he is clueless when it comes to formations and positions 😅
He is deffo smoking something rice is a world class 6 and merino would probably be a better 8
His transfer is not even official announcement 📣 yet
Gab really needs to watch more football outside of the EPL...Rice a better head of the ball than Merino? Merino has been the top in all 5 main leagues. What are we even talking about here?
Etahn nwaneri is the replacement for Odegaard gabs
So disappointed you didn’t mention Ethan Nwaneri as Martin’s replacement…Gabi you should know better
Declan Rice is solid and consistent, but where is the creativity?
he is a great player but i feel he will be like another raya that displaces incumbent regardless
City can keep Grealish and Stones on the bench but Arsenal cant have good mid fielders. Just let Arsenal be
Gab, did you watch the match? Was Villa better than Arsenal for most of the match, or you misspoke?
What’s this guy talking about Rice not playing 6 😂 things people say on media 🤣
steward doesnt know who nwaneri is
Thought I was clicking on Gabs & Juls, but it’s Robson? Sorry, I’m out.
Better than Arsenal for long stretches? What game this clown was watching
Gabi Jesus has been voilated in gw1
thank goodness you guys are not our coaches
“Hmm hmmm hm hmm hmm hm”
Gab chatting rubbish when it comes to his Merino and Rice
Merino isn’t as good as zubi. He is going to play where Partey is right now as a holding midfielder
They actually pay the big guy for this commentary. He is lost to football
Rice playing further forward didn’t work. I feel that’s where Merino needs to be, with Rice back in the Partey role from this last weekend.
We the Arsenal to win the league and champions league need and want and must and have got to sell Eddie and Nelson and buy and get a ST and right winger and midfielder and right back right now so hurry up and do it and get it done be for the window ends and finish’s and closes this week is the last week ❤😂🎉😢😮😅
Arsenal did nothing to improve.. more of the same.
Gabs Football knowledge is shite
Shockingly, I agree with Gab on this one. I think Merino would be more holding with Rice playing forward
Why are all ESPN football pundits so bad?